BBC SPORT | OTHER SPORTS | Clemens hits perfect pitch

BBC Sport Online's Kevin Asseo reports on Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens, who is still breaking records at the age of 39.

Roger "The Rocket" Clemens is simply incredible. Amazing. Immortal.

Use whatever adjective you want to describe the man and his accomplishments, and it will not do him justice.

Clemens, the New York Yankees' star pitcher, won again Wednesday night to bring his win-loss record this season to a remarkable 19-1.

With the victory, Clemens became only the second man in the history of Major League Baseball to begin the season with 19 wins in his first 20 decisions.

He seems to elevate the play of our team when he pitches

Yankees manager Joe Torre

Hall of Famer Rube Marquard was the other, going 19-1 for the New York Giants in 1912.

But Clemens' record-breaking feats do not end there.

He also set a Yankees' team record with his 15th consecutive win, breaking the previous record of 14 set in 1904 by Jack Chesbro and matched in 1961 by Whitey Ford, both Hall of Fame pitchers.

These sorts of things were not supposed to be possible for Clemens anymore.

He is 39, well past the age when pitchers, especially fastball specialists like him, are thought to have peaked.

Best pitcher

"Rocket is remarkable," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "19-1 is one thing, 39 years old is another thing.

"To still be the power pitcher, the dominant pitcher that he is, is remarkable."

Clemens is on his way to another groundbreaking milestone as well.

In the 100-plus year history of Major League Baseball, he is the only five-time winner of the Cy Young Award, given to the league's best pitcher.

With the tremendous season he is having, Clemens is all but a sure thing to win an unprecedented (and almost unthinkable) sixth Cy Young.
Roger Clemens
Clemens is heading for a sixth Cy Young

You don't have to think very long or hard about who has been the most important player on the Yankees' side this year.

"He seems to elevate the play of our team when he pitches," Torre said.

That may be the understatement of the season.

In Clemens' 29 starts, the Yankees have won 26 times, lost 3.

In the 111 games started by other Yankee pitchers, their record is 57-54.

"He's the reason we're in first place," said Yankees' outfielder Paul O'Neill. "Take him off this team and we're in big trouble."

Record books

Clemens himself does not think too deeply about how he has been able to maintain his top form so brilliantly for so many years.

"I'm just very fortunate I'm still able to be a power pitcher," he said.

"My body and my arm respond when I need it to."

That is another understatement, this time from the man who continues to defy age and expectations as he rewrites baseball's record books.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]		Thursday, 6 September, 2001, 14:04 GMT 15:04 UK Clemens hits perfect pitch Clemens is only the second man to start a season 19-1 BBC Sport Online's Kevin Asseo reports on Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens, who is still breaking records at the age of 39. Roger "The Rocket" Clemens is simply incredible. Amazing. Immortal. Use whatever adjective you want to describe the man and his accomplishments, and it will not do him justice. Clemens, the New York Yankees' star pitcher, won again Wednesday night to bring his win-loss record this season to a remarkable 19-1. With the victory, Clemens became only the second man in the history of Major League Baseball to begin the season with 19 wins in his first 20 decisions. He seems to elevate the play of our team when he pitches Yankees manager Joe Torre Hall of Famer Rube Marquard was the other, going 19-1 for the New York Giants in 1912. But Clemens' record-breaking feats do not end there. He also set a Yankees' team record with his 15th consecutive win, breaking the previous record of 14 set in 1904 by Jack Chesbro and matched in 1961 by Whitey Ford, both Hall of Fame pitchers. These sorts of things were not supposed to be possible for Clemens anymore. He is 39, well past the age when pitchers, especially fastball specialists like him, are thought to have peaked. Best pitcher "Rocket is remarkable," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "19-1 is one thing, 39 years old is another thing. "To still be the power pitcher, the dominant pitcher that he is, is remarkable." Clemens is on his way to another groundbreaking milestone as well. In the 100-plus year history of Major League Baseball, he is the only five-time winner of the Cy Young Award, given to the league's best pitcher. With the tremendous season he is having, Clemens is all but a sure thing to win an unprecedented (and almost unthinkable) sixth Cy Young. Clemens is heading for a sixth Cy Young You don't have to think very long or hard about who has been the most important player on the Yankees' side this year. "He seems to elevate the play of our team when he pitches," Torre said. That may be the understatement of the season. In Clemens' 29 starts, the Yankees have won 26 times, lost 3. In the 111 games started by other Yankee pitchers, their record is 57-54. "He's the reason we're in first place," said Yankees' outfielder Paul O'Neill. "Take him off this team and we're in big trouble." Record books Clemens himself does not think too deeply about how he has been able to maintain his top form so brilliantly for so many years. "I'm just very fortunate I'm still able to be a power pitcher," he said. "My body and my arm respond when I need it to." That is another understatement, this time from the man who continues to defy age and expectations as he rewrites baseball's record books.		See also: 02 Apr 01 \| Other Sports Clemens eclipses hero Johnson 01 Nov 00 \| Other Sports Clemens disputes fine 24 Oct 00 \| Other Sports Clemens fined for bat hurl 27 Oct 00 \| Americas New York Yankees champions again 15 Oct 00 \| Other Sports Clemens takes Yankees to edge 12 Aug 00 \| Other Sports Clemens deal just dandy Internet links: Major League baseball New York Yankees Roger Clemens The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Other top Other Sports stories: Jeter hurt as Yankees win New award for Redgrave Racing bulletin: Friday's action Vinokourov ruled out of Tour Ullrich fails drugs test Hamilton plans Armstrong payback Hawk Wing heads Eclipse field Egan keeps licence after hearing Links to more Other Sports stories are at the foot of the page.


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