MLB Hall of Fame: Breaking down the ballot
By David Hill
Roger Clemens – Sixth Year (51.7% in 2017)
Just like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens is slowly getting closer to the MLB Hall of Fame.
Also like Bonds, his career numbers are that of an inner circle Hall of Famer. Clemens was an 11 time All Star, and won seven Cy Young awards. He was the 1986 American League MVP in 1986, and twice won the pitching Triple Crown. Clemens had a lifetime 354-184 record, along with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.173 WHiP. He struck out 4672 batters, the third most in baseball history, trailing only Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson.
These statistics would seemingly be those of a first ballot Hall of Famer. However, as with Bonds, those PED rumors have persisted. Former trainer and confidant Brian McNamee claimed to have injected Clemens withhuman growth hormone, and produced syringes as proof. His teammate, Andy Pettitte, stated that he had conversations with Clemens about PED usage.
And yet, even if Clemens used PEDs, he was still one of the greatest pitchers of his time. His resurrection with the Blue Jays, and later with the Yankees, certainly raised eyebrows. However, at a time when it was suspected that a good number of players were using PEDs, Clemens still stood head and shoulders above the rest.
There will come a time when those players either suspected, or proven, to have used PEDs will be in the MLB Hall of Fame. When that day comes, Roger Clemens will be one of the first enshrined.