Trump Announces Medal of Freedom for Roger Clemens, Calls for Hall of Fame

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that former Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, while renewing calls for the seven-time Cy Young winner to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame during a campaign rally in San Antonio, Texas.

Roger Clemens arrived at the Freeman Coliseum expecting to introduce President Donald Trump at a Republican National Committee campaign rally on Wednesday night. Instead, the 24-year MLB veteran received the nation’s highest civilian honor as a surprise from the podium (Fox News). The announcement comes during Trump’s third trip to Texas in thirty days, as political figures campaign ahead of next month’s midterm elections (USA Today).

San Antonio Rally Announcement and Reactions

Trump addressed the crowd of supporters near the end of a speech lasting more than 100 minutes (NBC4 Washington), calling Clemens maybe the greatest pitcher of all time. The president told attendees that the honor stands alongside the Congressional Medal of Honor as the highest award the country bestows (WBUR). Calling Clemens back to the stage, Trump declared that the civilian decoration serves as a major step up from Cooperstown (USA Today).

“Well, I’ stunned, No. 1. Again, 24 years y’all – this supersedes obviously anything I’ve done in my playing career. To get it from this man, this president. There wouldn’t be another president I’d want to get it from.”

Roger Clemens, retired MLB pitcher

Clemens also praised Trump during his initial introduction at the San Antonio venue, crediting the president with making the country safer through border policies and leadership (Fox News).

Cy Young Records and Hall of Fame Exclusions

Despite a pitching career that included seven Cy Young Awards, two World Series championships, 11 All-Star selections, an American League MVP award, two 20-strikeout games, and two triple crowns, Clemens has remained outside the National Baseball Hall of Fame (Yahoo Sports). Voters on the Baseball Writers Association of America ballot never gave Clemens enough votes to get elected, while era committees also passed on his candidacy (Houston Chronicle).

The exclusion stems from widespread allegations of performance-enhancing drug use—including mentions in the 2007 Mitchell Report based on testimony from former trainer Brian McNamee, who asserted he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormones over several years (Yahoo Sports). Clemens was acquitted of the charges and has consistently denied using performance-enhancing substances (Houston Chronicle). His career spanned stints with the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros.

“People talk drugs, he never admitted to anything. They have no information. They didn’t find anything. It’s not like, ‘Oh jeez, load it up.’ He never admitted to anything. He’s just a physical monster, OK?”

President Donald Trump

Because of current Hall of Fame rules, Clemens will not face consideration again until at least 2031, and will face permanent ineligibility if he fails to secure at least five votes during that ballot cycle (Yahoo Sports).

Athletes Recognized by Presidential Administrations

Trump has awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to several prominent sports figures during his two terms in office (NBC4 Washington). Past sports recipients include golfer Tiger Woods, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach, former New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, and former college football coach Lou Holtz (Houston Chronicle). The highest civilian honor has also been awarded posthumously to Elvis Presley and to conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh (NBC4 Washington).

The announcement follows prior actions by the administration regarding baseball figures. Last year, Trump issued a posthumous federal pardon for Pete Rose, prompting Major League Baseball to lift its ban on the sport’s all-time career hits leader, though Rose has not yet been voted into the Hall of Fame (NBC4 Washington). Outlets note that the timing for when Clemens will physically receive the Medal of Freedom remains unannounced (Yahoo Sports).