Roger Clemens
No player found themselves in more hot water than Roger Clemens when it came to the government’s involvement in the process to clean up baseball. Clemens, who testified in front of Congress, said that he never used any PEDs before getting indicted by a Grand Jury, only to be found not guilty of perjury in 2008.
As controversial as the “Rocket” was off the field, the same aura followed him on the field. Most notably during the 2000 Subway Series against the New York Mets, where it appeared that he had thrown a broken bat in the direction of Mets star catcher Mike Piazza. The Yankees went on to win the World Series that year.
Like Bonds, the honors and awards Clemens has received justify an induction into Cooperstown. Over his 24-year career, he was an 11-time All-Star, seven-time Cy Young Award winner, two-time winner of the prestigious pitching Triple Crown and capped it off with an American League MVP in 1986.
There is no question that Clemens may have been the greatest pitcher of an era, but only time will tell if the Baseball Writers will allow him to walk through the gates of the Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame Moment: During the 1986 season, when he was virtually unhittable, he led the Major Leagues in wins and ERA. Clemens went on to win his first Cy Young Award and the American League’s Most Valuable Player award.
