There is no doubt Roger Clemens has the numbers to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The only reason that he isn’t is because of his alleged used of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
Based on evidence provided by his former trainer, Brian McNamee, Roger Clemens was identified in the 2007 Mitchell Report, which claimed he took human growth hormone (HGH) and anabolic steroids between 1998 and 2001.
In 2008, Clemens testified before Congress and, under oath, refuted the allegations. In 2010, federal prosecutors indicted him for obstruction and perjury related to that testimony; however, a jury acquitted him in 2012.
So, during his 10 years of Hall of Fame eligibility, he never received more than 65.2% of the vote, short of the required 75% threshold for enshrinement.
His candidacy was then transferred to the Committee for the Contemporary Baseball Era. Again, he didn’t make it, and in December 2025, he received fewer than five votes. So now will have to wait until December 2031 to be considered again by the committee.
President Donald Trump plans to give Roger Clemens an even higher honor
Despite voters repeatedly not believing that Roger Clemens should be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the 7-time Cy Young Award winner will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the country.
“Tonight, I’m pleased to announce that we are taking it into our own hands,” Donald Trump said. “Forget about the Hall of Fame; he’ll get there someday. … So, he’ll be in the Hall of Fame someday, but he deserves it. One of the greatest athletes, and maybe the greatest pitcher of all time, and he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, but this is a big step up from the Hall of Fame.”
Clemens, who was on hand for the announcement, said he was “stunned” by the honor.
“Well, I’m stunned, number one and again, 24 years, this supersedes anything I’ve done in my playing career,” Roger Clemens said. “To get it from this man, this president, there wouldn’t be another president I’d want to get it from.
“And announcing it here in my home state and again, from this man, you talking about a winner, that’s a winner right there [points to Trump]. You see it. The way he talked about all my stats, he could be my agent, I guess I could come out of retirement again.”
Roger Clemens receiving such a high honor reignited the Hall of Fame debate
Naturally, as has been the case since he first became eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame, many fans believe Roger Clemens deserves induction. On the flip side, there are a plethora of baseball fans who want him nowhere near the Hall of Fame.
Clemens receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom has only served to stir the hornet’s nest of debate back up regarding the issue online.
“For what? Unbelievable. Can we be done with this nonsense?” one baseball fan asked.
“I thought Trump hated cheaters,” read another comment.
“From a legend on the baseball diamond to the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, this moment is truly moving,” a Clemens supporter commented.
“You get the Medal of Freedom for being a good pitcher?” someone else wrote, asking the real question.