Clayton Kershaw to Wear Awesome Custom Skechers Cleats in NLDS
Clayton Kershaw and Skechers are teaming up to release a series of Kershaw- designed and inspired footwear options, starting with a slick looking pair of cleats that Kershaw will wear in the NLDS.
According to Kershaw: “I’ve spent my entire career here in Los Angeles, so it feels perfect that I’m partnering with Skechers—a Los Angeles original since 1992…I’ve been working with the design team on several styles, and I am extremely impressed with the performance and comfort offered by Skechers. We have some unexpected and exciting ideas that fans will love.”
From Skechers:
“We are fortunate to have Clayton Kershaw, one of the best pitchers in baseball today, wearing Skechers,” added Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers. “Clayton proves that the comfort and performance of Skechers footwear delivers even when you’re at the top of your game. Fans have already seen Skechers on the mound in the middle of the action, and we’ll soon follow with a full marketing campaign supporting our performance and athletic lifestyle men’s collections. Clayton’s energy, talent, and international fanbase make this partnership a home run for Skechers for years to come.”
Here’s some more info from Clayton and Skechers on the design process:
Clayton Kershaw: Baseball is an everyday sport, so the shoes you wear have to be comfortable. When I got to try on Skechers and the cleats that they made for me – it was a perfect match. I think comfort is one of the most important parts of my job – being able to pitch well and work out well – and Skechers did that.
What was it like working with Skechers on developing the shoe?
CK: I’ve been wearing the same cleats for basically my whole career and didn’t think I was super high- maintenance or stubborn about what I wore, but when it came time to pick a different brand, I realized I was. I just could not find the right match. I kept trying different shoes and it wasn’t working out.
Skechers came along and said we can do this for you. I thought let’s give it a shot and sure enough they showed up. I tried them on, and they fit great – super comfortable. Even gave them a baseball test, started throwing in them and running around in them, and I was thoroughly impressed by that.
What do you look for in a training shoe and how did this affect the development of your Skechers training shoe?
CK: We were going through what I wanted in a shoe and found out there were a lot of specifics. I hoped Skechers could come through with it and they did – they matched every single part of what I requested. You’re dragging off the mound on every single throw for every start – 100 pitches a game. So, the sturdiness and toughness of the shoe is super important, but also the comfort too.
What do the three C’s stand for?
CK: If you get to design a cleat, you try to make it a little more personal. My daughter and son, Cali and Charley are both named with “C’s” and our third son due in January will likely be named with a “C.” I thought it would be a cool element to add them to the mix.
You recently set the record for most wins by a Dodgers left hander. How does it feel to be in the same conversation as a Dodger legend like Sandy Koufax?
CK: Sandy is a super special person in my life. When I got to pass him on the strikeout list it was a special moment. I think more than anything, the Dodgers history, what that stands for, and getting to have Sandy around for my whole career has been special. To get to be in the same breath and the same company as him is very special.
Do you have any unique game day rituals?
CK: Game day has changed a little bit. I think it’s not so much that I am quiet or reserved, it’s that I’m hyper-focused on one thing. You’re trying to get ready to perform at 7:10 – it’s always in the back of your mind. But now with kids, I just try to turn it on when I get to the field.
What would it mean to win the World Series? And for the Dodgers?
CK: We’ve recently just made the playoffs again this year and we’re trying to win the World Series. You know playing a team sport that’s the most important thing. You can set individual records and you can win individual awards, but at the end of the day all of that stuff doesn’t really matter to me. I just really want to win a world series and I hope we do that this year.
Heading towards a third straight post season—what’s different in the final stretch this year?
CK: I think our chances of winning are great. I don’t really compare year to year. It’s too hard to do. Every year is so different. Every year there’s different circumstance that changes the timeline or changes the opportunity – but this year, we’ve got a great chance. Just as good a chance as anybody else and maybe a little better than some, so we’re looking forward to the challenge.
