Clemens Signs With Atlantic League's Skeeters
HOUSTON (CBSNewYork/AP) — Roger Clemens has signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League and is expected to start for them on Saturday at home against Bridgeport Bluefish of Connecticut.
The 50-year-old right-hander was acquitted in June of charges he lied to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs. He was found not guilty by a jury in Washington.
Clemens hasn't played for a major league team since pitching for the Yankees in 2007. During his 24-year MLB career, Clemens pitched for the Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros.
He is to appear on the Hall of Fame ballot going to voters late this year, but if he appeared in a major league game his Hall consideration would be pushed back five years.
Former New York Yankees' manager Joe Torre has since backed Clemens' Hall of Fame candidacy.
Clemens' agent, Randy Hendricks, says the pitcher's "fastball was clocked at 87 MPH." He added that Clemens and Skeeters manager Gary Gaetti have been talking about this "for months."
That's quite a drop-off for a player nicknamed "The Rocket" and regularly lit up the radar gun at 98 MPH in his prime.
The signing was first reported by Houston television station KRIV.
Is this an attempt by Clemens to win back public opinion? Will he eventually make the Hall of Fame? Sound off below…
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