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Yankees Make Unexpected Roger Clemens Announcement After Failed Hall of Fame Pursuit

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Jul 21, 2025 3:29 PM ET

After nearly 20 years, baseball legend Roger Clemens will wear a New York Yankees uniform once again.

The Yankees announced on Monday that Clemens, who pitched six seasons and won two World Series with the Yankees, will participate in August’s Old-Timers’ Day. This year’s Old-Timers’ Day will honor the 2000 World Series team; Clemens went 13-8 that year and posted a 3.21 ERA in 28 postseason innings.

Of course, the 2000 season featured Clemens’ infamous feud with then-New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza.

The Yankees’ decision to include Clemens is slightly surprising, even after he briefly spent time with the team at spring training. Clemens failed to make the Hall of Fame largely because of his ties to performance-enhancing drugs, though it’s worth noting the league never punished him for any positive drug tests.

However, the Yankees have previously welcomed back former AL MVP Alex Rodriguez, who sat out the entire 2014 season following a positive drug test. Neither Rodriguez nor Derek Jeter is listed on the Old-Timers’ Day roster.

Other first-time participants include second baseman/outfielder Alfonso Soriano, 2000 ALCS MVP David Justice, and infielder José Vizcaíno. Old-Timers' Day is scheduled for Saturday, August 9.

Clemens terrorized the Yankees for 15 seasons, first with the Boston Red Sox and then with the Toronto Blue Jays. However, the Blue Jays dealt Clemens to the Yankees ahead of the 1999 season, and he went 77-36 with a 3.99 ERA across the next five years.

Most importantly, the Yankees won two World Series and four pennants in that span.

Clemens rejoined the Yankees in 2007, tallying a 4.18 ERA in 99 innings over 18 games (17 starts) for a 94-win Yankees club. He famously announced his return that May, a move that left Yankees announcer Suzyn Waldman extremely excited.

The pure astonishment of Suzyn Waldman when Roger Clemens announced his return to the Yankees in 2007 will never not be hilarious pic.twitter.com/VyAFom9gon
— The Yankee Report (@YankeeReport_) March 7, 2025