Roger Clemens signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters, of the independent Atlantic League earlier this week.
Clemens, 50, was recently acquitted of federal charges that he lied to Congress when he said he never used performance-enhancing drugs. He last pitched five years ago, unexpectedly coming out of retirement for the New York Yankees, going 6-6 with a 4.18 ERA in the second half of the season. Clemens pitched 24 years in the majors for the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Yankees and Houston Astros. Clemens was on the Yankees from 1999-2003 before re-joining the team in 2007.
In various reports, Clemens has said he’s not ready to return to the majors at this point, but that hasn’t stopped many from speculating his trip in Sugar Land is just a pitstop en route back to the pros.
There have been six players to play in the MLB at age 50 and up, and the most recent being Minnie Miñoso, who had two at-bats for the Chicago White Sox at age 54. Prior to that, Miñoso played in three games in 1976 for the White Sox. The last pitcher to play in the MLB into his 50s was Satchel Paige, who pitched one game at age 59 for the Kansas City A’s back in 1965.
Jamie Moyer, 49, played for the the Colorado Rockies this year and was released, but became the oldest pitcher in MLB history to win a game. He was picked up by the Blue Jays and sent to AAA, but was also released by Toronto.
So, do you think Clemens will pitch again for a major league team?
