“Roger is the only 4-time AL Cy Young winner.”

Then he won the Cy Young Award again in 1998 and 2001 to bring the total to 6.

1998 Topps Series 2:

1. #489 Tim Drew/Donnie Bridges (Draft Picks) (Rookie)
2. #291 Paul Molitor
3. #497 Tony Saunders (Topps All-Star Rookie)
4. #309 Chuck Knoblauch
5. #496 Brian Anderson
6. #300 Roger Clemens
7. #365 Jermaine Allensworth
8. #313 Moises Alou
9. #428 Ed Sprague
10. #426 Pete Schourek
11. #340 Chris Stynes

Ripping five hobby packs of 2009 Topps Series 1:

PACK 1

1. #106 Marlon Byrd
2. #60 Mariano Rivera
3. #128 Johnny Cueto
4. #230 Justin Upton
5. #132 Juan Pierre
6. Topps Town #TTT5 Evan Longoria
7. #299 Cole Hamels (Postseason Highlights)
8. #329 Gil Meche
9. #151 Carl Pavano
10. #72 David Dellucci

PACK 2

1. #41 Mike Mussina
2. #100 David Wright
3. #81 Ryan Howard/Adam Dunn/Carlos Delgado (League Leaders)
4. #43 Joe Mauer/Dustin Pedroia/Milton Bradley (League Leaders)
5. Ring of Honor #RH47 Roger Clemens
6. Topps Town #TTT20 Lance Berkman
7. #121 Greg Golson (Rookie Card)
8. #197 Ronnie Belliard
9. #185 Randy Johnson
10. #269 Hunter Pence

PACK 3

1. #56 Edwin Encarnacion
2. #136 Tim Hudson
3. #28 Mike Lowell
4. #5 John Lackey
5. #324 Mark Reynolds
6. Topps Town #TTT12 Justin Morneau
7. #78 Tim Lincecum (Cy Young Award)
8. #2 Omar Vizquel
9. #57 Jo-Jo Reyes
10. #199 Ramon Castro

PACK 4

1. #8 Terry Francona (Manager)
2. #53 Jonathan Sanchez
3. #130 Vladimir Guerrero
4. #201 Jarrod Saltalamacchia/Josh Hamilton (Classic Combos)
5. #10b Rogers Hornsby (Short Print)
6. Topps Town #TTT3 Grady Sizemore
7. #271 Cliff Lee (Cy Young Award)
8. #172 Yadier Molina
9. #30 Ken Griffey Jr.
10. #183 Jason Michaels

PACK 5

1. #295 Derrek Lee
2. #205 Miguel Tejada
3. #92 Luis Castillo
4. #226 Neal Cotts
5. Ring of Honor #RH41 Andy Pettitte
6. Topps Town Gold #TTT22 Tim Lincecum
7. #293 Brian Bixler
8. #158 Ray Durham
9. #207 Joe Blanton
10. #40 Carl Crawford

“In tying his own ML mark with 20 SO’s (9/18), Roger became only the 5th man to K as many as 16 after age 30.”

1997 Topps Series 2:

1. #303 Darren Oliver
2. #424 Cal Eldred
3. #370 Roger Clemens
4. #415 Brian Jordan
5. #321 Eric Karros
6. #313 C.J. Nitkowski
7. #445 Denny Neagle
8. #383 Jason Schmidt
9. #434 Dustin Hermanson
10. #324 Brett Butler
11. #446 John Jaha

“He earned his 1st major league Win: 5-20-84.  Recorded 1st major league Shutout: 7-26-84.”

Over the course of 24 seasons spanning from 1984-2007, Roger Clemens established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball history.  He has won 7 Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher in history.  His career numbers are comparable with the greatest pitchers ever to take the mound: 354-184 W-L record, 3.12 ERA, and 4,672 SO.

Clemens pitched his final Major League game in 2007.  Since then, he has been accused of steroid use and adultery throughout his playing career, which he has always denied.  In August, he pleaded not guilty to a federal grand jury on six felony counts involving perjury.  His trial will be April 2011.

Clemens’ son Koby Clemens plays AA ball in the Houston Astros organization.

1986 Topps:

1. #315 Mookie Wilson
2. #447 Jerry Don Gleaton
3. #661 Roger Clemens
4. #663 Neil Allen
5. #34 Ken Phelps
6. #580 Willie McGee
7. #42 Geoff Zahn
8. #111 Roger Craig (Manager)
9. #670 Willie Hernandez
10. #572 Paul Zuvella
11. #322 Bob Forsch
12. #62 Bob Boone
13. #479 Bob Melvin (Rookie)
14. #31 Jamie Easterly
15. #105 Gary Ward

“Piazza and Clemens made headlines in 2000.  First, Piazza was hit in the head by a Clemens pitch in July.  Then, in Game 2 of the World Series, Clemens tossed the barrel of a broken bat near Piazza as he ran to first base.  Still, the duo worked in harmony as a battery during the 2004 All-Star Game.”

2005 Topps Series 1:

1. #194 Bobby Abreu
2. #250 Mark Prior
3. #241 Luis Rivas
4. #119 Steve Trachsel
5. #221 Carlos Guillen
6. #351 Curt Schilling/David Ortiz (Postseason Highlights)
7. Grudge Match #GM2 Mike Piazza/Roger Clemens
8. #243 Jason Johnson
9. #113 Darrell May
10. #283 Ron Gardenhire (Manager)

1996 Topps Series 1:

1. #60 David Justice
2. #13 Todd Helton (Draft Pick)
3. #40 Orel Hershiser
4. #80 Gary Sheffield
5. #197 Roger Clemens
6. #70 Ron Gant
7. #150 Randy Johnson
8. #33 Mike Macfarlane
9. #181 Denny Martinez
10. #61 Royce Clayton
11. #91 Troy O’Leary
12. #91 Troy O’Leary

“Roger had a chance meeting with President Clinton — the third president he’s met — at Arlington Cemetery last June”

Since then, Clemens has also met President George W. Bush.  All of his presidential connections hasn’t helped him though, as Clemens is expected to stand federal trial for perjury next spring.

1993 Topps Series 2:

1. #738 Lance Painter
2. #434 Jack Armstrong
3. #412 Jamie McAndrew
4. #516 Alex Arias
5. #409 Greg Maddux/Roger Clemens (All-Stars)
6. Gold #428 Todd Zeile
7. #698 Ted Wood
8. #628 Kelly Gruber
9. #724 Guillermo Velasquez
10. #498 Bud Black
11. #651 Rafael Bournigal
12. #539 Kerry Woodson
13. #751 Eric Hillman
14. #602 Henry Mercedes
15. #725 Billy Hatcher

Maddux vs. Clemens at the 1992 All-Star break looks like a pretty even match-up.  Maddux was 10-8 with a 2.40 ERA and 106 SO, while Clemens was 9-6 with a 2.31 ERA and 120 SO.  While it might look like Clemens has the upper hand according to those numbers, Maddux pitched a couple more innings than Clemens but gave up 11 fewer hits.

2008 Topps Series 1:

1. #105 Roger Clemens
2. #207 Jeff Kent
3. #65 Billy Wagner
4. #69 Bobby Cox (Manager)
5. #203 Jason Tyner
6. #133 Mike Bacsik
7. Gold Border #184 Tadahito Iguchi (Serial#1792/2008)
8. #75 Felix Hernandez
9. #240 Jim Thome
10. #292 Mark Loretta

“Acquired in July when star Chase Utley got hurt, Tadahito was a savior for the 2007 Phillies, contributing a little of everything — including errorless play in his 31 games at second base.  Moving to the bench when Utley returned was typically unselfish.  ”The Phillies had a need,” Iguchi says.  ”I think I fulfilled that need at the time.””

After 4 years of playing in the American Major Leagues, Tadahito is back in Japan and still playing.

I think this is Roger Clemens’ last Topps card: