Former Blue Jays on the 2022 Hall of Fame Ballot and where they stand

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Toronto Blue Jays’ starting pitcher Roger Clemens, who gave up nine runs to the New York Yankees the last time they played, gave up three hits and one run through seven innings at Yankee Stadium in New York 27 April. AFP PHOTO Henny Ray ABRAMS (Photo by HENNY RAY ABRAMS / AFP) (Photo by HENNY RAY ABRAMS/AFP via Getty Images) /

Roger Clemens

After spending 13 seasons with the Boston Red Sox, right-hander Roger Clemens signed a four-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays worth $40 million. Prior to joining the Jays, Clemens won three Cy-Young awards and one MVP award with the Red Sox while posting a 3.06 ERA through 383 appearances.

Joining the Blue Jays for the 1997 season, Clemens won two more Cy Young awards in back-to-back campaigns, finishing with a 2.05 and 2.65 ERA respectively. He pitched 14 complete games over the next two years with the Blue Jays and also led the league in strikeouts through both campaigns (292 and 271 respectively). As a member of the Jays, Clemens earned back-to-back pitching Triple Crowns and was an All-Star in both seasons. He requested a trade following the 1998 season and would be dealt during the 1998/1999 offseason to the New York Yankees in exchange for David Wells, Homer Bush, and Graeme Lloyd.

Clemens has been on the ballot for ten years and has not been elected into the Hall of Fame due to his link to performance-enhancing drugs later in his career. He was listed in the Mitchell Report, particularly in 1998 when he was a member of the Blue Jays. Former teammate Jose Canseco also mentions Clemens and his steroid use in his book “Juiced”.

Players linked to PED’s have had a difficult time being elected into the Hall of Fame, with voters still on the fence about whether players attached to steroids should be in Cooperstown.

Clemens is going to cut it close in his final year of eligibility. He is currently on 129 of the 170 of the known ballots and if the voting ended today, his 75.9% would be just good enough to get him into the HOF. He needs to be on 165 of the remaining ballots left in order to reach the threshold and it’s a bit of a coin flip on how the remaining voters will sway, with it all depending on whether they are supporters of players who used PED’s during their careers or against.

Fear not, if Clemens does not get voted in this year he could still be elected by one of the ERA committees further down the line.

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