Overheard with Evan Smith

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Who is the best hitter Roger Clemens faced?

Video Overview & Insights

In this clip from Overheard, former Major League pitcher Roger Clemens reveals the player he wanted to face on the baseball field.

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Will White holds the MLB record with 75 complete games in a single season (1879). Even in the modern era, Fernando Valenzuela managed 20 complete games in 1987, edging out Clemens' career-high of 18 in that identical season.

— @HumbleS.E.R.V.A.N.T

#RogerClemens #Baseball #Overheard

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Roger so humble and cool. Yankees fan got to enjoy him pitch at da Stadium foe 6 .byrs

— @bigjun2004

Full-length episodes online: http://www.klru.org/overheard

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I don't know the interviewer, but he should have done better research. Look at the top pitchers of 1968 to see how many complete game they had. Denny McLain had I think 26 complete games when he went 31-6 with a win in the World Series.

— @cdjhyoung

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/overheardwithevansmith

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I was going to say well he didn’t have to face Jim Rice, But Roger never got the chance to answer the question. I was at Fenway in 1986 and Clemens was 14-0. I watched his first loss of the season. I remember it was a low scoring game.

— @CharlesHoward-ud6qv

More User Perspectives

If the interviewer would've shut his mouth, Roger probably would've said Tony Gwynn....

@toddrichardson8595

Statistically it's A-Rod.....I looked it up.

@MattPurvis-gt3ww

Before 1900, Will White had 75 complete games in a season. Since 1900, Jack Chesbro threw 48 complete games in a season. Since 1950, Robin Roberts threw 33 complete games in a season. In the 70s, for guys threw 30 complete games in a season (Catfish Hunter, Steve Carlton, Fergie Jenkins and Wilbur Wood. The 1980 Oakland A's had 3 guys with 20+ complete games (Rick Langford (28), Mike Norris (24), and Matt Keough (20)). All 5 starters that year had over 210 IP. Roger is nowhere near the guy with the most complete games in a season.

So, #1... Stop talking. #2... let your guest talk. Roger has a lot of interesting things to say, so let him say them and #3 stay quiet.

@Murph_.

I'll answer for Roger, Tony Gwynn. He's the answer for every pitcher he faced and the best hitter ever. No need to list his stats, they're in the books, but for his era there's no one close, not even Williams since his competition was far weaker.

@Grandpa_Moses

Well you didn't expect him to say Mike Piazza did you?

@ToddSnoeyenbos

Ok, so who was it? Whoever posted this should get poked in the eye.

@rlevitta

The fact that he mentioned Pujols, one of the best to ever step on a diamond is not surprising at all.

@EdwardEdward-n2q

I knew that’s who he would pick!! 🤦‍♂️

@scottray1237

I am Yankee Fan. And I always like and respected Roger Clemens! He’s was a great one!

@MsTdougherty

Mike Piazza used to own Roger Clemens and he knows this. I also remember in 1986 when the Mets beat the Boston Red Sox he was crying like a big baby in the dugout after that loss. I guess he wanted to show something to his Yankees Fans that he was a tough guy when he threw that broken bat out of steroid rage at Mike Piazza. What a fake Roger Clemens is.

@victorscarpulla2478

Manny Ramirez

@jamesfontes9292

Piazza owned him

@scottsarnosky977

Ricky Henderson,

@kevinbrooks1104

roids ruined the game. a-roid is a douchbag who should be in jail

@leokibler8341

Mike Piazza owned Roger so maybe he's the best Roger has faced.

@johnzook5491

Edgar Martinez

@jerrystephens8937

How about those ALCS duels against Dave Stewart(A's) in the late 1980's???

@GDub-r6c

Hands down Mario Mendoza, then named the 'Mendoza Line'.

@Kendall_Kidd

Gwynn. Always Gwynn.

@bakuninsane

"The contact guys."

So Tony Gwynn.

@epasato

My 3 guesses? Tony Gwynn, Craig Biggio, Ichiro. I dont think he took on rose? Maybe he did. But rose would probably be in the mix.

@bluenanamandan

Interivewer doesn't have a clue, particularly on most complete games in Clemens isn' even in the top 500. Most he had in a season is 18. Bob Gibson had 28 and isn't in the top 500 either. Most is 75 CG in a season by Will White of the Cincinatti Reds in 1879.

@stevemoore8390

18 complete games is not even close to most complete games

@MichaelBarbush-u3c

Not even close Mr Interviewer, Koufax had 27 CGs in both 65 + 66, his last two season. Palmer had 25, 23, 22 and 20 CGs in the 70’s. And Fergie Jenkins, 30 in 1971 along with 29 in 1974. Nolan Ryan 5 yrs of 20+ CG seasons. So many have had more than 18. Maybe you meant a Red Sox record and Roger very easily could have that record

@GaryRoenickr

This interviewer should go into another line of work.

@jimlaguardia8185

18 complete games did he mix that up with 18 strikeouts? Unless I misunderstood what he said. I think the records like 75 complete games from the Middle ages

@Graikos

Totally misleading video title: The question was not answered by Clemens.

@stephenmcwilliams5842

How does the interviewer not know that 18 complete games in a season is nowhere near the record?! Roger knew it . Bob Feller threw twice that many in 1946. Catfish Hunter had 30 in 1975. What a clown.

@Whatchareadin816

Clemens — as awesome as he was — is not even close … NOT EVEN CLOSE … to most CG in a season — in ANY era! Bob Feller awesome too — but Ferguson Jenkins much more modern. Jenkins used to pitch like 30 CGs some years?? …. and I bet he beat Feller’s 36 possibly?? … look it up :)

@bryanfitzgerald1494

None of these guys ever say "Barry Bonds." Something is fishy.

@aaroncannon2424

Who is this host who thinks that 18 CG's is the all time record lol

@SebaTarth

Is this question pre-needle or post-needle?

@Bigpapi04

Steroids Rocket

@MagicofPurple

The guy he threw a piece of broken bat…at. MP.

@RobertDiehl-l4n

I thought he wanted to say Reggie Jackson, Mr October himself

@soul17169

There's a legendary group of proffessional sports stars of the world and Clemens is in there

@grandpaGracias-w3e

Clemens had 18 in complete games 1987. In 1986 Fernando Valenzuela had 20. Bert Blyleven had 24 in 1985.

So much for "the record". I do think it's the most anyone has thrown since 1987 though.

@michaellawrence5436

With or without the Rocket Fuel steroid injections into the buttocks?

@jamesdavis6036

Never a fan of Roger growing up, but clearly this man was gifted with a great arm and a very high baseball intellect.

@mimibazela1025

And the answer is?

@davidmichael4002

This guy deserves to be on the hall of fame him and all of the 90 and early 2000s players

@eduardoterrero3315

in 1976, Randy Jones won the Cy Young award and pitched 25 complete games. He won 22 games on a Padres team that only won 79.

@aztecbill4867

That big booming voice was the late great Sherm Feller and he was extraordinary

@badlieutenant322

Piazza owned Clemens..... they know it and so do all the people who watched them compete with one another. Piazza always gave Clemens a tough time.

@johncummings5350

Howard Stern of sports interviewers

@minnesotajack1

Piazza owned Clemens

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