Editing Roger Clemens (section)

==Pitching style==
Clemens was a prototypical [[power pitcher]] with an aggressive edge, especially early in his career. Clemens was said to throw "two pitches: a 98-mph [[fastball]] and a hard [[breaking ball]]. At 23, Clemens simply reared back and threw the ball past batters."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/1999/10/16/roger-clemens-in-1986-and-pedro-martinez-in-1999-owned-american-league-hitters-with-striking-ease/|title=Roger Clemens In 1986 And Pedro Martinez In 1999 Owned American League Hitters With Striking Ease|last=Doyle|first=Peter|date=October 16, 1999|work=[[Hartford Courant]]|access-date=September 14, 2012}}</ref> Later in his career, Clemens developed a [[split-finger fastball]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://a.espncdn.com/mlb/columns/candiotti_tom/1394841.html|title=Fastball, splitter key to Clemens's success|last=Candiotti|first=Tom|date=June 14, 2002|work=ESPN.com|access-date=September 14, 2012}}</ref> Clemens has jocularly referred to this pitch as "Mr. Splitty".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.courant.com/2001/10/21/clemens-better-ready-to-pitch/|title=Clemens Better, Ready To Pitch|last=Amore|first=Dom|date=October 21, 2001|work=Hartford Courant|access-date=September 14, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?id=1558838|title=Seven years ago, Sox saw different Clemens|last=McAdam|first=Sean|date=May 25, 2003|work=ESPN.com|access-date=September 14, 2012}}</ref>

By the time Clemens retired from Major League Baseball in 2007, his [[four-seam fastball]] had settled in the 91–94&nbsp;mph range. He also threw a [[two-seam fastball]], a [[Slider (baseball)|slider]] in the mid 80s, a [[Split-finger fastball|splitter]], and an occasional [[curveball]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brooksbaseball.net/player_cards/player_card.php?player=112388|title=Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool – Player Card: Roger Clemens|publisher=Brooks Baseball|access-date=September 14, 2012}}</ref> Clemens was a durable pitcher, leading the American League in [[complete game]]s three times and [[innings pitched]] twice.<ref name="Stats" /> Clemens threw 18 complete games in 1987 which no pitcher has since matched.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/CG_leagues.shtml|title=Yearly League Leaders & Records for Complete Games|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=September 14, 2012}}</ref> Clemens was also known as a strikeout pitcher, leading the AL in Ks five times and [[strikeouts per nine innings]] three times.<ref name="Stats" /> He is currently the only pitcher in Major League history to have thrown two 20-strikeout games.<ref name="c474">{{cite web | last=Harrigan | first=Thomas | title=Pitchers who recorded 20 strikeouts in a game | website=MLB.com | date=2020-03-29 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/pitchers-who-recorded-20-strikeouts-in-a-game | access-date=2024-09-16}}</ref>