Trump backs Roger Clemens on eve of latest Baseball Hall of Fame vote

Roger Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards and was on New York Yankees teams that won back-to-back World Series championships. But Clemens’ career was ultimately defined by baseball’s steroid era.

Clemens last pitched in a Major League Baseball (MLB) game in 2007, in his second stint with the Yankees. By 2008, he found himself at the center of a federal investigation into suspected performance-enhancing drug (PED) use by several prominent major leaguers.

Clemens testified before Congress that he had not taken PEDs and was acquitted of the federal charge of lying to Congress. Clemens is currently one of eight Baseball Hall of Fame inductees selected by the Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee.

Minister Donald Trump He made it clear that he believes Clemens should be in Cooperstown.

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On the eve of the announcement of the newest slate of candidates, Trump took to Truth Social to effectively deny accusations that Clemens had previously used steroids. “The only reason he’s not in the (Hall of Fame) is because of rumors and insinuations that can’t be proven.” Trump wrote.

Trump also noted Clemens’ “Rocket” nickname, saying that he “earned that nickname very early in his career because of his outstanding fastball,” which was just as dominant before these erroneous claims were leveled against him. I sincerely hope that the Committee will use its great judgment (Roger’s opponents have never proven anything against him and he may have the best pitching record in Baseball History!) and that the Commissioner of Baseball has the Power, Wisdom and Power to do the right thing and induct Roger Clemens into the Baseball Hall of Fame IMMEDIATELY!”

ROGER CLEMENS THANKS TRUMP FOR SUPPORT OF BASEBALL HALL OF FAME, RESPONSES TO CRITICISM

Neither the MLB commissioner’s office nor the White House immediately responded to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.

The Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee, by a majority vote of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA), evaluates retired players whose eligibility for Cooperstown has expired. The writers’ association is responsible for selecting recently retired players.

Roger Clemens pitches during Game 2 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium in New York on October 22, 2000. (Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY/USA TODAY NETWORK)

Clemens’ last chance to be on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot was 2022; that year he received just over 65% of the vote. Players must receive at least 75% of the vote to be enshrined in Cooperstown.

Powerful outfielder Barry Bonds, whose storied career was also tarnished by accusations of PED use, is expected to be considered by the committee this year. Bonds also avoided criminal charges in the steroid investigation. He stated that he had never knowingly used any banned substances before.

Former Houston Astros pitcher Roger Clemens throws a ball before the game between the Astros and Tampa Bay Rays at Minute Maid Park in Houston on August 2, 2024. (Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports)

Clemens and Bonds were two of the high-profile names listed in the Mitchell Report in 2007.

The report was written by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, R-Maine, who conducted a months-long investigation into the questionable use of human growth hormone and anabolic steroids.

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Trump has previously voiced support for Clemens’ Hall of Fame hopes. After Trump wrote in a social media post that there was “no evidence” that the retired pitcher used steroids, Clemens thanked the president for his support.

“I appreciate the love! DT knows better than anyone about the fake news floating around.” wrote on Clemens in August. “Everyone has their own agenda… I played this game to change the direction of my family for generations and WIN!”

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