Houston Chronicle: Clemens Could Reach 8th on All-time Wins List

Upstaging Carlton still on to-do list
Clemens could reach eighth place on baseball's list of all-time winners
By BRIAN MCTAGGART
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

One of the most memorable moments of the 2004 baseball season — and there were more than a few — came May 5 when Roger Clemens moved past Steve Carlton on the all-time strikeout list.

The crowd at Minute Maid Park roared like never before when Clemens struck out Raul Mondesi of the Pittsburgh Pirates, hailing the Rocket as if he had broken a sacred record.
But the fact remained Clemens had moved into second place on the all-time list and was still more 1,500 strikeouts shy of breaking the record of 5,714 set by fellow Texas fireballer Nolan Ryan.

Nevertheless, Clemens' achievement was one for the books, and now that he has decided to return for his 22nd season, he could reach more milestones this year.

Clemens is at the top when it comes to winning Cy Young Awards, earning his record seventh last year.

"Go for No. 8!" Clemens' wife, Debbie, said after Friday's news conference to announce Clemens would return to the Astros.

One of a kindClemens, 42, also leads all active pitchers in wins (328), starts (639), innings (4,493), strikeouts (4,317), complete games (117) and shutouts (46).

Because of the era in which he pitches, Clemens won't come close to breaking records for most career wins, innings, complete games or shutouts.

But his place in history is secure.

"There's only one Roger Clemens," agent Randy Hendricks said.

Clemens needs just one more win to move into a tie for ninth-place on the all-time list with Carlton (329). The only other player on the all-time wins list within striking range is Tim Keefe, who's in eighth place with 342 wins from 1880-1893. Clemens would need to win 15 games to pass Keefe.

Clemens and Randy Johnson, who was recently traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the New York Yankees, are tied for second on the career list with 12 seasons of 200 or more strikeouts.

Both trail Ryan's 15 seasons on that list.

Johnson trailingJohnson, 41, ranks second behind Clemens with five Cy Young Awards and finished second behind Clemens in voting in the National League last year. Clemens is the oldest pitcher to win the Cy Young and is one of only four to win it in both leagues.

Clemens went 18-4 last season with a winning percentage of .818, best in the majors.

He became the first player to win eight Baseball Writers' Association of America awards — Cy Youngs in 1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2004 and the 1986 American League Most Valuable Player.

He also could move into the top 10 for career starts this year. With 639 starts, he's in 13th place and just 27 starts shy of tying Walter Johnson for 10th place at 666. Clemens started 32 games last season.

Shutouts become rareClemens is tied for 26th on the all-time shutout list with 46, but considering he has had just one shutout since the end of the 1999 season, it's unlikely he'll add to that total.

If he pitches 200 innings, he would move into the top 20 in innings pitched.
Because he has pitched for so long, Clemens ranks high on some dubious lists as well: home runs allowed (23rd with 336), walks allowed (11th with 1,458), earned runs allowed (27th with 1,588) and hit batters (13th with 147).
brian.mctaggart@chron.com