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Roger Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards and played for New York Yankees teams that have won back-to-back World Series titles. But Clemens' career was ultimately defined by baseball's steroid era.
Clemens last participated in Major League Baseball (MLB) game in 2007 during his second stint with the Yankees. By 2008, he found himself embroiled in a federal investigation into suspected performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) by several high-profile major league players.
Clemens testified before Congress that he did not take PEDs and was acquitted of federal charges of lying to Congress. Clemens is now one of eight candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame selected by the Modern Baseball Era Players Committee.
President Donald Trump made it clear that he believed Clemens should be in Cooperstown.
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President Donald Trump arrives at Yankee Stadium for the game between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers on September 11. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
On the eve of the announcement of the new draft list, Trump took to Truth Social to effectively deny Clemens' allegations of previous steroid use. “The only reason he's not (in the Hall of Fame) is because of rumors and innuendo that haven't been proven.” Trump wrote.
Trump also pointed to Clemens' “Rocket” nickname, saying “he earned” the nickname “early in his career because of his brilliant fastball, and was dominant before the wrongful charges were brought against him.” Wisdom and strength to do the right thing and induct Roger Clemens into the Baseball Hall of Fame IMMEDIATELY!”
ROGER Clemens thanks Trump for supporting Baseball Hall of Fame, responds to critics
Neither the MLB commissioner's office nor the White House immediately responded to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.
Modern Baseball Era Players Committee takes into account retired players whose eligibility to enter Cooperstown by a majority vote of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) has expired. The Writers' Association is responsible for selecting recently retired players.
Roger Clemens throws a pitch during Game 2 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium in New York on October 22, 2000. (Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY/USA TODAY NETWORK)
Clemens' last chance to be inducted into the BBWAA Hall of Fame was in 2022; that year he received just over 65% of the vote. To secure a spot in Cooperstown, players must receive at least 75% of the votes.
Powerful outfielder Barry Bondswhose historic career was also tarnished by allegations of PED use is being considered by the committee this year. Bonds also avoided criminal charges in the steroids case. He previously stated that he never knowingly used illegal substances.
Former Houston Astros pitcher Roger Clemens throws a ball before a game between the Astros and Tampa Bay Rays at Minute Maid Park on August 2, 2024, in Houston. (Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports)
Clemens and Bonds were two big names included in the Mitchell Report in 2007.
The report was authored by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, a Republican from Maine, who conducted a months-long investigation into the alleged use of human growth hormone and anabolic steroids.
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Trump has previously expressed support for Clemens' Hall of Fame hopes. After Trump wrote on social media that there was “no evidence” that the retired pitcher used steroids, Clemens thanked the president for his support.
“I appreciate love! DT knows more than anyone else about the fake news that exists.” Clemens wrote on X in August. “Everyone has their own plans… I played this game to change the direction of my family in a generation and WIN!”
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