Retire the Number 21?
Remember when Roger Clemens was a Red Sox? It seems like ancient history now. Today, everyone and their mother associate Clemens with Jose Canseco, steroids or the Yankees. There is probably a generation of Red Sox fans who probably didn’t know that Clemens was not only a Red Sox, but also one of the best pitchers of his time. Before the Mitchell Report and his falling out with then GM Dan Duquette, Clemens was the Boston Red Sox. I wonder if this is the reason why no other Red Sox player has worn his number 21 on their uniform. Does his number really belong with Yaz, Williams and Rice?
Forget about his transgressions with steroids for now and let’s just take a look at his numbers as a Red Sox. For thirteen seasons, Clemens was a dominating force who accumulated 192 wins, struck out 2,590 batters and had an ERA just above three. His best season was in 1986, where Clemens went 24-4 with an ERA of 2.48. His numbers that year were not only good enough to win the Cy Young Award, but also the MVP of the league. The following year, Clemens won another Cy Young Award thanks leading the American League in wins, complete games and shutouts. Clemens was the definition of a workhorse. Between 1986 and 1990 he averaged 34 starts a year. I think you get picture, Clemens numbers as a Red Sox are memorable. However, like other players guilty or suspected of using steroids, his reputation has been tarnished.
If you look at just his numbers, then no one else should wear number 21. Roger Clemens still is the Red Sox career leader in wins, innings pitched and strikeouts. Since 1986, no other Red Sox has won more than 24 games in a season and it’s been over twenty years since any Red Sox pitcher has thrown more shutouts in a season than Clemens (eight in 1988). It’s hard to look at these numbers without thinking about how much of a jackass Clemens is now, but during his time on the local nine, he was certainly one of the best.
4 Responses to “Retire the Number 21?”
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How about the 20 strike outs in one game? Clemens is another example of an amazing player who’s reputation will be tarnished in Boston because of his affiliation with the evil empire. The number should not be retired in Boston, in NY it might lol.
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The answer to me is no. Clemens had some great years here, but to me, his Red Sox time is marred by him not pitching well in big games, his coming into spring training fat and out of shape repeatedly, his lack of work ethic in his last few years (until the end of ’96 when he knew he was playing for a new contract), and then his bolting for Toronto, where he miraculously got himself in shape. He left Boston after all those years, and to me, he tarnished forever his legacy here by how he left – not one word or one gesture to let the fans know he appreciated all our support. I hated it when Fenway fans cheered Roger in what was supposed to be his last Fenway appearance, and I didn’t like it when Theo was pursuing him. And I don’t want to see his number retired. Retire #45.
This one is a tough subjest for me, you see I was born in 1980 and started following the Sox in 1986. Roger Clemens was my hero, my idol, wanted to be just like him in everyway. When he left for Toronto, I was devastated, and then angry when he went to NY. I’m still a believer that he belongs in the HOF with Barry Bonds and the other cheats. You see we had the dead ball era, why not have the steroid era, its still a part of the history of the game. If and when he becomes a HOF’er his number should be retired in Boston, until then and if it doesn’t happen, it should stay unofficially retired with #45. I will still wear my #21 Mitchell and Ness jersey with pride!!
I strongly believe that Clemens’ number should be retired with the Sox. I also feel that when/if he gets into the Hall of Fame, it should be in a Sox uniform.
The Steroid Era was what it was. They can’t decide who did and didn’t and try to keep some players out on suspicion of steroid use and not others because they don’t think they did.
I’ve given up on being mad about PED use and think that players should be allowed in and treated the same regardless. It’s time to honor the game and move forward.
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