MLB Franchise Four – Biggest Snubs for Each Team
Boston Red Sox – Roger Clemens
Franchise Four: Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz
I’ll give Red Sox fans a ton of credit, they know how to spread the wealth. They reward the heroes of yore while also paying homage to those that ushered in the new century and a new way of winning in Boston. The selections of Williams, Yaz, Pedro, and Papi are right in line where you would think Red Sox fans would have voted.
And it isn’t their fault that Roger Clemens was not even on the ballot!
How could Major League Baseball leave off Clemens, the team’s all-time wins leader (tied – Cy Young), strike-outs, and shut-outs. Clemens epitomized domination during his Red Sox tenure, going 192-111 with a 3.11 ERA, a 2.94 FIP, and a 8.4 K/ 9 ratio. He won three Cy Young awards and an MVP in a Boston Uniform while also making five All-Star appearances and leading the team to the 1986 World Series (albeit a loss).
Yes, his tenure in Boston ended badly and his later steroid use clouded both his career and his Hall of Fame chances, but there was no doubting that Roger Clemens was the greatest pitcher in Red Sox history. As such, he deserved to be dealt a better hand than to simply be left off the ballot.
Next: Reds - Frank Robinson