Trump says he will award Roger Clemens the Presidential Medal of Freedom
In short
President Donald Trump announced at a rally in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday night that he would award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former pitcher Roger Clemens. Trump called the seven-time Cy Young winner "maybe the greatest pitcher of all time" and renewed his calls for Clemens to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame, which he has not joined because of suspicions of steroid use.
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President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday night that he would award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former pitcher Roger Clemens, the Associated Press and the New York Post reported. Trump made the announcement at a campaign rally at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas, where Clemens introduced him. "We're giving him the Presidential Medal of Freedom," Trump said. "And, along with the Congressional Medal of Honor, it's the highest award bestowed upon anyone." [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Trump called Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, "maybe the greatest pitcher of all time" and renewed his calls for him to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. "He'll be in the Hall of Fame someday, but he deserves it," Trump said, adding that the medal "is a big step up from the Hall of Fame." The AP reported that the announcement came near the end of a speech that lasted more than 100 minutes. [ 2 , 3 ]
The New York Post reported that Clemens was caught off guard. "Well, I'm stunned, number one," he told the crowd. "This supersedes anything that, obviously, I've done in my playing career. And to get it from this man, this president, there wouldn't be another president I'd want to get [it] from." [ 3 ]
Clemens, known as "The Rocket", played 24 seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees and Houston Astros. According to the Post, he is an 11-time All-Star, won the 1986 American League MVP award and ranks ninth all-time with 354 career wins. [ 2 , 3 ]
He has not been elected to the Hall of Fame because of suspicions that he used steroids. The Post reported that he was mentioned 82 times in the 2007 Mitchell Report but never tested positive, that he never received more than 61.6 percent of the vote against the 75 percent required, and that he remains eligible through the Today's Game Committee. [ 2 , 3 ]
The AP noted that Trump has given the medal to other sports figures during his two terms, including Tiger Woods, Roger Staubach, Mariano Rivera and Lou Holtz, as well as to Elvis Presley posthumously and to Rush Limbaugh. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The award goes to a player whose Hall of Fame candidacy has been held back by alleged steroid use, and Trump presented the medal as "a big step up from the Hall of Fame." The New York Post reported that Clemens remains eligible for the Hall through the Today's Game Committee.
Key facts
- Trump said he would award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former pitcher Roger Clemens. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The announcement came at a rally in San Antonio, Texas, where Clemens introduced Trump. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Trump called Clemens "maybe the greatest pitcher of all time." [ 2 , 3 ]
- Clemens is a seven-time Cy Young Award winner who played 24 Major League Baseball seasons. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Clemens has not been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame because of suspicions of steroid use. [ 2 , 3 ]
- According to the New York Post, Clemens never received more than 61.6 percent of the Hall of Fame vote, short of the 75 percent needed, and never tested positive for banned drugs. [ 3 ]
- Clemens said he was "stunned" and that the honor "supersedes anything" from his playing career. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Trump announced that Roger Clemens will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The announcement was made at a rally in San Antonio. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Trump called Clemens "maybe the greatest pitcher of all time." [ 2 , 3 ]
- Clemens is a seven-time Cy Young winner with a 24-year career. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Clemens has not been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame because of suspected steroid use. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- When the award will be presented. None of the documents gives a date or ceremony for the presentation.
- At what point in the rally the announcement was made. The Associated Press reported it came near the end of a speech lasting more than 100 minutes, while the New York Post said Clemens was informed when introducing Trump.
- How the medal ranks among national honours. Trump said it ranks with the Congressional Medal of Honor as the highest award; the New York Post called it the nation's highest civilian honor.