The Hall of Fame debate surrounding Major League Baseball (MLB) legend Roger Clemens has been reignited, with a presidential endorsement adding fuel to the fire.
Clemens, an undisputed titan of the sport, has been lauded by President Donald Trump as one of the "Greatest Pitchers of All Time."
In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump recounted his golfing experience with Clemens and his son, Kacy. He extolled Clemens' impressive career, which includes 354 game wins, seven Cy Young Awards, and participation in six World Series, two of which he won.
Trump also highlighted Clemens' ranking, second only to Nolan Ryan, in terms of most strikeouts. "He should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame, NOW!" Trump emphatically stated.
According to Breitbart, Trump also addressed the persistent rumors of drug use that have dogged Clemens' career. "People think he took drugs, but nothing was proven. He never tested positive, and Roger, from the very beginning, totally denies it. He was just as great before those erroneous charges were leveled at him," Trump wrote.
He further emphasized that there has been no concrete evidence to substantiate these allegations.
The President expressed his concern that Clemens might suffer the same fate as MLB hit king Pete Rose, who was only reinstated posthumously. Trump recalled his conversation with the Commissioner, who had promised to reinstate Rose but only did so after his death. Trump vowed not to let the same happen to Clemens, describing the situation as 'stupidity' that Clemens and his family should not have to endure.
Clemens' illustrious career, boasting 354 MLB wins and 4,672 strikeouts, places him second in the all-time ranking. However, his Hall of Fame candidacy has been tainted by allegations of steroid and human growth hormone (HGH) abuse.
These accusations surfaced following Clemens' mention in the Mitchell Report, a 20-month investigation led by former Democrat Senator George J. Mitchell, released in 2007.
In an attempt to clear his name, Clemens testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in February 2008. The outcome was a mixed bag of public opinion and legal charges, including one count of obstruction of Congress, three counts of making false statements, and two counts of perjury. Clemens was acquitted of all charges in 2012.
Despite his acquittal, some remain convinced of Clemens' guilt. Jeff Novitzky, a former investigator on the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) trafficking case and a participant in the Mitchell Report investigation, claims to have DNA evidence linking Clemens to anabolic steroid use.
Despite entering Hall of Fame eligibility in 2013, Clemens has never received more than 65 percent of the vote in any of his ten years on the ballot. The debate surrounding his candidacy continues, with the shadow of the allegations still looming large over his undeniable achievements.
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