Roger Clemens

1.1. Birth and Family Background

William Roger Clemens was born on August 4, 1962, in Dayton, Ohio. He was the fifth child of Bill and Bess (Lee) Clemens. His family lineage includes German descent, with his great-grandfather Joseph Clemens having immigrated in the 1880s. Clemens's parents separated when he was an infant, and his mother soon married Woody Booher, whom Roger considered his father. Booher's death when Clemens was nine years old deeply affected him; Clemens has stated that the only time he envied other players was when he saw them with their fathers in the clubhouse. He lived in Vandalia, Ohio, until 1977, before spending most of his high school years in Houston, Texas.

1.2. High School and College Baseball

At Spring Woods High School in Houston, Clemens played baseball under longtime head coach Charles Maiorana, and also participated in football and basketball. During his senior year, he was scouted by professional teams such as the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins, but he ultimately chose to attend college instead.

He began his college baseball career pitching for San Jacinto College North in 1981, where he achieved a 9-2 win-loss record. He then transferred to the University of Texas at Austin, compiling an impressive 25-7 record over two All-American seasons. Clemens was on the mound when the Longhorns won the 1983 College World Series, a significant achievement in his amateur career. He became the first player to have his baseball uniform number retired at the University of Texas. In 2004, the Rotary Smith Award, which recognized America's best college baseball player, was renamed the Roger Clemens Award in his honor, specifically for the best pitcher. While at Texas, Clemens pitched 35 consecutive scoreless innings, setting an NCAA record that stood until 2001.

2.1. Draft and Minor League Years

Clemens was initially selected by the New York Mets in the 12th round of the 1981 Major League Baseball draft, but he opted not to sign, choosing instead to pursue his college education. His talent was recognized again in the 1983 MLB draft, when he was selected in the first round as the 19th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox. He quickly ascended through the Red Sox's minor league system.

In 1983, Clemens played for two different A-ball and AA teams across two leagues. He pitched for the A-ball Winter Haven Red Sox in the Florida State League and the AA New Britain Red Sox in the Eastern League. With Winter Haven, he started all four games, pitching three complete games, including one shutout, without allowing any home runs. He posted a 3-1 record with a 1.24 earned run average and struck out 36 batters in 29 innings pitched, achieving a 0.759 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP). For New Britain, he started all seven games, recording one complete game shutout and allowing a single home run. His record was 4-1 with a 1.38 ERA, and he struck out 59 batters in 52 innings, with a 0.827 WHIP. His combined minor league statistics for 1983 included starting all 11 games he played, pitching four complete games with two shutouts, and allowing only one home run. He finished with a 7-2 record, a 1.33 ERA, 95 strikeouts in 81 innings, and a 0.802 WHIP.

Clemens began the 1984 season with the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox in the International League. In seven appearances, he started six games, completing three, one of which was a shutout. Despite a 2-3 record and a 1.136 WHIP, he maintained a 1.93 ERA and struck out 50 batters in 46 2/3 innings.

2.2. Boston Red Sox (1984-1996)

Roger Clemens made his Major League debut on May 15, 1984, at Cleveland Stadium. Early in his career, an undiagnosed torn labrum threatened to prematurely end his pitching career, but he underwent successful arthroscopic surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews, which allowed him to return to form.

On April 29, 1986, at Fenway Park, Clemens achieved a career-high 20 strikeouts in a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners, becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to record 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game. This historic performance earned him the cover of Sports Illustrated with the headline "Lord of the K's [strikeouts]." Only Kerry Wood and Max Scherzer have since matched this 20-strikeout total in a nine-inning game. While Randy Johnson also fanned 20 batters in nine innings in 2001, the game extended into extra innings, differentiating it from a regulation nine-inning game. Tom Cheney holds the overall record with 21 strikeouts in a 16-inning game.

Clemens was selected to start the 1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, played in his hometown of Houston at the Astrodome, and was named the Most Valuable Player for pitching three perfect innings and striking out two. In 1986, he also won the first of his record seven Cy Young Awards and was named the American League MVP, finishing the season with an impressive 24-4 record, a 2.48 ERA, and 238 strikeouts. When baseball legend Hank Aaron controversially stated that pitchers should not be eligible for the MVP award, Clemens responded, "I wish he were still playing. I'd probably crack his head open to show him how valuable I was." Clemens was the only starting pitcher since Vida Blue in 1971 to win a league MVP award until Justin Verlander achieved the feat in 2011. Clemens credited Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver's brief stint with the Red Sox in 1986 for helping him transition from being a "thrower" to a more refined "pitcher."

In the 1986 ALCS against the California Angels, Clemens had a mixed performance. He struggled in the opening game, then watched the Boston bullpen squander his 3-1 lead in the ninth inning of Game 4. However, he delivered a strong Game 7, securing the series victory for Boston, which marked his first career postseason win. This victory would be his only postseason win for 13 years. Leading 3-2 over the New York Mets in the 1986 World Series, Clemens was scheduled to start Game 6 at Shea Stadium on five days' rest. He began dominantly, striking out eight batters and holding the Mets hitless through four innings. In the top of the eighth inning, with Boston leading 3-2, manager John McNamara controversially pulled Clemens for a pinch hitter. While it was initially reported that Clemens was removed due to a blister, both Clemens and McNamara later disputed this. Clemens told Bob Costas on an MLB Network program that McNamara decided to pull him despite his desire to continue pitching, whereas McNamara claimed Clemens "begged out" of the game. The Mets subsequently rallied to win both Game 6 and Game 7, claiming the World Series title.

The Red Sox had a difficult 1987 season, finishing with a 78-84 record, but Clemens continued his individual dominance. He won his second consecutive Cy Young Award with a 20-9 record, a 2.97 ERA, 256 strikeouts, and seven shutouts, becoming the first American League pitcher to achieve back-to-back 20-win seasons since Tommy John in 1979-1980. Boston experienced renewed success in 1988 and 1990, clinching the AL East Division title in both years, but were swept by the Oakland Athletics in each ALCS matchup. A notable low point in his postseason career came in the second inning of the final game of the 1990 ALCS, when he was ejected for arguing balls and strikes with umpire Terry Cooney, further emphasizing the Athletics' four-game sweep. This ejection led to a five-game suspension for the start of the 1991 season and a 10.00 K USD fine.

In 1988, Clemens led the American League with 291 strikeouts and a career-high eight shutouts. On September 10, 1988, he pitched a one-hitter against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park, with Dave Clark's eighth-inning single being the only hit he allowed. On April 13, 1989, in a 9-1 victory over Cleveland, Clemens recorded his 1,000th career strikeout by fanning Brook Jacoby with the bases loaded in the second inning. In the 1990 AL Cy Young Award voting, Clemens finished second to Oakland's Bob Welch, despite significantly superior statistics in ERA (1.93 to 2.95), strikeouts (209 to 127), walks (54 to 77), home runs allowed (7 to 26), and WAR (10.4 to 2.9). He did, however, secure his third Cy Young Award in 1991, posting an 18-10 record, a 2.62 ERA, and 241 strikeouts. On June 21, 1989, Clemens surrendered the first of Sammy Sosa's 609 career home runs. This period highlighted Clemens's continued dominance despite the Red Sox's varying team successes.

On September 18, 1996, at Tiger Stadium, he achieved his second career 20-strikeout game in a 4-0 win over the Detroit Tigers. This second 20-K performance occurred in his third-to-last game as a Red Sox player. The Tigers later presented him with a baseball signed by every batter he had struck out in that game, with those who struck out multiple times signing accordingly.

Following the 1996 season, despite leading the American League with 257 strikeouts and being offered what was reportedly the largest contract in Red Sox franchise history, the Red Sox did not re-sign Clemens. General Manager Dan Duquette controversially remarked that he "hoped to keep him in Boston during the twilight of his career," a comment that gained notoriety after Clemens's subsequent success outside of Boston. Clemens ultimately signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. After leaving the Red Sox, Clemens went on to achieve a record of 162-73 for the remainder of his career. For the Red Sox, he recorded 192 wins and 38 shutouts, both tied with Cy Young for the franchise record, and remains their all-time strikeout leader with 2,590. His overall postseason record with Boston was 1-2 with a 3.88 ERA, 45 strikeouts, and 19 walks in 56 innings. Notably, no Red Sox player has worn his uniform number 21 since he departed the team after the 1996-97 offseason.

2.3. Toronto Blue Jays (1997-1998)

After the 1996 season, Clemens signed a four-year, 40.00 M USD deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. In his first start back at Fenway Park as a Blue Jay, he pitched eight dominant innings, allowing only four hits and one earned run. Sixteen of his 24 outs were strikeouts, and every batter he faced struck out at least once. As he left the field after his final inning, he reportedly glared angrily towards the owner's box, a gesture interpreted as a defiant message to his former team.

Clemens delivered a dominant performance in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, winning the pitching Triple Crown (leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts) and the Cy Young Award in both years. In 1997, he posted a 21-7 record with a 2.05 ERA and 292 strikeouts, followed by a 20-6 record with a 2.65 ERA and 271 strikeouts in 1998. After the 1998 season, Clemens requested a trade, stating his belief that the Blue Jays would not be competitive enough the following year and his dedication to winning a championship.

2.4. New York Yankees (1999-2003)

Before the 1999 season, the Blue Jays traded Clemens to the New York Yankees in exchange for David Wells, Homer Bush, and Graeme Lloyd. Since his long-standing uniform number 21 was already being worn by teammate Paul O'Neill, Clemens initially wore number 12 before switching to number 22 mid-season.

During the 1999 regular season, Clemens recorded a 14-10 record with a 4.60 ERA. In the postseason, he earned two wins, though he lost Game 3 of the 1999 ALCS in a highly anticipated matchup against Red Sox ace Pedro Martínez, which was the Yankees' only loss in the 1999 playoffs. Clemens secured the Yankees' Game 4 clinching victory over the Atlanta Braves in the World Series, yielding only one run in 7 2/3 innings.

He followed this with a strong 2000 season, finishing with a 13-8 record and a 3.70 ERA in the regular season. Although Clemens lost two games in the ALDS against Oakland, the Yankees advanced by winning the other three games. In Game 4 of the ALCS against Seattle, Clemens set an ALCS record by striking out 15 batters in a one-hit shutout. He also pitched eight scoreless innings in Game 2 of the 2000 World Series against the New York Mets.

In 2001, Clemens became the first pitcher in MLB history to start a season with a 20-1 win-loss record, ultimately finishing 20-3, and earned his sixth Cy Young Award. He started for the Yankees in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, engaging in a tight duel with Curt Schilling for six innings, allowing only one run before the Diamondbacks won in the ninth.

In early 2003, Clemens announced his retirement, effective at the end of that season. On June 13, 2003, pitching against the St. Louis Cardinals at Yankee Stadium, Clemens achieved two significant career milestones in the same game: his 300th career win and 4,000th career strikeout. He is the only player in history to reach both milestones simultaneously. This 300th win came on his fourth attempt, as the Yankees' bullpen had previously squandered his chances in his two preceding starts. He became the 21st pitcher to record 300 wins and the third to reach 4,000 strikeouts (after Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, and Steve Carlton). His career record upon reaching these milestones was 300-155. Clemens concluded the 2003 season with a 17-9 record and a 3.91 ERA.

The end of Clemens's 2003 season was marked by a series of public farewells, met with appreciative cheers from fans. His final games in each American League park received special attention, particularly his last regular-season appearance at Fenway Park, where, despite wearing the uniform of a rival team, he received a standing ovation from Red Sox fans as he exited the field. This spectacle was repeated when the Yankees faced the Red Sox in the 2003 ALCS, providing Clemens with a second "final start" at his original stadium. As part of a tradition by manager Joe Torre, Clemens was chosen to manage the Yankees' last regular-season game. He made one start in the World Series against the Florida Marlins; when he left trailing 3-1 after seven innings, the Marlins' dugout gave him a standing ovation.

2.5. Houston Astros (2004-2006)

Clemens came out of retirement on January 12, 2004, signing a one-year deal with his adopted hometown team, the Houston Astros, and joining close friend and former Yankees teammate Andy Pettitte. On May 5, 2004, Clemens recorded his 4,137th career strikeout, placing him second on the all-time list behind Nolan Ryan. He was named the starting pitcher for the National League All-Star team but was the losing pitcher in that game after allowing six runs on five hits, including a three-run home run to Alfonso Soriano. Clemens finished the season with an 18-4 record and was awarded his seventh Cy Young Award, making him the oldest player ever to win the award at age 42. This achievement also made him one of six pitchers (joining Gaylord Perry, Pedro Martínez, Randy Johnson, and later Roy Halladay and Max Scherzer) to win the award in both the American and National Leagues. Clemens was the losing pitcher for the Astros in Game Seven of the 2004 NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals, giving up four runs in six innings. Although he pitched effectively for much of the game, he tired in the sixth inning, surrendering all four runs.

Clemens again decided to postpone retirement before the 2005 season after the Astros offered him salary arbitration. The Astros submitted an offer of 13.50 M USD, and Clemens countered with a record 22.00 M USD demand. On January 21, 2005, both sides agreed on a one-year, 18.02 M USD contract, thereby avoiding arbitration. This deal set a new record for the highest yearly salary earned by a pitcher in MLB history.

Clemens's 2005 season was one of his finest. His 1.87 ERA was the lowest in Major League Baseball, the lowest of his 22-season career, and the lowest by any National Leaguer since Greg Maddux in 1995. He concluded the season with a 13-8 record, with his relatively lower win total primarily attributed to receiving very little run support; the Astros scored an average of only 3.5 runs per game in games where he was the pitcher of record. The Astros were shut out nine times in Clemens's 32 starts, and failed to score in a tenth game until after Clemens had exited. The Astros lost five of Clemens's starts by scores of 1-0. In April, Clemens did not allow a run in three consecutive starts, yet the Astros lost all three of those games by a 1-0 score in extra innings.

Clemens secured an emotional victory on September 15, 2005, pitching on the morning of his mother's death. In his final start of the 2005 regular season, Clemens recorded his 4,500th strikeout. On October 9, 2005, Clemens made his first relief appearance since 1984, entering as a pinch hitter in the 15th inning, then pitching three innings to earn the win as the Astros defeated the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the NLDS. This game, lasting 18 innings, is the longest postseason game in MLB history. Clemens lasted only two innings in Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, as he had aggravated a hamstring pull that had affected his performance since at least September. The Astros were subsequently swept by the Chicago White Sox in their first World Series appearance.

Clemens stated he would retire again after the World Series but wished to represent the United States in the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic, which was played in March 2006. In the tournament, he went 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA, striking out 10 batters in 8 2/3 innings. After pitching in a second-round loss to Mexico that eliminated the United States, Clemens began contemplating a return to the major leagues. On May 31, 2006, following another period of speculation, it was announced that Clemens was coming out of retirement for the third time to pitch for the Astros for the remainder of the 2006 season. He signed a contract worth 22.02 M USD (corresponding to his uniform number 22); as he did not play a full season, he received a prorated sum of approximately 12.25 M USD. Clemens made his return on June 22, 2006, against the Minnesota Twins, losing 4-2 to their rookie phenom, Francisco Liriano. For the second consecutive year, his win total did not fully reflect his performance, as he finished the season with a 7-6 record, a 2.30 ERA, and a 1.04 WHIP. However, Clemens averaged just under six innings per start and never pitched into the eighth inning.

2.6. Return to the Yankees (2007)

Clemens made an unexpected appearance in the owner's box at Yankee Stadium on May 6, 2007, during the seventh-inning stretch of a game against the Seattle Mariners. He made a brief statement: "Thank y'all. Well they came and got me out of Texas, and uhh, I can tell you it's a privilege to be back. I'll be talkin' to y'all soon." Simultaneously, it was announced that Clemens had rejoined the Yankees roster, agreeing to a prorated one-year deal worth 28.02 M USD, equating to approximately 4.70 M USD per month for the remainder of the season, totaling 18.70 M USD over the contract's life, or just over 1.00 M USD per start that season.

Clemens made his 2007 return on June 9, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates by pitching six innings with seven strikeouts and three runs allowed. On June 21, with a single in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies, Clemens became the oldest New York Yankee to record a hit (44 years, 321 days). On June 24, Clemens pitched one inning in relief against the San Francisco Giants, marking a 22-year and 341-day gap since his previous regular-season relief appearance, the longest such interval in major league history. On July 2, Clemens collected his 350th win against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium, allowing just two hits and one run over eight innings. He is one of only three pitchers to play their entire career in the live-ball era and reach 350 wins, the others being Warren Spahn and Greg Maddux. His final regular-season appearance was a start against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, where he allowed two hits and one unearned run in six innings, receiving a no-decision. Clemens finished the 2007 regular season with a 6-6 record and a 4.18 ERA.

Clemens was forced to exit Game 3 of the 2007 ALDS in the third inning after aggravating a hamstring injury. He struck out Victor Martinez of the Cleveland Indians with his final pitch and was replaced by right-hander Phil Hughes. Yankees manager Joe Torre removed Clemens from the roster due to his injury, replacing him with left-hander Ron Villone. Clemens's overall postseason record with the Yankees was 7-4 with a 2.97 ERA, 98 strikeouts, and 35 walks in 102 innings.

2.7. Overall Career Statistics

Below is a table summarizing Roger Clemens's career statistics in Major League Baseball:

6.1. Family and Relationships

Roger Clemens married Debra Lynn Godfrey (born May 27, 1963) on November 24, 1984. The couple has four sons: Koby Aaron, Kory Allen, Kacy Austin, and Kody Alec. All their sons were given "K" names as a tribute to Clemens's strikeouts, which are often denoted by the letter "K" in baseball scoring. Koby was at one point a minor league prospect for several MLB clubs. Kacy played college baseball for the Texas Longhorns, as did Kody, who made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers on May 31, 2022.

Debra Clemens once left a Red Sox game in tears due to heckling she received when Clemens was pitching for another team. This incident is documented in an updated edition of Dan Shaughnessy's book, Curse of the Bambino. Debra was quoted in the book as attributing the team's historical inability to win the World Series (prior to their 2004 victory) to the "poor attitude of Red Sox fans."

Clemens is a member of the Republican Party and notably donated money to Texas congressman Ted Poe during his 2006 campaign. Debra Clemens also posed in a bikini with her husband for a Sports Illustrated pictorial featuring athletes and their wives, which appeared in the 2003 annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. Roger wore his Yankees uniform with the jersey open in the photo.

On February 27, 2006, as part of his training for the World Baseball Classic, Roger pitched in an exhibition game between the Astros and his son Koby's minor league team. In Koby's first at-bat, he hit a home run off his father. In their next encounter, Roger threw an inside pitch that nearly hit Koby, who reportedly laughed about the incident in a post-game interview.

6.2. Public Appearances and Media

Roger Clemens has appeared as himself in various films and television episodes, and has also taken on occasional acting roles. He is perhaps most widely recognized for his appearance in the season three episode of The Simpsons titled "Homer at the Bat", where he was recruited to the Springfield nuclear plant's softball team but was accidentally hypnotized into believing he was a chicken, even voicing his own clucking sounds.

Clemens has also made guest appearances as himself on television shows such as Hope & Faith, Spin City, Arli$, and Saturday Night Live. He appeared in the film Anger Management and made a brief cameo in Kingpin as the character "Skidmark." Additionally, he is shown playing an actual game with the Houston Astros in the film Boyhood. In 1994, he appeared in the movie Cobb as an unidentified pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics.

In 2003, Clemens was part of an advertising campaign for Armour hot dogs alongside fellow MLB players Ken Griffey Jr., Derek Jeter, and Sammy Sosa. Since 2005, he has also featured in numerous commercials for the Texas-based supermarket chain H-E-B. In 2007, he appeared on a baseball-themed episode of MythBusters titled "Baseball Myths". He also starred in a commercial for Cingular that parodied his return from retirement, humorously depicting a dropped call to his wife, Debra Godfrey, as the reason for his return to the Yankees.

Clemens released an early autobiography, Rocket Man: The Roger Clemens Story, written with Peter Gammons, in 1987. He also serves as the spokesperson for Champion car dealerships in South Texas. In April 2009, an unauthorized biography by Jeff Pearlman, titled The Rocket that Fell to Earth-Roger Clemens and the Rage for Baseball Immortality, was published, focusing on his childhood and early career and making accusations against Mike Piazza of using steroids. On May 12, Clemens publicly denounced a heavily researched exposé by four investigative reporters from the New York Daily News titled American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in America's Pastime, calling the book "garbage" on ESPN's Mike and Mike show. However, a review by Michiko Kakutani of The New York Times described the book as "gripping" and compared it to the work of Bob Woodward.

7.1. On-Field Behavior and Public Comments

Clemens earned a reputation as a pitcher unafraid to throw pitches close to batters, leading to him being labeled a "headhunter." Although he led his league in hit batsmen only once, in 1995, he was frequently among the leaders in other seasons. This tendency was more pronounced earlier in his career before tapering off. Following a game in the 2000 ALCS against the Seattle Mariners, where he knocked down future teammate Alex Rodriguez and subsequently argued with him, Seattle manager Lou Piniella publicly called Clemens a "headhunter." His prior beaning of Mike Piazza earlier that year, followed by throwing a broken bat in Piazza's direction during the 2000 World Series, cemented Clemens's image as a surly and unapologetic figure in the minds of many. In 2009, former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston publicly condemned Clemens as a "double-talker" and "a complete asshole." Despite his reputation, Clemens ranked 14th all-time in hit batsmen after the 2020 season, a rate comparable to other prominent pitchers of his era, such as Nolan Ryan, Justin Verlander, and Greg Maddux (approximately 1 hit batsman per 125 batters faced).

Over the years, Clemens also attracted controversy for his outspoken comments, such as complaining about carrying his own luggage through an airport and criticizing Fenway Park as a subpar facility. On April 4, 2006, he made an insulting remark when asked about the devotion of Japanese and South Korean fans during the World Baseball Classic, stating: "None of the dry cleaners were open, they were all at the game, Japan and Korea." Towards the end of his career, his annual on-and-off "retirements" fueled a perception of "diva-like" behavior.

Clemens has also received criticism for receiving special treatment from the teams he played for. While with the Houston Astros, he was not obligated to travel with the team on road trips if he was not scheduled to pitch. His 2007 contract with the New York Yankees included a "family plan" clause that excused him from road trips when not scheduled to pitch and allowed him to leave the team between starts to be with his family. These perks were publicly criticized by Yankee reliever Kyle Farnsworth. However, most of Clemens's teammates did not express complaints, citing his success on the mound and valuable presence in the clubhouse. Yankee teammate Jason Giambi notably defended Clemens, stating, "I'd carry his bags for him, just as long as he is on the mound."

7.2. Performance-Enhancing Drug (PED) Accusations

The accusations of performance-enhancing drug (PED) use have been the most significant controversy of Roger Clemens's career. In José Canseco's 2005 book, Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big, Canseco implied Clemens's expert knowledge of steroids and suggested his use, citing Clemens's improved performance after leaving the Red Sox. While not directly addressing the allegations, Clemens remarked, "I could care less about the rules [sic]," and "I've talked to some friends of his and I've teased them that when you're under house arrest and have ankle bracelets on, you have a lot of time to write a book."

Later, Jason Grimsley named Clemens, along with Andy Pettitte, as users of performance-enhancing drugs. According to a search warrant affidavit signed by IRS Special Agent Jeff Novitzky, Grimsley told investigators he obtained amphetamines, anabolic steroids, and human growth hormone from someone recommended by former Yankees trainer Brian McNamee. McNamee had been a personal strength coach for both Clemens and Pettitte, hired by Clemens in 1998. At the time of Grimsley's revelations, McNamee initially denied any knowledge of steroid use by Clemens and Pettitte. However, despite initial media reports, the affidavit itself made no direct mention of Clemens or Pettitte.

Clemens's name was mentioned 82 times in the Mitchell Report on steroid use in baseball. In the report, McNamee stated that he injected Clemens with Winstrol during the 1998, 2000, and 2001 baseball seasons. Clemens's attorney, Rusty Hardin, denied these claims, characterizing McNamee as "a troubled and unreliable witness" who had changed his story multiple times to avoid criminal prosecution. Hardin also pointed out that Clemens had never tested positive in a steroid test. Former U.S. Senator George J. Mitchell, who authored the report, stated that he conveyed the allegations to each implicated athlete and offered them an opportunity to respond before publishing his findings.

On January 6, 2008, Clemens appeared on 60 Minutes to publicly address the allegations. He told Mike Wallace that his career longevity was a result of "hard work" rather than illegal substances, vehemently denying McNamee's assertions of steroid injections, stating it "never happened." On January 7, Clemens filed a defamation lawsuit against McNamee, claiming the former trainer had lied under duress from threatened prosecution. McNamee's attorneys argued that his cooperation with federal officials compelled his statements, thus protecting them. A federal judge agreed, dismissing all claims related to McNamee's statements to investigators on February 13, 2009, but allowed the case to proceed concerning statements McNamee made about Clemens to Pettitte.

On February 13, 2008, Clemens testified under oath before a Congressional committee, alongside Brian McNamee. Clemens swore that he did not take steroids, did not discuss human growth hormone (HGH) with McNamee, did not attend a party at José Canseco's where steroids were discussed, and was only injected with B-12 and lidocaine, and critically, that he never told Pettitte he had taken HGH. This last point directly contradicted testimony given by Pettitte under oath on February 4, 2008. Pettitte had stated that he relayed to McNamee a conversation he had with Clemens, in which Clemens had told him that McNamee had injected Clemens with HGH. Pettitte claimed McNamee reacted angrily, stating that Clemens "shouldn't have done that."

Citing seven apparent inconsistencies in Clemens's testimony, the bipartisan House committee recommended that the Justice Department investigate whether Clemens had committed perjury by lying under oath about using performance-enhancing drugs. In a letter dated February 27, 2008, sent to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman Henry Waxman and ranking Republican Tom Davis stated that Clemens's testimony-that he "never used anabolic steroids or human growth hormone"-warranted further investigation.

As a direct consequence of the Mitchell Report, Clemens was asked to end his involvement with the Giff Nielsen Day of Golf for Kids charity tournament in Houston, which he had hosted for four years. Furthermore, his name was removed from the Houston-based Roger Clemens Institute for Sports Medicine, which was subsequently renamed the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute.

Following a "renewed interest in the case in the final months of 2008" by Washington prosecutors, a federal grand jury was convened in January 2009 to hear evidence regarding Clemens's possible perjury before Congress. The grand jury indicted Clemens on August 19, 2010, on charges of making false statements to Congress about his use of performance-enhancing drugs. The indictment included one count of obstruction of Congress, three counts of making false statements, and two counts of perjury related to his February 2008 testimony.

Clemens pleaded not guilty to the charges. His first trial began on July 13, 2011, but on the second day of testimony, the judge declared a mistrial due to prosecutorial misconduct after prosecutors presented prejudicial evidence that was not permitted. Clemens was subsequently retried, and the verdict from his second trial came on June 18, 2012. Clemens was found not guilty on all six counts of lying to Congress regarding his performance-enhancing drug use in 2008.

In January 2016, after Clemens again failed to receive the necessary votes for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, former major-league star Roy Halladay tweeted "No Clemens no Bonds" as part of a message indicating that no performance-enhancing substance users should be admitted into the Hall. Clemens responded by accusing Halladay of using amphetamines during his playing career.

7.3. Personal Conduct Issues

Beyond the on-field and PED-related controversies, Roger Clemens also faced public allegations regarding his personal conduct, particularly concerning extramarital affairs, which further impacted his public image.

In April 2008, the New York Daily News reported on a possible long-term relationship between Clemens and country music singer Mindy McCready that allegedly began when she was 15 years old. Clemens's attorney, Rusty Hardin, denied the affair, stating that Clemens would file a defamation suit. Hardin acknowledged that a relationship existed but described McCready as a "close family friend," adding that she had traveled on Clemens's private jet and that Clemens's wife was aware of the relationship. However, when contacted by the Daily News, McCready stated, "I cannot refute anything in the story."

On November 17, 2008, McCready provided more detailed information to Inside Edition about her affair with Clemens, claiming their relationship lasted for over a decade and ended when Clemens refused to leave his wife to marry her. She denied that the relationship began when she was 15, clarifying that they met when she was 16 and the affair became sexual "several years later." In a soon-to-be-released sex tape by Vivid Entertainment, she reportedly claimed her first sexual encounter with Clemens occurred when she was 21. A few days after the Daily News broke the story about the McCready relationship, they reported on another alleged extramarital relationship involving Clemens, this time with Paulette Dean Daly, the now ex-wife of professional golfer John Daly. Daly declined to elaborate on the nature of her relationship with the pitcher but did not deny that it was romantic and included financial support.

There have been additional reports of Clemens having at least three other affairs with women. On April 29, 2008, the New York Post reported that Clemens had relationships with two or more women, one a former bartender in Manhattan who refused comment, and another from Tampa who could not be located. On May 2 of the same year, the Daily News reported that a stripper in Detroit called a local radio station claiming to have had an affair with Clemens. It was also reported that Clemens gave tickets to baseball games, jewelry, and trips to women he was pursuing.

8.1. Overall Legacy

Roger Clemens's overall legacy in baseball is one of profound statistical achievement and unmatched pitching dominance during his prime, offset by serious accusations of performance-enhancing drug use. He holds an unprecedented seven Cy Young Awards and ranks among the all-time leaders in wins and strikeouts. His fierce competitiveness and ability to dominate games for over two decades placed him in conversations as arguably the greatest pitcher of his era, if not all time. However, the allegations of steroid use and his subsequent legal battles have cast a long shadow, leading to a polarizing debate about how his career should be evaluated. His story highlights the ethical challenges faced by baseball and the ongoing struggle to balance historical performance with questions of integrity in the sport.

8.2. National Baseball Hall of Fame Candidacy

Roger Clemens's candidacy for the Hall of Fame has been severely hampered by the performance-enhancing drug (PED) allegations. In the 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, his first year of eligibility, he received only 37.6% of the votes cast by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA), falling significantly short of the 75% required for induction. While his vote percentage gradually increased in subsequent elections, reaching 59.5% in 2019, 61.0% in 2020, and 61.6% in 2021, he never reached the 75% threshold. He concluded his ten years of eligibility with 65.2% of the votes in 2022.

With the inductions of Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine in 2014, and Randy Johnson in 2015, Clemens remains the only eligible member of the 300 win club not to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Despite falling off the BBWAA ballot, Clemens is still eligible for induction through the Hall of Fame's Today's Game Committee, sometimes referred to as the "veterans committee." This committee, composed of 16 members including Hall of Famers, executives, and veteran media members, considers retired players who have notable contributions to baseball from 1986-2016 but who lost ballot eligibility. The most recent vote by this committee occurred in December 2022, requiring 12 votes for induction. Clemens received fewer than four votes out of sixteen cast, and as a result, was not selected for induction at that time.