Clayton Kershaw ranks among the greats after third Cy Young win

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Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw delivers a pitch against the Cardinals during Game 1 of the National League division series on Oct. 3, 2014. As a three-time Cy Young winner, Kershaw has already distinguished himself as one of the greatest pitchers in Dodgers history. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw has been the rock of the Dodgers’ starting rotation for the past several years. As a two-time Cy Young winner, Kershaw has already distinguished himself as one of the greatest pitchers in Dodgers history. (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

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Dodgers rookie pitcher Clayton Kershaw looks on from the dugout during a game against the San Francisco Giants in 2008. Kershaw posted a 5-5 record and a 4.26 earned-run average in his first major league season. (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw watches from the dugout during a game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego in 2009. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kershaw delivers a pitch in his second game ever, against the New York Mets on May 30, 2008. The Dallas native was drafted as the seventh overall pick by the Dodgers in 2006 straight from high school. (Frank Franklin II / Associated Press)

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Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw looks down after giving up a run on wild pitch in a game against the Florida Marlins in 2009. Kershaw posted an 8-8 record and a 2.79 ERA in his second season with the Dodgers. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)

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In 2010, Kershaw pitched his first season over 200 innings. Kershaw posted a 13-10 record, a 2.91 ERA, and 212 strikeouts in 204 innings of action. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw smiles during a November 2011 news conference at Dodger Stadium announcing him as the winner of the National League Cy Young award. Kershaw would go on to win the Cy Young award again in 2013. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw smiles while speaking to his wife, Ellen, before a November 2011 news conference at Dodger Stadium announcing him as the winner of the 2011 Cy Young award. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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In 2011, Kershaw was selected to his first All-Star Game, joining teammates Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp. Kershaw has made the NL All-Star Team every year since. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw delivers a pitch during a game against the Angels in 2011. Kershaw recorded a major league-best 21 wins in 2011 en route to capturing his first National League Cy Young award. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw delivers a pitch during a game against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium in 2011. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw delivers a pitch during a game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in 2012. Kershaw ended the season with a 14-9 record with a 2.53 ERA. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw is greeted by former Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda as he takes the field during the team’s 2013 season opener. Kershaw, a two-time Cy Young award winner and a four-time All-Star, has established himself as the cornerstone of the Dodgers’ pitching staff. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Kershaw hits his first career home run in the 2013 season opener against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. He also threw a complete-game shutout to lead the Dodgers to a 4-0 victory. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw celebrates with his teammates after hitting a home run against the San Francisco Giants during the Dodgers’ 2013 season opener. (Christina House / For the Times)

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Clayton Kershaw jokes around with his teammates before a game against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium in 2013. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw delivers a pitch during Game 1 of the 2013 National League division series against the Atlanta Braves. Kershaw recorded 12 strikeouts in the win. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw celebrates with his teammates in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ pool after the Dodgers clinch the 2013 National League West division title. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw takes part in a training session at Dodger Stadium a day before Game 3 of the 2013 National League division series. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw tries to catch a foul ball with his hat during Game 3 of the 2013 National League division series against the Atlanta Braves. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw celebrates with Dodgers fans after the team’s series-clinching victory over the Atlanta Braves in the 2013 National League division series. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw delivers a pitch during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw celebrates with catcher A.J. Ellis and the rest of his teammates after throwing a no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies in June 2014. (Chris Carlson / Associated Press)

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Clayton Kershaw celebrates moments after recording his first no-hitter during game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on June 18, 2014. (Chris Carlson / Associated Press)

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Clayton Kershaw smiles after being doused with ice following his no-hitter at Dodger Stadium in June 2014. (Chris Carlson / Associated Press)

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Clayton Kershaw celebrates after being doused with ice following his no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies on June 18, 2014. (Chris Carlson / Associated Press)

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Clayton Kershaw celebrates with his wife, Ellen, after throwing a no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on June 18, 2014. (Chris Carlson / Associated Press)

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Clayton Kershaw watches from the dugout during a road game against the Kansas City Royals in 2014. (Ed Zurga / Getty Images)

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Clayton Kershaw signs autographs for fans before a road game against the Kansas City Royals in 2014. (Colin E. Braley / Associated Press)

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Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw receives a standing ovation from the Dodger Stadium crowd after leaving the game in the sixth inning of a June 2014 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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The no-hitter was part of Kershaw’s 41 consecutive scoreless innings. Kershaw’s streak, which ended July 10 against the Padres, was the third longest in Dodgers history, behind Orel Hershiser’s 59 innings and Don Drysdale’s 58. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw prepares to deliver a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 16. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw delivers a pitch during the 2015 season opener against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on April 6.

(Harry How / Getty Images)

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Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw delivers a pitch during a game against the Atlanta Braves on May 26, 2015.

(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Clayton Kershaw gave up one hit with 11 strikeouts in seven innings against Houston in Game 1 of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw touches his nose with his tongue during the seventh-inning stretch during Game 1 of the 2017 World Series against the Houston Astros.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw walks back to the dugout after giving up four runs to the Astros in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the 2017 World Series.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw reacts after giving up a three-run home run to Houston’s Yuli Gurriel during the fourth inning of Game 5 of the 2017 World Series.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw gave up six earned runs in 4 2/3 innings against Houston in Game 5 of the 2017 World Series.

(Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

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Clayton Kershaw gave up two hits and no runs in eight innings against Atlanta in Game 2 of their 2018 NLDS series.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw embraces Dodgers manager Dave Roberts after pitching eight shutout innings in 3-0 win over the Braves in Game 2 of their 2018 NLDS series.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers Clayton Kershaw shows frustration as the Red Sox rally in the fifth inning during Game 1 of the 2018 World Series.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw gets a pat from manager Dave Roberts after giving up four runs and seven hits in Game 5 of the 2018 World Series.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Clayton Kershaw rests in the dugout after giving up three home runs over seven innings in Game 5 of the 2018 World Series against Boston.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

By Steve Dilbeck

Nov. 12, 2014 4:10 PM PT

They’ve known he was special since the beginning. He was a hard-throwing left-hander with a curve that buckled knees. They started comparing him to Sandy Koufax when he was all of 19.

Now there is more reason for the comparison. Wednesday he matched Koufax with his third Cy Young award.

If, as with any other comparison to Koufax, that is slightly unfair – Koufax won his three when only one award was given out, not one to each league – there seems little doubt now we are witnessing the greatest Dodger of his generation.

Kershaw is that special kind of player parents will tell their children about, whose teammates will boast of having played with.

He just pitched his finest season, going 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP, despite missing about six starts while on the disabled list. He went 41 innings without giving up a run, had a stretch of 17 consecutive starts in which he went at least seven innings and allowed no more than three runs and fired a no-hitter that may have been the finest game ever pitched.

A season so dominating, he may well earn the National League most valuable player award Thursday – which would make him the first pitcher to win the award since Bob Gibson in 1968.

And this is the point where we mention Kershaw is still only 26 years old. Koufax did not win his first Cy Young until he was 27.

Kershaw is the complete package. No player is more driven, none more respected in the clubhouse. He works hard, stays out of trouble, picks up annual humanitarian awards, plays excellent defense and even hits a little.

Yeah, sometimes he can be prickly with the media. Yes, he still hasn’t put forth a dominating postseason. And, sure, that beard is not his best grooming move.

But he just put together his fourth consecutive dominant season (72-26, 2.11 ERA, 0.95 WHIP). That’s not exactly in line with Koufax’s final four seasons (97-27/1.86 ERA/0.91), but it’s certainly in the neighborhood.

There is no doubting the comparisons any longer.

We are witnessing greatness, living through a time when every fifth day the Dodgers send out a pitcher capable of doing something incredibly special.