1981-2000 Red Sox: Roger Clemens
Controversy aside, it is simply impossible to look at Roger Clemens‘ career and not be in complete awe. Clemens started his 24-year career in Boston and remained here for 13 seasons. He earned three Cy Young awards during that time frame, won 192 games, had a 3.06 ERA, and tallied a jaw-dropping 2590 strikeouts.
The name Roger Clemens is surrounded by judgment due to allegations of him using performance-enhancing drugs. His name is especially relevant right now because he just fell short of making it into the Hall of Fame in his final year of eligibility. The most egregious part of this whole situation is that he never actually tested positive for PEDs.
While he may not be in the MLB Hall of Fame, his legacy will always remain at Fenway as he is a member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame.
Had he stayed in Boston, it is hard not to ponder the question of how many more World Series the Red Sox would’ve won outside of 2004? However, Clemens’ reign in Boston ended in 1996, and the rotation was taken over by Pedro Martinez in 1998. Martinez’s impact on the mound was nothing short of incredible, but it was a little offseason scouting that turned the franchise around.