President Trump announces Roger Clemens will receive Presidential Medal of Freedom, calls for him to enter Hall of Fame
Yahoo Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump announced that former MLB pitcher Roger Clemens will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, despite Clemens not being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, has never been elected to the Hall due to widespread steroid use allegations, which he has consistently denied.
- MLB Hall of Fame voting is conducted by the Baseball Writers Association of America and a committee of baseball executives and historians, not by the MLB commissioner, though Trump contacted Commissioner Rob Manfred about Clemens' case.
- Clemens' Hall of Fame ineligibility is also influenced by a character clause citing personal controversies, including allegations of a past relationship with late singer Mindy McCready, which Clemens denies.
- The timing of Clemens receiving the Medal of Freedom is unclear, and previous announced recipients like NHL goalie Connor Hellebuyck have yet to receive their awards.
