Roger Clemens could have easily been regarded as the best pitcher in history if it weren’t for his performance enhancing drug connection. One can mindlessly say a man with a record seven Cy Youngs should be in the Hall of Fame, but a man with multiple steroid allegations from writers and former teammates can easily be curbed. Even after spending many years on the ballot, Clemens has still not be admitted into the Hall. Roger Clemens, donning the nickname “The Rocket,” finished his career nothing more than a great pitcher taken down by steroids.
It was 1984. Rookie pitcher Roger Clemens toed the mound for his first career start. Even though he did not find noteworthy success until 1986, Clemens went 9-4 with 126 strikeouts and a 4.32. In 1986, he truly broke out winning 24 games, striking out 238 batters, and posting a 2.48 earned run average in 254 innings pitched. To go along with the All Star Game MVP, he took home his first Cy Young award and won his only MVP. Although he was great for the rest of his career, Clemens never quite matched his numbers from his breakout 1986 season.
During the regular season, Roger put up a 354-184 record with 3.12 ERA over his 24 year career with the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Astros. He also compiled 4,672 strikeouts thanks to 97 mile per hour fastball that earned him the name “The Rocket.” He would win a Cy Young award in 1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, and 2004. Despite winning two World Series titles with the Yankees, Clemens was not a great postseason player. He went 12-8 with a 3.79 ERA in 197.1 innings pitched. He only had one postseason where his ERA was below three, and there were three separate occasions where his ERA was above 5.00.
He has a strong case for being one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball history if it weren’t for his involvement in the steroid era. Roger’s former trainer, Brian McNamee, testified that Clemens used anabolic steroids in his career. His former teammate, Roy Halladay, said via Twitter that Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens should not be allowed into the Hall of Fame. Many baseball writers and other Hall of Fame voters share Halladay’s views as Roger Clemens has not been elected in even though he has been on the ballot for 5+ years. It is still a question whether he will ever get in.
The record books show Roger Clemens as one of the best pitchers, maybe even players, to ever step on a baseball diamond. Many fans believe he is nothing more than a person with great potential who ruined his reputation by using drugs, or in other words, a rocket who knowingly used the wronged fuel and crashed.