Roger Clemens, the iconic New York Yankees pitcher, has publicly thanked President Donald Trump for his vocal advocacy in support of Clemens’ case for Baseball Hall of Fame induction. Trump, in a recent social media post, stated there was ‘no evidence’ that Clemens used steroids, urging that the issue should not be left to linger until his death, drawing a parallel to Pete Rose’s situation. Clemens reciprocated this support, expressing gratitude and criticizing the media for its perceived role in the controversy, highlighting his legacy of winning.
Trump has called on Major League Baseball to expedite Clemens’ induction, emphasizing that the allegations of steroid use lack concrete proof. He pointed to Clemens’ impressive career statistics, including 354 victories, seven Cy Young Awards, and six World Series appearances, arguing that these achievements should be sufficient for Hall of Fame consideration. Trump’s intervention has reignited the debate over Clemens’ eligibility, with critics arguing that the allegations, though unproven, have persisted for years and have overshadowed his accomplishments.
Clemens, who has consistently denied using performance-enhancing drugs, was found not guilty on six counts of lying to Congress in 2012. However, he was named in the Mitchell Report for alleged steroid use during his career, a charge he has never acknowledged. The allegations have kept him from being inducted into the Hall of Fame, as the required 75% voting threshold from baseball writers was not met, and he fell off the ballot. To eventually qualify, he would need to be elected by the Today’s Game Committee. Trump’s call to action has put pressure on MLB to address the issue, with some suggesting that the commissioner might follow a similar path to the one taken with Pete Rose, who was eventually inducted after his death.