Last Updated on September 26, 2025 by Matt Musico
With his retirement on the horizon, it’s become exciting for a rare Clayton Kershaw baseball card to appear in the wild. But one with a noticeable error on it? That makes things twice as fun.
Sports Illustrated’s Jason Schwartz recently brought it to our attention after Topps posted the “gigantic book card” on X at the end of August.
Editor’s Note: The Sports Card Cash-Out System Guide is Now Available!
The Clayton Kershaw Baseball Card With a Glaring Error
1/1 Clayton Kershaw book card featuring a GIGANTIC Dodgers logo patch 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UQRrxBD6Oh
— Topps (@Topps) August 29, 2025
The 1/1 booklet card shows Kershaw alongside a huge game-worn patch from his All-Star Game warmup jersey. It’s a fantastic-looking card that anyone would want in their collection. But if your eyes move lower on the right side, you’ll see the error Schwartz is talking about.
Yes, you’re seeing that right — apparently, the Los Angeles Dodgers are an American League team. Nobody is perfect, and mistakes happen. Heck, I make mistakes every day. Errors are bound to appear in baseball card production because so many are produced each year.
But what makes this even more interesting is it’s a 1/1. So there’s literally no card in the world with the correct league name featured. I feel like that’s going to make it worth that much more money.
Kershaw’s Historic 3,000-Strikeout Milestone
Kershaw isn’t just a Dodgers legend — he’s a legit institution. In an era where players swap teams frequently, the southpaw has remained in Los Angeles his entire career. He debuted as a 20-year-old in 2008 and has been dominating ever since.
His career accomplishments include two World Series titles, three Cy Youngs, an MVP, five ERA titles, a pitching triple crown, and 222 career wins to go with a 2.54 ERA. The latest accomplishment he added to his long list is becoming a member of the 3,000-strikeout club, which he did against the Chicago White Sox in July. Kershaw is just the 20th hurler to reach that milestone (and only the fourth left-handed pitcher to do so).
That achievement has unsurprisingly sparked interest in Kershaw collectibles, like his ultra-rare Dynasty Black 1/1 that commemorates the occasion. This card features an actual piece of the jersey Kershaw wore that night, making it a hot commodity from the standpoint of valuation.
A Hall of Fame Career Winding Down
Kershaw’s 2025 campaign has been tremendous, especially when you consider he’s a 37-year-old veteran past his prime. Despite sporting an average fastball velocity of 88.8 mph, he owns a 10-2 record with a 3.55 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 77 strikeouts in 106.1 innings.
He’ll be looking to right the ship before Los Angeles begins its title defense this October, though. Kershaw’s first three September starts have yielded a 6.00 ERA in 18 innings.
But, seriously, all the 11-time All-Star is doing at this point is putting the finishing touches on a Hall of Fame resume. His 2.54 career ERA ranks among the best in the modern era, while his combination of longevity and dominance rightfully puts him in the conversation with some of the game’s best left-handed starting pitchers.
It’s Finally Official — Kershaw Is Retiring
Will the 2025 season be Kershaw’s last in the big leagues? The love he’s been shown throughout the year from fans — including at the All-Star Game this past summer — has made it seem like this is his final season under the sun. But, officially? The southpaw was still unsure as of a few days ago.
He said the following during a recent interview on the “Almost Athletes With Dude Perfect” podcast:
“Every offseason (his wife) Ellen and I sit down and try to figure out next year. Get through the season, figure out how everybody’s doing, and how we’ll go from there. I’m sure we’ll do that again this offseason.”
But on September 18, the Dodgers posted the following statement on X to announce Kershaw’s plans to retire:
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 18, 2025
Seems like he and his wife had that chat a little earlier than usual.
With this news now official, the rare collectibles that have come out over the past few months could carry even more weight for the hobby. Whether this 1/1 error card becomes a footnote or a centerpiece in collecting history remains to be seen. What’s certain is that Kershaw continues to generate headlines, and his legacy will live on past his final pitch (especially in the card-collecting world).
