**Trump Advocates for Roger Clemens’ Induction into Baseball Hall of Fame**
Former President Donald Trump took to social media on Sunday to advocate for the induction of Roger Clemens into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed his admiration for the legendary pitcher, who played for the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, and lamented the stigma surrounding Clemens due to allegations of steroid use, despite the absence of a positive test.
“I played golf yesterday with the great Roger Clemens and his son, Kacy. Roger Clemens was easily one of the few greatest pitchers of all time, winning 354 games, the Cy Young Award seven times (a record!), and playing in six World Series, winning two!” Trump stated. He emphasized that Clemens ranks second to Nolan Ryan in career strikeouts and deserves immediate recognition in Cooperstown.
Trump criticized the long-standing rumors of drug use, asserting that Clemens has consistently denied these allegations and has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He drew parallels to the case of Pete Rose, who was kept out of the Hall of Fame for years despite his impressive record, until Trump intervened with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.
Clemens, a two-time World Series champion and 11-time All-Star, amassed 4,672 strikeouts throughout his career. His exclusion from the Hall of Fame has been largely attributed to the allegations detailed in the Mitchell Report, which claimed he used anabolic steroids. In 2012, he was acquitted of lying to Congress regarding these accusations.
Despite needing 70% of the vote from baseball writers for induction, Clemens received only 61.6% and subsequently fell off the ballot. To be enshrined, he would now need to be elected through the Today’s Game Committee.
Trump’s call for Clemens’ induction highlights ongoing debates about the criteria for Hall of Fame eligibility and the impact of allegations on a player’s legacy.
**FAQ**
**Q: Why is Roger Clemens not in the Baseball Hall of Fame?**
A: Roger Clemens has not been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame primarily due to allegations of steroid use, despite never testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He has consistently denied these claims, but they have significantly impacted his voting results among baseball writers.