LOS ANGELES -- It was the middle of June, the San Diego Padres were in town for what promised to be a heated series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Joe Musgrove , their injured ace, had one thing on his mind:

Securing a signed Clayton Kershaw jersey.

Major league players often send each other jerseys for personalization, to commemorate friendship or admiration or even milestones. But Musgrove had done that only a handful of times in his nine years as a major leaguer -- all for former teammates he was once close with, never for a prominent member of the Padres' biggest rival.

"This is the first that I've sent one over in admiration for what someone has done for the game," said Musgrove, who grew up a Padres fan before ultimately pitching for the club. "I know he's flooded wit

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