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Moriarty9 · 08-05-2009, 12:13 AM

Clemens calls is quits
Rocket retires at age 43
October 29, 2005

HOUSTON — After 280 wins and 3,981 strikeouts, Roger Clemens has decided its time to retire.

Clemens, 43, announced his retirement in a press conference today. The decision comes after 22 big league seasons, the last of which consisted of just 64 innings due to an injury and subsequent rehab.

Clemens went just 3-3 with a 5.48 ERA in 11 games, 10 starts, for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as the club won the American League East. It was the highest ERA ever posted by Clemens.

"It's getting a lot harder now," said Clemens. "I love the challenge and the competition, but its time to step aside."

The news came as a surprise to many considering how close the Rocket is to some big milestone numbers. Clemens has 280 wins, just 20 short of 300. He is also just 19 strikeouts short of 4,000 in his career, a number he surpassed in single starts twice by striking out 20 in a game two times with the Boston Red Sox.

Clemens retires with a career record of 280-173 and a 3.33 ERA in 619 big league games, all but two of which have been as a starting pitcher. He will enter the Hall of Fame wearing a Red Sox hat, where he spent 13 seasons. Clemens also pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays (1997-98), Texas Rangers (1999-2001), Arizona Diamondbacks (2002-03), Oakland Athletics (2004), and Devil Rays in 2005.

08-05-2009, 12:13 AM	#476 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,858 Thanks: 10 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Clemens calls is quits Rocket retires at age 43 October 29, 2005 HOUSTON — After 280 wins and 3,981 strikeouts, Roger Clemens has decided its time to retire. Clemens, 43, announced his retirement in a press conference today. The decision comes after 22 big league seasons, the last of which consisted of just 64 innings due to an injury and subsequent rehab. Clemens went just 3-3 with a 5.48 ERA in 11 games, 10 starts, for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as the club won the American League East. It was the highest ERA ever posted by Clemens. "It's getting a lot harder now," said Clemens. "I love the challenge and the competition, but its time to step aside." The news came as a surprise to many considering how close the Rocket is to some big milestone numbers. Clemens has 280 wins, just 20 short of 300. He is also just 19 strikeouts short of 4,000 in his career, a number he surpassed in single starts twice by striking out 20 in a game two times with the Boston Red Sox. Clemens retires with a career record of 280-173 and a 3.33 ERA in 619 big league games, all but two of which have been as a starting pitcher. He will enter the Hall of Fame wearing a Red Sox hat, where he spent 13 seasons. Clemens also pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays (1997-98), Texas Rangers (1999-2001), Arizona Diamondbacks (2002-03), Oakland Athletics (2004), and Devil Rays in 2005.