Books and articles about Roger Clemens

As a youngster, Clemens idolized all-time strikeout king Nolan Ryan, and in less than five full major-league seasons he had emerged as Ryan's rival as baseball's most overpowering pitcher. The physically imposing, 6'4" 220-pound Clemens' confident attitude bordered on arrogance, but his impeccable mechanics, outstanding control, a good curveball, and a 95-mph fastball often left batters flailing helplessly. In his first two full seasons, Clemens became only the fourth pitcher ever to win back-to-back Cy Young Awards, pitching 18 shutouts in his first 139 starts. He also established a major-league record with 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game -- a feat he repeated a decade later.

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Originally drafted by the Mets out of high school (which would have put him on the same staff as Dwight Gooden) Clemens opted to pitch in college instead of signing. He compiled a 25-7 record in two All-American seasons at the University of Texas and won the 1983 College World Series championship game. In doing so, Clemens became the first Texas alumnus to have his baseball uniform number retired, on a staff that included future major leaguers Greg Swindell, Calvin Schiraldi, and Bruce Ruffin.

Drafted in the first round (19th player overall) by the Red Sox that June, Clemens tore through Boston's minor-league system, fanning 36 batters in 29 innings at Class-A Winter Haven and striking out 59 more in 52 innings at Double-A New Britain before winning the Eastern League championship game with a three-hit shutout. In 1984, he began the season at Triple-A Pawtucket, struck out 50 in 39 innings, and was promoted to the majors in early May. On August 21, he fanned 15 Royals and walked none. He finished the 1995 season 9-4, but shoulder troubles limited him to a disappointing 15 starts and he was forced to undergo surgery on August 30.

Clemens's shoulder was still a question mark at the start of the 1986 season, but the 24-year-old responded with one of the finest pitching seasons in major-league history. He won his first three starts and, on April 29, leaped into the national spotlight with 20 strikeouts in a 3-1 win over Seattle, breaking the record of 19 shared by Ryan, Steve Carlton, and Tom Seaver. In that game, Clemens tied an AL record with eight consecutive strikeouts and didn't walk a single batter. Red Sox manager John McNamara said afterwards, "I watched perfect games by Catfish Hunter and Mike Witt, but this was the most awesome pitching performance I've ever seen."

Clemens ran his record to 14-0 before losing to Toronto on July 2, pitched three perfect innings to win the All-Star Game MVP award (and the game), and finished the season 24-4 with a 2.48 ERA. It was the first of seven seasons in which Clemens would strike out at least 200 batters, tying the major league mark. Not only did he win the AL Cy Young Award, but he was also honored as the AL's Most Valuable Player.

After the season, Hank Aaron angered the star hurler by taking the opportunity to opine that pitcher should not be eligible for the MVP. "I wish he were still playing," said Clemens. "I'd probably crack his head open to show him how valuable I was."

Despite his regular-season dominance Clemens won only one of his four post-season starts in 1986 while achieving a number of dubious LCS records. He set the mark for most hits allowed (22) in a series, and tied the records for most runs allowed in one game (8), most earned runs allowed in one game (7), and most earned runs allowed in one series (11). (He did tie one positive standard with four consecutive strikeouts.) Clemens pitched more adequately in the World Series, but won neither of his starts. The Red Sox lost to the Mets in seven games, and it was reported that Clemens asked to be taken out of the infamous World Series Game 6 and leave it to Calvin Schiraldi to hold a 3-2 lead.

Clemens skipped spring training in 1987 in a contract squabble and was only 4-6 on June 12 that year, but he went 16-3 the rest of the way to finish 20-9 with a league-leading seven shutouts, winning his second consecutive Cy Young Award. In 1988, Clemens's 291 strikeouts set a Red Sox season mark, and he finished 18-12 with an AL-best eight shutouts. On September 10 he pitched a 6-0 one-hitter against Cleveland. In 1989, he had a spectacular start and finish, but in his middle 19 starts he was a human 7-8 with a 4.00 ERA. He ended the year 17-11 with a 3.13 ERA.

He bounced back in 1990 with a career-best and ML-leading 1.93 ERA and a 21-6 record in a season where he was limited to 31 starts by more shoulder problems. Clemens didn't surrender a home run after July 8, and none all season to righthanded batters. He went 6-0 with a 0.73 ERA in August, and during the season became the all-time Red Sox strikeout leader, passing Cy Young. But he lost the Cy Young to Oakland's 27-game winner Bob Welch.

Although his numbers were down from 1990, Clemens won his third Cy Young in 1991, leading the AL in shutouts (4) and ERA (2.62). He also led the majors in innings pitched and tied for strikeouts (241), notching 30 consecutive scoreless innings from April 9 through April 23. His 2.41 ERA in 1992 once again led the league, as did his five shutouts, but although he became the second pitcher to lead the league in ERA and shutouts three years in a row he finished third in Cy Young balloting.

For various reasons, Clemens became merely mortal over the next four seasons. He spent two stints on the DL in 1993 and finished with a losing record for the first time, with a bloated 4.46 ERA. He bounced back somewhat in the strike-shortened 1994 season, ranking second in the league in ERA and strikeouts with five 10-strikeout performances during the season, but the Sox were fading as a power and Clemens failed to get adequate run support. The downward career trend continued in 1995 when he started the season on the DL. He managed to win 10 games, but once again saw his ERA balloon to 4.18.

It seemed on the surface that Clemens' career was ending when he went only 10-13 in 1996. But he was distracted all season by ongoing debates with the front office about whether he would re-sign with the Red Sox and suffered from an appalling lack of run support. In fact, over the second half of the season, Clemens was as dominant as he was at the turn of the decade. He was 6-2, 2.09 in his last 10 starts, and after the All-Star break struck out 123 men in 111 1/3 innings. He also became the first AL pitcher since 1993 to get a regular-season base hit on May 23 in a pinch-hitting appearance against Seattle's Norm Charlton.

Then, on September 18, 1996, in a final rebuke to Red Sox management (particularly GM Dan Duquette) he tied his own major-league record 10 years after setting it by striking out 20 Tigers. His 257 strikeouts were tops in the AL -- less than two months later, he with the Blue Jays. He left Boston owning the team career records for games started (382), bases on balls (856), and strikeouts (2,590), and tied with Cy Young with 192 victories.

When Clemens signed a four-year, $40 million free agent deal with Toronto at the end of the season, most observers figured that the once-fearsome hurler had simply found a comfy place to spend his declining years. But the Rocket's righteous anger toward his former employers brought back the fire of his youth. He won his first 11 starts, threw nine complete games and three shutouts -- both tied for the AL lead with teammate Pat Hentgen, the 1996 Cy Young winner.

By leading the AL in wins (21-7), ERA (2.05), and strikeouts (292), Clemens won the pitcher's Triple Crown for the first time in the AL since Hal Newhouser did it with the Tigers in 1945 and became just the third four-time Cy Young winner after Carlton and Greg Maddux. And as if his dominating debut with the Blue Jays wasn't enough, Clemens turned in an unprecedented fifth Cy Young season in 1998. After a slow start, Clemens won his last 15 decisions; his 2.65 ERA, 20 wins, and 271 strikeouts made him only the fourth pitcher (after Grover Cleveland Alexander, Lefty Grove, and Sandy Koufax) to win the pitcher's Triple Crown in consecutive seasons.

That season, Clemens became just the eleventh pitcher in major-league history to rack up more than 3,000 strikeouts. He already had four special Ks at home -- his four sons, named Koby, Kory, Kacy, and Kody. When he won his fourth Cy Young in 1997, he had commented, ''I got one for Koby and Kory. I got one for Kasy, and I needed one for Kody,'' he said. ''It kind of takes the pressure off Dad a little bit.''

Trade rumors swirled around Clemens in 1998 and intensified when he exercised a little-known out in his contract that enabled him to demand a trade after two seasons with the Blue Jays. Even though Clemens eventually withdrew his trade demand, he was dealt anyway to the New York Yankees for pitchers David Wells and Graeme Lloyd and second baseman Homer Bush. Despite some rocky outings and a short stint on the DL, Clemens won his first five decisions in a Yankee uniform. His unbeaten streak stood at 20, an AL record, before ending at the hands of the New York Mets.

Clemens finished the season with a 14-10 record and a 4.60 ERA, hardly what the Yankees had hoped for. However, after suffering a humiliating loss to new Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez in Game Three of the ALCS (the only post-season contest the Yankee juggernaut would drop that year) Clemens redeemed himself in the Fall Classic. Given a chance to secure his first World Series ring, Roger closed out the Braves with 6 2/3 strong innings to pick up the clinching win in New York's sweep of Atlanta. (SCL/SW/JGR/HC)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 12, 1907: In a 2-0 win against the Yankees at Hilltop Park, Washington's Walter Johnson strikes out five batters, though it'll be recorded as four K's. Researcher John Schwartz, in the 1990s, will find the extra K, resulting in Johnson's lifetime total of 3,509. The issue crops up again on Opening Day, 2001, when Roger Clemens ties (or beats) the mark. » October 3, 1972: The Tigers clinch the AL East as Woodie Fryman beats Luis Tiant 3–1 for his 10th win. Chuck Seelbach picks up his 14th save and Al Kaline singles in the winning run for Detroit. Tiant hits a single in the game; not until Roger Clemens singles in 1996 will another Sox pitcher get a hit in the same game he pitches. Fryman also singles, off Tiant; not till interleague play in 1997 will another Tiger pitcher get a base hit. » June 6, 1975: Luis Tiant wins his 100th game as a Red Sox, defeating Kansas City, 1–0. Boston's other 100+ winners include Cy Young (193), Mel Parnell (123), Joe Wood (112), Joe Dobson (106), and Lefty Grove (105) (Roger Clemens will join the group with 192). Carl Yastrzemski walks in the game, his 1,452nd, tying him for 10th on the all time list with Jimmie Foxx. » June 6, 1983: The Twins select pitcher Tim Belcher with the first pick in the annual June free-agent draft, but Belcher will reject their $125,000 signing bonus offer and pitch for Team USA in the Pan American Games instead. He is the only first-rounder who doesn't sign. Belcher will be the first selected in the January 1984 draft. The Twins 2nd round pick, P Billy Swift, also doesn't sign. The Reds take Kurt Stillwell with the 2nd pick overall and Chris Sabo on round 2. Roger Clemens is taken with the 19th pick. The A's get Terry Steinbach, Brian Dorsett, and Greg Cadaret on the 9th, 10th and 11th rounds. The Phillies pick Ricky Jordan on the 1st round. The Reds pick up Stillwell in the 1st round, Sabo and Joe Oliver in the 2nd round, Lenny Harris (5th) and Jeff Montgomery (9th). » May 20, 1984: Boston's Roger Clemens strikes out seven batters in seven innings en route to his first ML victory, 5–4 over the Twins. » August 6, 1984: The Tigers and Red Sox split, with Detroit outslugging Boston in the opener, 9–7, and Boston replying, 10–2. Aurelio Lopez (8–0) wins Game One in relief as Chet Lemon and Lance Parrish each hit homers and drive in three runs. Marty Barrett has four hits for the Sox in the opener and Wade Boggs does the same in the nitecap. Two of his hits are homers to fuel Roger Clemens to his 6th win. » August 21, 1984: Red Sox rookie Roger Clemens strikes out 15 and walks none as Boston whips Kansas City 11–1. » April 22, 1986: Detroit's Kirk Gibson sprains his ankle when his foot slips off the bag at Fenway. He'll be out till June 3. The Red Sox win today, 6–4, behind Roger Clemens (3–0). » April 29, 1986: Twenty-three-year-old Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens strikes out 20 batters in a 3–1 win over Seattle, breaking the major-league record of 19 shared by Nolan Ryan, Steve Carlton, and Tom Seaver. Clemens doesn't walk a batter, allows just three hits, and ties the American League record (Ryan and Davis) with eight consecutive strikeouts in the middle innings. » May 14, 1986: Reggie Jackson of the Angels homers off Boston's Roger Clemens to move past Mickey Mantle on the all-time list with 537, but Boston scores three runs in the top of the 9th to win 8–5. » May 25, 1986: Roger Clemens no-hits the Rangers for seven 2/3 innings before Oddibe McDowell singles and Clemens settles for a 2-hit 7–1 victory that improves his record to 8-0. » July 2, 1986: After 14 wins, Roger Clemens suffer his first loss as Toronto scores three times in the 8th inning to down Boston 4–2. Clemens was one game short of the American League record for consecutive wins at the start of a season. » July 15, 1986: At the Houston Astrodome, the American League wins the All-Star Game 3–2 for its 2nd triumph in the last 15 years. AL starter Roger Clemens pitches three perfect innings to win the game's MVP Award. » August 4, 1986: White Sox pitcher Jose DeLeon (2-0) beats Boston's Roger Clemens (17-4) for the 2nd time in five days 1–0 at Fenway Park. DeLeon and the White Sox also won 7–2 on July 30th. » August 30, 1986: Roger Clemens becomes the major leagues' first 20-game winner this season, striking out 11 Indians in a 7–3 victory to raise his record to 20-4. » October 7, 1986: In the ALCS opener, California behind Mike Witt downs Boston's 20-game winner Roger Clemens 8–1. » October 11, 1986: Trailing 3–0 entering the bottom of the 9th inning, California rallies for three runs off Roger Clemens and Calvin Schiraldi, and goes on to defeat the Red Sox 4–3 in 11 innings to take a 3-1 lead in the ALCS. » November 12, 1986: Roger Clemens wins the American League Cy Young Award unanimously, joining Denny McLain (1968) as the only pitchers to do so. » November 18, 1986: Roger Clemens becomes the first starting pitcher to win the American League MVP Award since Vida Blue in 1971, receiving 19 of a possible 28 first-place votes to defeat runner-up Don Mattingly. » June 26, 1987: Wade Boggs has his hitting streak snapped at 25 consecutive games and the Rocket sputters as Roger Clemens fails to hold a 9–0, 2nd-inning lead. Boston loses to New York 12–11 in 10 innings. The 9-run comeback ties a Yankee team record: Boston, alas, has blown bigger leads. » October 4, 1987: Boston's Roger Clemens closes out his season with a 2-hit, 12-strikeout, 4–0 win over the Brewers, improving his record to 20-9. Chris Bosio is the loser. » November 11, 1987: Roger Clemens becomes the first pitcher since Jim Palmer in 1975-76 to win consecutive Cy Young Awards, collecting 21 of 28 first-place votes to easily beat runner-up Jimmy Key. » May 10, 1988: Mark Langston strikes out a 16 batters in a 4–2 win over Toronto, equaling the 1988 ML high set yesterday by Boston's Roger Clemens in a 2–0 three-hitter over the Royals. » July 15, 1988: Roger Clemens strikes out 16 Royals for the 2nd time this season, sparking the Red Sox to a doubleheader sweep, 3–1 and 7–4, in Joe Morgan's managerial debut. » August 14, 1988: Detroit pounds Boston 18–6 at Fenway Park to end the Red Sox' American League-record home winning streak at 24 games, two shy of the major-league record held by the 1916 Giants. Roger Clemens gives up eight runs in 1 1/3 innings as the temperature hits 97 degrees. » August 6, 1989: It is Carl Yastrzemski day at Fenway and the Sox retire his uniform #8. Roger Clemens then retires just one batter before leaving, giving up three earned runs. But Boston scores four in the 3rd and two in the 8th to beat Cleveland, 6–4. » May 19, 1990: The Red Sox roll over the Twins at Fenway, winning 13–1, behind Roger Clemens. Tom Brunansky paces the 20 hit attack, going 5-for-5. » May 28, 1990: At Texas, Roger Clemens (8-2) and the Red Sox beat Charlie Hough, 2–1. The Rocket and the Knuckler combine to toss over to first base 51 times. Only Hough is around to finish. » July 20, 1990: Kevin Appier fires a shutout for the last-place Royals, beating Roger Clemens and the Red Sox, 5–0. The Sox take the nitecap, 3–1, scoring a pair on Mike Greenwell's 2-run homer off starter Luis Aquino (4–1). » August 26, 1990: The Red Sox shut out the Blue Jays for the 3rd consecutive day to extend their lead in the American League East to four games. Toronto, leading the ML in runs scored, loses 2–0, 1–0, and 1–0. Greg Harris (7 2/3 IP) is the winner today, Roger Clemens (CG) yesterday, and Dana Kiecker (8 IP) on the 24th. » August 30, 1990: Boston's Roger Clemens reaches 20 wins for the 3rd time in five years by beating Cleveland, 9–2. Rocket K's nine and walks none. » October 6, 1990: Boston's Roger Clemens pitches six shutout innings, but Oakland rallies for one run in the 7th, one in the 8th, and seven in the 9th to win Game One of the ALCS 9–1. The A's 7-run 9th ties the ALCS record for runs in an inning. » October 10, 1990: After Red Sox starter Roger Clemens is ejected in the 2nd inning for cursing at home plate umpire Terry Cooney, Oakland beats Boston 3–1 to complete a 4-game sweep of the ALCS and earn its 3rd-straight trip to the World Series. » November 20, 1990: Red Sox ace Roger Clemens is suspended for the first five games of the 1991 season and fined $10,000 for his outburst in game four of the ALCS. » January 20, 1991: Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens is arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer during a disturbance at a Houston nightclub. Clemens' brother Gary is also arrested. » February 8, 1991: Boston pitcher Roger Clemens signs a 4-year $21,521,000 contract extension, making him baseball's highest paid player. The contract calls for Clemens to receive $4.4 million in 1992, $4.5 million in 1993, $5 million in 1994, $5.5 million in 1995, and an option worth $5,830,250 for 1996. » April 23, 1991: In the top of the 6th at Fenway, the Jays John Olerud is at bat when Sox pitcher Roger Clemens catches Joe Carter napping and picks off the baserunner unassisted at 1B. Carter was caught by pitcher John Cerutti the same way in 1986. » April 26, 1991: Roger Clemens' appeal of the 5-game suspension and $10,000 fine levied against him for his confrontation with umpire Jim Evans and threat to "get" umpire Terry Cooney during the 1990 American League playoffs is denied by commissioner Fay Vincent. » May 12, 1991: At Fenway, the Red Sox celebrate "Ted Williams Day" by renaming Lansdowne Street, behind the LF wall, "Ted Williams Way." Boston then spoils an 8-inning effort by Roger Clemens and loses in 10 innings to the White Sox, 4–3. Bobby Thigpen is the winner. » April 12, 1992: Red Sox P Matt Young does not give up a hit in hurling an 8-inning, complete game against the Indians. He loses, however, by a score of 2–1, in the 1st game of a DH. In the 2nd contest, Boston's Roger Clemens hurls a 2-hit shutout over Cleveland, winning by a score of 3–0. The Indians' two hits in the twinbill sets a major league record, breaking the old mark of three held by four teams. » July 24, 1992: Minnesota P Scott Erickson hurls a 1–hit, 5-0 victory over the Red Sox in the 1st game of a DH. Tom Brunansky's single is the only hit. Roger Clemens takes the loss. Boston wins the nitecap, 5–4, scoring a run with one out in the 9th. » July 26, 1993: PH Tom Brunansky of the Brewers ends the Red Sox 10 game win streak with a 2-run, 2-out home run in the bottom of the 9th for a 3–2 win. The dinger comes off Jeff Russell in relief of Roger Clemens. » May 1, 1996: Roger Clemens strikes out 13 Tigers, including Cecil Fielder three times, for his first win of the year. The 5–1 victory for the Sox sends Detroit to its 12th loss in 13 games. » May 23, 1996: In the Red Sox 11–4 sinking of the Mariners, Roger Clemens tosses a complete game win and bounces his first major league hit, and the first by a Sox pitcher since 1972. Clemens (3–4) gets to bat when DH Jose Canseco moves to LF in the 8th inning. » June 20, 1996: The Indians win their 13th straight over the Red Sox, winning 5–4 on Kenny Lofton's bloop single in the 9th off Mike Stanton. Jim Thome hits a game-tying home run in the 8th, off Roger Clemens, the 17th straight game in which the Indians have gone deep, a team record. Clemens leaves after 157 pitches with no decision. » July 1, 1996: At Yankee Stadium, the Key outguns the Rocket, as Jimmy Key beats Roger Clemens, 2–0. Mike Aldrete's solo home run in the 7th is the first score. » July 26, 1996: In a battle of aces, the Twins Brad Radke tops Roger Clemens, 5–1. The Red Sox ace is now 4–10. » August 1, 1996: The Red Sox put Jose Canseco on the DL for back surgery. With Kevin Mitchell and Canseco gone from the outfield, the Sox defense will improve and so will their record. But they lose today, 9–4, to the Royals, as Roger Clemens (4-11) is tagged for seven runs in six innings. » August 17, 1996: Boston's Roger Clemens (6-11) stops the Angels, 6–0, collecting his first shutout since April 20, 1994. It is the Rocket's 37th shutout, leaving him one behind Cy Young for the most in Sox history. » August 27, 1996: Roger Clemens (8-11) wins his 4th in a row, beating the Angels, 2–1. Sox reliever Heath Slocumb gives up the one run in the 9th. » September 18, 1996: Boston's Roger Clemens fans 20 Detroit Tigers, without walking a single batter, to tie his record for most strikeouts in a 9-inning game. The Rocket holds the Tigers to four hits en route to a 4-0 shutout. » September 28, 1996: The Yankees Andy Pettitte and four relievers clip the Red Sox, 4–2, pinning the loss on Roger Clemens (10–13) in his last appearance in a Boston uniform. Clemens strikes out 10 and allows homers to Mike Aldrete and Bernie Williams. The Sox are reluctant to grant the Rocket's request for a 4-year contract. » November 13, 1996: The Blue Jays ink their ace pitcher Juan Guzman to a 2-year $9 million deal with incentives. Along with the just-signed Pat Hentgen and nabbing Roger Clemens next month, the Jays load up for next year. » December 13, 1996: The Blue Jays sign free agent P Roger Clemens (10-13) to a 3-year contract worth $24.75 million. The Red Sox' last minute offer falls short and The Rocket's flirtation with the Yankees comes to naught. The Sox are successful in retaining Tim Naehring, who was minutes away from signing with Cleveland. » April 25, 1997: The Mariners defeat the Blue Jays, 13-8, behind OF Ken Griffey's three home runs. The round-trippers give Griffey a major league-leading 13 on the year, and a major-league record for the month of April. The first two dingers come off Roger Clemens and the 3rd, off Mike Timlin is the 250th of Griffey's career. Griffey had a three homer game in May of last year. » April 30, 1997: Toronto's Roger Clemens allows three hits in winning his 4th, 1–0 over Kansas City. Carlos Delgado hits a 4th inning home run for the only score. » May 21, 1997: Roger Clemens fires Toronto past the Yankees, 4–1, for his 8th win of the year against no losses. The Rocket wins his 200th, the 94th pitcher to reach 200 wins. » May 26, 1997: In Toronto, Roger Clemens allows one run and four hits in seven innings and strikes out seven to beat the Rangers, 8–1. The Rocket is now 9–0, his best start since beginning 1986 at 14-0. » May 31, 1997: Unbeaten Roger Clemens is the first 10-game winner in the majors, as the Toronto Blue Jays romp, 13-3, over the Oakland Athletics. Clemens gives up eight hits, K's four. Dave Telgheder (1-3) is the losing pitcher. » June 6, 1997: Roger Clemens runs his win streak to 11-0, by firing eight scoreless innings to beat Oakland 4–1. Clemens, leading the American League with a 1.69 ERA, strikes out eight and gives up five hits. » June 11, 1997: The Mariners Jeff Fassero stops Roger Clemens and the Blue Jays, 5–1, handing the Rocket his first loss after 11 victories. Fassero allows five hits and one run, and strikes out seven. Clemens gives up all five runs, four earned, in seven plus innings. » July 6, 1997: Roger Clemens becomes the American League's first 13-game winner, pitching a four-hitter as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees, 2–0. Clemens has 10 strikeouts and one walk in his first shutout of the year. Ramiro Mendoza takes the loss. » July 12, 1997: The Blue Jays defeat the Red Sox, 3-1, as Roger Clemens fans 16 of his former teammates in eight innings of work. Boston pitchers K 13 Seattle batters as the total of 29 strike outs falls one short of the major league mark for two teams in a single game. » July 24, 1997: Brad Radke (13-5, 3.68 ERA) allows the Athletics just five hits Sunday, striking out 10 and walking no one in a 1-0 victory. That was the gem of what has been a masterful stretch. Radke is tied for second in the American League in wins (Roger Clemens has 16) and his 149 1/3 innings are sixth most in the league. » September 23, 1997: The Orioles score three runs in the first two innings of Roger Clemens (21-7), then hold on to beat the Blue Jays, 3–2. » November 10, 1997: Roger Clemens is named American League Cy Young Award winner. » April 22, 1998: The Yankees, in first by a half game, pound Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte shuts down the Blue Jays, as the Yankees prevail, 9–1. Scott Brosius has three hits and five RBI. Pettitte pitches a complete game and allows one run (unearned) on six hits and one walk, with six strike outs. Clemens takes the loss allowing nine runs (6 earned), the 3rd time in Clemens' great career that he allowed nine runs in a game and the 2nd time against the Yankees. Clemens K's out six and reaches 2900. » May 2, 1998: Roger Clemens (7 innings) and Paul Quantrill (2 innings) combine to 1–hit the Athletics, 7–0. Oakland's only hit is a single by rookie Ben Grieve. » May 6, 1998: In one of the finest pitching efforts ever, Chicago Cub rookie righthander Kerry Wood fans 20 Houston Astros in a 2–0, one-hit victory to tie the major league mark for strikeouts in a 9-inning game. Making only his 5th big league start, the 20-year-old ties the record held by Roger Clemens, who performed the feat twice. Wood does not walk a batter in his masterpiece, allowing only an infield single to Ricky Gutierrez in the 3rd inning, that likely would have been an error had it occurred late in the game. The 20-year-old Wood became the 2nd pitcher in baseball history whose strikeout total matched his age (Bob Feller struck out 17 when he was 17-years-old). Wood struck out the first five batters of the game and struck out seven in a row between the 7th and 9th innings, a streak that ties Jamie Moyer's Cubs record. » June 3, 1998: Behind Roger Clemens, the Blue Jays defeat the Tigers, 1–0. The Rocket won't lose another game until 1999. » July 5, 1998: Toronto defeats Tampa Bay, 2–1, with the help of seven 1/3 strong innings by Roger Clemens. In the game, Clemens fanned Devil Ray LF Randy Winn for his 3,000th career K. Only 10 other pitchers have reached that mark in major league annals. » August 15, 1998: Toronto's Roger Clemens strikes out 15 but gets no decision, as the Anaheim Angels win, 6–3. » August 25, 1998: Toronto's Roger Clemens strikes out 18 Royals in a 3–0 victory over KC. He becomes the 1st P ever to record three games of 18 or more strikeouts. Clemens allows only three hits and does not walk a batter. » August 30, 1998: Roger Clemens racks up his 3rd straight shutout, extending his scorelss inning streak to 29, as Toronto tops the Twins, 6–0. The Rocket is unbeaten in his last 17 starts. » February 18, 1999: The Yankees end the trade rumors by acquiring Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens from the Blue Jays in exchange for pitchers David Wells and Graeme Lloyd, and IF Homer Bush. » April 21, 1999: The Yankees defeat the Rangers, 4–2, as Roger Clemens ties an American League record with his 17th consecutive win over two seasons. Johnny Allen (1936–37) and Dave McNally (1968–69) previously accomplished the feat for the Indians and Orioles, respectively. » May 22, 1999: The Yankees defeat the White Sox, 10-2, in the 1st game of a DH. Roger Clemens gets the win for NY, giving him an AL record 18 consecutive victories over the course of two seasons. The White Sox come back to take the 2nd game by a score of 2-1. » June 1, 1999: At Yankee Stadium, Roger Clemens and New York overpower the Indians, 11-5. Derek Jeter has two hits, three runs, and has now reached base in all 50 Yankee games (a record going back to 1961). Reliever Steve Reed plunks Jeter in the 8th, then Paul O'Neill hits 2-run home run. » June 6, 1999: The Mets defeat the Yankees, 7-2 to end Roger Clemens' 20-game winning streak. The Mets also end SS Derek Jeter's streak of reaching base in 53 consecutive games as they snap an 8-game losing streak of their own. » June 17, 1999: Calling it "a bad biorhythm day," Chili Davis lines into a triple play and a double play as the Yanks go down to the Rangers, 4–2. New York wastes a 12-strikeout performance by Roger Clemens. » September 21, 1999: The Red Sox defeat the Blue Jays, 3-0, as Pedro Martinez fans 12 for his 22nd win. He joins Randy Johnson as the only pitchers to strike out at least 300 in both leagues, and breaks Roger Clemens club mark of 291 strikeouts. » October 9, 1999: The Yankees defeat the Rangers, 3-0, to sweep their league division series. Roger Clemens hurls seven shutout innings for the win, as Darryl Strawberry's 3-run homer in the 1st provides all the runs in the game. » October 27, 1999: The Yankees defeat the Braves, 4-1, to win their 25th world championship. Roger Clemens gets the win, hurling 4-hit ball before leaving the game in the 8th inning. Mariano Rivera gets the save, his 2nd of the Series. Jim Leyritz hits a solo home run in the 8th inning to finish the NY scoring. Rivera wins the Series MVP award. » May 6, 2000: The Yankees defeat the Orioles, 3-1, as Roger Clemens records his 250th career victory. He is the 39th pitcher to reach the mark. » June 3, 2000: Brian Jordan has four RBIs to lead the Braves to a 11-7 win over the Yankees. Greg Maddux (5 2/3 IP, 13 H, seven ER, three BB, five SO) allows hits to the first four batters he faces for the first time in his career. Roger Clemens (5 IP, six H, six R, four ER, four BB, seven SO) is equally ineffective and neither get a decision. Derek Jeter has four hits and two walks, just the 6th player to get four hits in a game off Maddux. » July 8, 2000: The Yankees whip the Mets by identical 4-2 scores in both ends of an unusual day-night doubleheader. With the 1st game played at Shea Stadium and the nightcap at Yankee Stadium, it is the 1st time since 1903 that two teams played two games in different stadiums on the same day. Dwight Gooden wins the first game with a six inning effort in his first start since returning to the Yankees. Roger Clemens wins the night cap and precipitate a near brawl when he drills Mike Piazza in the helmet with an inside fastball. Piazza suffers a concussion. » September 8, 2000: The Yankees calcimine the Red Sox, 4-0, behind Roger Clemens. A scary moment occurs in the 9th inning when Boston P Bryce Florie is hit in the face with a line drive off the bat of Ryan Thompson. The Red Sox hurler never loses consciousness and leaves the field with blood streaming down his face. Florie suffers a fractured cheekbone and a fracture of the orbital socket, the bone that surrounds the eye, and retinal damage. He will undergo surgery . » October 3, 2000: The A's defeat the Yankees, 5-3, in the 1st game of their AL division series. C Ramon Hernandez hits a double off Roger Clemens in the 6th inning to give Oakland the lead. » October 7, 2000: The A's defeat the Yankees, 11-1, behind Barry Zito to tie their division series at two games apiece. Olmedo Saenz hits a 3-run homer off Roger Clemens for Oakland. » October 14, 2000: The Yankees whitewash the Mariners, 5-0, behind Roger Clemens' 1-hit shutout. Clemens fans 15 Mariners as New York moves out to a 3-games-to-1 lead over Seattle. The Yankees score their runs on a 3-run homer by Derek Jeter and a 2-run blast by David Justice. Al Martin's double off the glove of Tino Martinez in the 7th inning is the Mariners' only hit. The two team's total of six hits ties an ALCS record for fewest safeties in a game. » October 20, 2000: The Toronto Blue Jays sign Carlos Delgado to a 4-year, $68 million contract, making him the highest-paid player in the game. The $17 million per year surpasses Roger Clemens' salary of $15.45 million. » October 22, 2000: The Yankees defeat the Mets, 6-5 behind Roger Clemens, to take a 2-games-to-none lead in the World Series. The Mets score five runs in the 9th inning on home runs by Mike Piazza and Jay Payton to throw a scare into the Bombers. In a bizarre incident, Clemens throws a piece of a shattered bat at Piazza in the 1st inning, with both benches clearing. It is the first meeting between the two players since Clemens beaned Piazza during the regular season. On Tuesday, Clemens will be fined $50,000 for his actions. » April 2, 2001: The Yankees defeat the Royals, 7-3, as Roger Clemens records five strikeouts and ties (or beats) Walter Johnson as the all-time leader in strikeouts in AL history with 3,509. According to Total Baseball, Clemens has 3,509 but the Elias Sports Bureau has him with one fewer. The extra strikeout was first discovered in the early 1990s by John Schwartz and it came on September 12, 1907. The Rocket makes it moot in his next outing. » April 8, 2001: In the Yankees 16–5 win over Toronto, Yankee pinch-hitter Scott Seabol becomes the lowest-drafted player (88th round in 1996) to ever appear in ML. This distinction will last just 11 days before Travis Phelps -- the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' selection in the 89th round, also in 1996 -- makes his debut on April 19. Roger Clemens is the winner as batterymate Jorge Posada belts his first grand slam, one of 20 Yankee hits. » May 8, 2001: Diamondbacks flamethrower Randy Johnson strikes out 20 Reds in Arizona's 4-3 win over Cincinnati in 11 innings. Johnson gets all 20 in his nine innings of work, but does not tie Roger Clemens and Kerry Wood's record since the contest goes into extra frames. The Reds score two in the top of the 11th, but the D'Backs come back with 3, scoring the winning run on a bases loaded walk by reliever Danny Graves. » June 17, 2001: Royals fireballer Blake Stein fans eight straight Brewers, and 11 in five 2/3 innings, but Milwaukee defeats Kansas City, 5-2. Only Nolan Ryan (twice), Ron Davis and Roger Clemens have struck out eight in a row in the AL. Tom Seaver holds the major-league record with 10 straight K's, in 1970. » August 25, 2001: The Yankees defeat the Angels, 7–5, as Roger Clemens becomes the 1st AL hurler to go 17–1 to begin a season. OF Paul O'Neill hits his 20th home run of the year, making him the oldest player in history—at age 38—to reach the 20 home run–20 SB mark in a season. » September 19, 2001: Roger Clemens wins his 20th game of the year against only one defeat, hurling the Yankees to a 6–3 win over the White Sox. The 39–year–old Clemens is the first pitcher in history to start a year 20–1. » October 30, 2001: Roger Clemens and Mariano Rivera hurl the Yankees to a 2-1 victory in Game Three of the World Series. Jorge Posada homers for New York while Scott Brosius' 6th-inning single drives home the winning run. Brian Anderson takes the loss for Arizona. » November 15, 2001: Roger Clemens wins his 6th AL Cy Young Award. » March 11, 2002: Thrown out stealing. The Yankees release OF Ruben Rivera for stealing Derek Jeter's mitt out of his locker, and selling it on the black market for $2,500. There are rumors that Rivera also took other memorabilia items, such as things belonging to Roger Clemens, but Clemens denies it. Rivera had been signed to a one year contract for $1 million. » June 22, 2002: The Texas Longhorns win the 5th College World Series, beating South Carolina, 12–6. Chris Carmichael hits a 3–run home run and closer Huston Street picks up his 4th save and is selected the Outstanding Player. Augie Garrido is the first coach to win CWS championships at two schools. Texas last won a CWS in 1983, when Roger Clemens pitched for the Longhorns. » October 1, 2002: The Yankees score four runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to come from behind and defeat the Angels, 8–5, in the 1st game of their division series. Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Bernie Williams, and Rondell White all homer for NY while Troy Glaus hits a pair of home runs for Anaheim. Steve Karsay gets the win in relief. This is the Angels first time in the playoffs since 1986, but hey face the same starting pitcher today as they did in their last playoff appearance: Roger Clemens.