CHARACTER COUNTS

Young fan meets Clayton Kershaw to fulfill grandfather’s bucket list dream

Jul 19, 2022, 9:35 PM | Updated: 9:56 pm

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw got up from his press conference seat at the 2022 MLB All-Star Game Tuesday when he was alerted someone else had something to say.

A young boy named Blake walked up to the table and shared a story with the National League starter.

Blake’s grandfather was a major fan of the southpaw and had meeting Kershaw and former Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully on his bucket list. He died of brain cancer years ago, though, and never got the chance to cross that item off.

That’s what brought Blake to Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, to meet Kershaw for his grandfather.

The youngster started to tear up when sharing his story, and Kershaw got up to give him a hug.

“It’s great to meet you,” Kershaw said. “Thanks for telling me, it took a lot of courage to tell me that.”

The two then shook hands and Blake thanked Kershaw for his time. Kershaw made the room full of reporters laugh by asking Blake if he had a parent present.

He did, and they took a photo before Blake went in for one last hug.

The All-Star Game was filled with memorable exchanges on the field with mic’d up pitchers and soon-to-be hall of famer David Ortiz running around the dugout interacting with players on camera.

The backstage story with Kershaw and Blake was a highlight, one a family won’t soon forget.

character counts

Character Counts is a registered trademark of the Josephson Institute.

Character Counts

Follow @AZSports...
Character Counts

Michael Rubin helps Devin Booker surprise card-collecting superfan

Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin called Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker to surprise a superfan at a card shop. And Booker picked up.
2 days ago
Photo by Phoenix Suns....
Character Counts

Phoenix Suns Charities awards $275,000 in grants to 19 Valley nonprofits

Phoenix Suns Charities recently awarded $275,000 in grants to 19 Arizona nonprofits as part of its latest funding cycle during the 2022-23 NBA season.
3 days ago
Andrew Roe of Notre Dame Prep high school, winner of the Arizona Sports and Parker & Sons $10,000 C...
Zach Larson

Notre Dame’s Andrew Roe named Arizona Sports and Parker & Sons Character Counts winner

Notre Dame's Andrew Roe was diagnosed with a form of juvenile arthritis just two years ago and has turned the obstacle into something more.
4 days ago
(Twitter Photo/@DevNa79)...
Character Counts

Suns fan gifts tickets, surprise to boy struggling with bullying

An outspoken Phoenix Suns fan provided tickets to a young boy who had dealt with bullying at school and his mother.
13 days ago
Arizona Cardinals OL Kelvin Beachum gives back to Champion Schools: South Mountain on Monday, Dec. ...
Tyler Drake

Kelvin Beachum’s charitable reach goes far beyond a national scope

Arizona Cardinals free agent OL Kelvin Beachum isn't limiting his charitable reach to just the United States.
19 days ago
James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the second quarter against the Portland T...
Wills Rice

Former Sun Devil James Harden supports fan affected in MSU shooting

Former Sun Devil and current 76ers guard James Harden stepped up big time to support a fan that was affected by the Michigan State shooting.
1 month ago
Young fan meets Clayton Kershaw to fulfill grandfather’s bucket list dream