Chowder and Champions
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Boston Red Sox: Top 5 franchise players of the 1990s

By Jason Haskins

16 Oct 1999: John Valentin #13 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with teammates during the ALCS game three against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 13-1. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport
16 Oct 1999: John Valentin #13 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with teammates during the ALCS game three against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 13-1. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /
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Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox Roger Clemens (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images) /

Roger Clemens

Before leaving the Boston Red Sox after the 1996 season, Roger Clemens (“the Rocket”) was on a downward slide. He’d only won 29 games in 81 starts between 1994-96 and eventually left Boston as a free agent, a betrayal in the eyes of many a fan.

Of course, we know what happened after that. Clemens would win four more Cy Young Awards, don the hated Yankee pinstripes, and end up with 354 career regular season wins.

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And Clemens was one of the best pitchers in the game between 1990-1993. Clemens, who had won the Cy Young Award twice in the 1980s, added his third in 1991. He went 18-10 that season with 13 complete games. Clemens also tossed 271.1 innings and struck out 242 batters while posting a 2.62 ERA.

Between 1990 and 1993, Clemens was consistently Boston’s top pitcher (even though at 11-14 in ’93, his “decline” was on the radar). Clemens won 68 games in this span and struck out 200 or more in three of those seasons. Clemens also led the league in ERA between 1990-92.

Twice during the 1990s Clemens and the Red Sox won the A.L. East and twice they were swept from the playoffs. Clemens pitched in three games combined in those two seasons, throwing only 14.2 innings. He had only one decision, a loss, and his ERA was just under four.

Still, he was one of the best in the ’90s for the Red Sox, even though his finish in Boston was a far cry from the flourish in which he arrived.

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