Los Angeles Dodgers pitching great Clayton Kershaw tearfully insisted he was "not sad" as he announced Thursday he will retire after the Major League Baseball season.

Kershaw, a two-time World Series champion and three-time Cy Young Award-winner, has spent all of his 18 seasons with the Dodgers.

He is scheduled to take the mound on Friday for his final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium when the team hosts the San Francisco Giants.

"I'm really not sad," the 37-year-old said as he choked back tears at a Dodger Stadium press conference hours after the club revealed the news.

"It's just emotional, and I've tried to hold it together."

Kershaw's decision comes after he contemplated walking away from the game after each of the past four seasons, and he said he and his wife, Ellen, had d

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