Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Schatz
Roger Clemens’ eyes barely peeking above his glove before delivering a pitch is one of the most intimidating sights in baseball. And for good reason. The Rocket routinely blew hitters away with an arsenal that won him over 300 games.
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Let’s take a trip down memory lane and relive some of the iconic moments that peppered his illustrious career.
Record 20 Strikeout Game in 1986
On April 29, 1986, Roger Clemens did something no one thought would ever be done – he struck out 20 batters in a single 9-inning game. What makes this even more impressive is that he did this as a 23-year-old. His stat line for that game against the Mariners was 9IP, 20 strikeouts, 0 walks, 3 hits, one run. Talk about dominating a game.
Stuffing The Trophy Case
Riding high from his record-setting 20-strikeout game, Roger Clemens didn’t stop there in 1986. He took home just about every award you could. AL Cy Young, AL MVP and even the All-Star Game MVP.
His numbers that season were simply outrageous. A 24-4 record, the 24 wins leading all of baseball. A 2.48 ERA, 10 complete games, and 238 strikeouts.
Back-to-Back Triple Crowns As A Blue Jay
In 1997 and 1998, Roger Clemens did what most pitchers only dream of, he won the Triple Crown in back-to-back seasons.
In 1997 he went 21-7 with a 2.05 ERA and 292 strikeouts. He followed that up in 1998 with a 20-6 record, a 2.65 ERA and 271 strikeouts. Oh, and he also won the Cy Young in both seasons as well.
Joining The 4,000 Strikeout Club
Being nicknamed The Rocket can only mean you strike out a lot of hitters. And Roger Clemens did just that. On June 13, 2003, he struck out the Cardinals Edgar Renteria for his 4,000th K.
He would go on to finish his career with 4,672 strikeouts. That’s good for third on the all-time list behind only Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson.
300th Career Win
If collecting his 4,000th strikeout on June 13, 2003, was memorable, Roger Clemens added his 300th career win that same day. He went 6.2, allowing 2 runs while striking out 10 in the Yankees’ 5-2 win. Clemens is the first pitcher to reach both milestones in the same game, a testament to his status as one of the game’s all-time greats.
He’d finish with 354 wins, good for 9th on the all-time list.
First 20-1 Season Start in MLB History
In 2001, Roger Clemens did something no other pitcher in MLB history had done before: he kicked off the season with a 20-1 record. Even more remarkable, those 20 wins didn’t lead the league.
But Clemens got the last laugh by taking home his 6th Cy Young.
7th and Final Cy Young With Houston at Age 42
Roger Clemens snagged his 7th and final Cy Young Award in 2004 with the Houston Astros at the age of 42, making him the oldest pitcher to ever win the award. He went 20-3 with a 3.51 ERA and 213 strikeouts.
His 7 Cy Youngs are the all-time record.
20/20 Vision
Roger Clemens mesmerized the baseball world in 1986 when he struck out 20 in a game at only 23 years old. Then, a decade later, on September 18th, 1996, he did it again. Pitching for the Red Sox, Clemens struck out 20 Detroit Tigers, making him the only pitcher in MLB history with two 20 strikeout games.
His stat line that game was 9 innings pitched, 5 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, and 20 strikeouts in a 4-0 Sox victory.
World Champ With The Yanks
Clemens joined the New York Yankees in 1999 and immediately reaped the rewards, winning back-to-back World Series rings in 1999 and 2000. He took home a victory in the ’99 Series against the Braves, pitching 7.2 innings of 1-run ball.
In 2000, he was even better, taking home a victory against the Mets in the Subway Series by pitching 8 shutout innings.