I think everything after 1996 was steroids related for Clemens.You might not LIKE Clemens, but he certainly belongs in the Hall of Fame.
He averaged a 17-9 record with a 3.12 ERA - for TWENTY-FOUR SEASONS!
Third most strikeouts all time. For his career, he had a rating of over 139 wins versus replacement (WAR). And he won roughly 2/3 of his games.
7 Cy Young Awards, 7 ERA titles.
He was a .500 pitcher from 1993 to 1996.
He lost velocity with the Sox his last 2 years. Then poof he got bigger and got his velocity back and then some in 1997 when he went to Toronto.
Unlike Bonds I don’t think steroids saved his career. I think steroids prolonged Clemens to what he became. That and his lawsuit with McNamee and the government trial.
He doesn’t belong in the HOF.
I think his 1984-1996 career is probably good enough but it’s a lot like Schilling minus the playoff success.
Bonds if he stopped playing baseball after the 1999 season I think he is a lock HOFer.
Both Bonds and Clemens are cheaters but I am voting for Bonds no matter what I would need to examine the Clemens 1984-96 stats a little more before checking his box automatically.
I probably would but screw him.