Is Roger Clemens the greatest pitcher of all-time?

Question

Span his entire career. Go off of style, stamina, wins, strikeouts, etc.

Answer 1

Yeah, probably, at least according to his numbers posted in the steroid/HGH era (ca. 1986 - present). But then again, considering all that has been discovered over the past two seaons, I have the strong right to wonder if he were/is probably on some illegal performance enhancer himself. So I would be hesitant to put his name on the top of the list. In fact, I don't think any player of this same era should have any record in the record books, considering that there is just way too much of a cloud of doubt surrounding just about every single baseball star who has played during this period.

Personally, I find it kind of strange that Clemens seemed to be on the decline of his career in the early-to-mid 90s only to re-surface as an amazingly dominant pitcher again a few years later with Toronto. I mean, the Red Sox must have known that he was on his way out -- sure, teams make mistakes all the time (and the 1990s Red Sox weren't exactly the smartest team around), but not to the point where an organization would have been so entirely, utterly wrong about the future of a franchise player. It's all just too fishy. So, that said, I don't think we can ever really judge the extent of Clemens' "greatness". Which, by the way, is the same reason why I'm not sure how easy it is to gauge any player's "greatness", because many "great" players have either found ways around the rules (corked bats, spit-ball pitchers, etc.) or have just benefitted from favorable conditions unavailable to players of other generations (such as pitchers during the dead-ball era, or sluggers during the Coors Field/Jose Canseco "juiced" era).

Answer 2

No. Not even close, though he will be in the Hall of Fame.

I have seen him pitch. Sandy Koufax was better. So was Tom Seaver. Ditto Bob Gibson and Steve Carlton. Ditto ditto Bob Feller, Walter Johnson, Nolan Ryan, Christy Mathewson, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Satchel Paige, Whitey Ford and Warren Spahn.

But he is better than that spitballing cheat Gaylord Perry.

Yes, Roger Clemens is a great pitcher and deserves to enter the Hall on the first ballot. But he is not the greatest.

Answer 3

I would say the Big Train Walter Johnson was the greatest pitcher of all time. I believe Sandy Koufax, Juan Marichal and Bob Gibson were greater than Clemens too though the Rocket is great too.

Answer 4

hes the greatest modern, active pitcher, but not the greatest of all time. there hav been way 2 many great pitchers in baseballs early days who pitched full games and twice as many total games in the season, like cy young, warren spahn, and grover cleveland alexander. later on, there were great pitchers like lefty grove, then later nolan ryan (who imo could come out and pitch today for the astros), then later still, catfish hunter.

Answer 5

well thats an opion question but overall rated Cy young would be the best pitcher of all time.

ps Roger clemens is my favorite pitcher!

Answer 6

Are you referring to the self-serving drama king of baseball? As much as I hate to admit it because he is such a jerk as a person, he was (not is) a great pitcher. I'm not sure he is the greatest of all time, though. Probably Left Grove holds that honor.

Hope this helps.

Answer 7

No. There have been better pitchers, notably Young, Ford, Alexander, Koufax, Ryan, and Seaver.

Answer 8

Nolan Ryan is the best pitcher of all time.

Answer 9

No, probably not even the greatest pitcher of this generation...

Answer 10

1. roger clemmons
2. bob gibson
3. nolan ryan