Clemens corrects Trump’s MLB claim
Roger Clemens’ legendary baseball career earned him 7 Cy Young Awards, 354 wins and a place among Major League Baseball’s most accomplished pitchers. Yet his exclusion from the Hall of Fame remains a subject of debate.
President Donald Trump’s announcement of the Presidential Medal of Freedom brought renewed attention to Clemens’ legacy. At a San Antonio rally, Clemens also corrected Trump’s claim about his hit-batter record, creating a notable moment during the announcement.
Clemens ranks below the all-time leader
Clemens finished his Major League Baseball career with 159 hit batters, according to historical pitching statistics. Baseball-Reference ranks him 15th on its all-time list, behind Jim Bunning, who recorded 160 hit batters.
Bunning was not the all-time leader, however, because several pitchers recorded higher totals across baseball history. Clemens was therefore correct to dispute Trump’s claim that he held the career record for hitting batters.
Trump announces the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Trump announced Clemens’ upcoming award during a rally at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas. The event took place on October 7, 2026, as Trump campaigned for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton.
The announcement surprised Clemens, who was present at the event and joined Trump onstage. Trump praised his baseball career and said the honor would recognize his achievements despite his absence from the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Clemens reacts to the unexpected honor
Clemens expressed surprise after Trump announced the award, saying he was stunned by the news. The former pitcher then thanked the president and described the recognition as exceeding his accomplishments during his professional baseball career.
Clemens also said there was no other president from whom he would rather receive the medal. His remarks followed an announcement that connected his long baseball career with one of the country’s highest civilian honors.
7 Cy Young Awards define Clemens’ career
Clemens won a record 7 Cy Young Awards during his 24-season Major League Baseball career. The award recognizes pitching excellence in each league, making those honors a central part of his career record.
He earned 6 American League awards and 1 National League award, establishing himself among baseball’s most decorated pitchers.
His strikeout total remains among baseball’s highest
Clemens recorded 4,672 strikeouts during his major league career, finishing third on the all-time career list in the historical rankings cited in October 2026. Only Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson had higher totals in that ranking.
The statistic reflects Clemens’ ability to retire batters without allowing them to put the ball into play. His career also included 354 wins and 4,916⅔ innings pitched, according to MLB’s official player statistics.
Interesting fact: Roger Clemens struck out 20 batters in a single game twice.
Clemens played for four major league teams
Clemens began his major league career with the Boston Red Sox in 1984 and became one of the franchise’s leading pitchers. He remained with Boston through the 1996 season before moving to the Toronto Blue Jays.
He later pitched for the New York Yankees and Houston Astros, completing a career that spanned four franchises. His final major league season came in 2007, when he returned to the Yankees for his last professional campaign.
Interesting fact: Clemens won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1986.
His 1986 season brought major honors
Clemens delivered one of the most successful seasons of his career in 1986 while pitching for Boston. He finished with a 24–4 win-loss record, a 2.48 earned run average and 238 strikeouts across 33 starts.
That season, he won the American League Cy Young Award and was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player. His combination of pitching success and individual honors made the campaign a defining part of his baseball career.
Performance-enhancing drug allegations remain part of his history
Clemens has faced allegations of using performance-enhancing drugs during his baseball career, which he has repeatedly denied. His name appeared in the 2007 Mitchell Report, which examined alleged steroid and human growth hormone use in professional baseball.
In 2008, Clemens testified before Congress that he had not used performance-enhancing drugs. He was acquitted in 2012 of federal charges that he lied to Congress, but the verdict did not itself determine his eligibility for baseball’s Hall of Fame.
Clemens remains outside the Baseball Hall of Fame
Despite his 7 Cy Young Awards and extensive career achievements, Clemens has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Allegations of performance-enhancing drug use, which he has denied, have remained a major issue in his candidacy.
His final Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot appearance was in 2022. In the December 7, 2025, Contemporary Baseball Era Committee election for the Class of 2026, he received fewer than 5 votes. Under the Hall’s rules, he cannot appear on that committee’s next player ballot in 2028.
Trump has publicly supported Clemens’ induction
Trump has argued that Clemens deserves a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame, citing his 7 Cy Young Awards and career achievements. At the San Antonio rally, he again questioned why the pitcher had not been inducted.
Trump said he contacted baseball’s commissioner about Clemens’ case after playing golf with Clemens. Hall of Fame elections follow the institution’s own rules, and the MLB commissioner cannot unilaterally induct a player.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is a separate honor
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the United States’ highest civilian honor and is awarded at the president’s discretion. It recognizes significant contributions to national interests, world peace, cultural achievements or other major public endeavors.
Receiving the medal does not automatically grant an athlete entry into a professional sports Hall of Fame. Clemens’ announced award and his baseball eligibility are therefore separate matters, governed by different institutions and selection procedures.
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Clemens’ statistics clarify the claim
The exchange at the rally highlighted a difference between Clemens’ actual statistics and Trump’s description of his record. Clemens recorded 159 hit batters, placing him 15th on Baseball-Reference’s all-time list, behind Jim Bunning, who recorded 160.
The distinction does not change Clemens’ 7 Cy Young Awards, 4,672 strikeouts or 354 career wins. His response corrected Trump’s claim about his hit-batter record, while the announcement of the Presidential Medal of Freedom renewed attention to his baseball career.
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What do you think about Roger Clemens receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom despite remaining outside the Baseball Hall of Fame? Like this post and share your opinion in the comments!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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