Roger Clemens has a new award to add to his collection.
The two-time Yankees World Series champion was informed Wednesday that he will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, when President Donald Trump presented him at a rally in San Antonio, Texas.
“We present him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Trump said.
Clemens, an 11-time All-Star and seven-time Cy Young Award winner, was caught off guard by the revelation.
“Well, I’m stunned, number one,” he told the crowd. “And again, 24 years, y’all. That supersedes everything that, obviously, I’ve done in my playing career. And to get it from this man, from this president, there would be no other president that I would want to get it from.”
The Texas native played 24 seasons in MLB, the first 13 with the Red Sox before spending two with the Blue Jays. He then came to the Bronx for five seasons, went to Houston for two seasons and returned to the Yankees for one final tour in 2007 at the age of 44.
“The Rocket” has racked up a multitude of awards throughout his career, including American League MVP in 1986, as well as the pitching Triple Crown twice (1997, 1998).
Trump called Clemens, who ranks ninth all-time with 354 career wins, “maybe the greatest pitcher of all time.”
His statistical accomplishments weren’t enough to get him into the Baseball Hall of Fame, as his candidacy was marred by alleged steroid use – he was mentioned 82 times in the Mitchell Report in 2007, although he never tested positive for the banned drug.
Yet Clemens, who has never received more than 61.6 percent of the votes needed to reach the 75 percent threshold required to enter Cooperstown, remains eligible through today’s game committee.
If he succeeds, he will join a unique club of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients that includes Babe Ruth, Vin Scully, Yogi Berra, Ernie Banks, Stan Musial, Frank Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson, Mariano Rivera and Joe DiMaggio.
Trump has given the award to numerous athletes during his presidential term, including Ruth and Rivera, as well as Tiger Woods, Roger Staubach, Jerry West and Connor Hellebuyck, following the goalie’s gold medal at the Olympics in February.
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