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Happy Birthday Rocket: 4 unforgettable moments from Roger Clemens' storied career

MATT CAMPBELL / AFP / Getty

"Rocket" Roger Clemens compiled a 354-184 record and collected a major-league best seven Cy Young awards in a dominant 24-year career.

Clemens turned 53 on Tuesday, so let's take a look back at four unforgettable moments from the fireballer's career.

My shoulder's fine, really

Midway through the 1985 season, Clemens had a major injury scare as his ailing right shoulder took a turn for the worse. The right-hander could barely lift his pitching arm, prompting him to undergo a career-threatening rotator cuff surgery.

Clemens was diligent while rehabbing the injury, though, and pitched a game for the ages against the Seattle Mariners in just his fourth contest back from surgery the following year. The Boston Red Sox hurler, only 23 years old at the time, struck out 20 batters (he would accomplish the feat again 10 years later) to establish a single-game record that still stands for a nine-inning game. Clemens earned his first of seven Cy Young awards and his only MVP in 1986 after recording a 24-4 record with a 2.48 ERA.

Two birds with one stone

On June 13, 2003, Clemens reached two major pitching milestones in the same night. In the second inning of a contest with the St. Louis Cardinals, Clemens punched out Edgar Renteria, becoming only the third pitcher in history to record 4,000 strikeouts. The Yankees marched to a 5-2 victory, helping Clemens earn the 300th win of his illustrious career.

Lean on me

Clemens guided the Yankees to consecutive World Series titles in 1999 and 2000, but his best postseason performance came in Game 4 of the 2000 American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners. Clemens fanned 15 while hurling a one-hit shutout to give New York a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Heat of the moment

The Yankees finished off the Mariners two games later, and then took down the Mets in five games in the 2000 Fall Classic to earn their third consecutive championship. Clemens infamously tossed the barrel of Mike Piazza's splintered bat back at him in Game 2 of the World Series, prompting both benches to clear.

(Videos courtesy: MLB.com)

Some of Clemens' other career accomplishments include:

  • 4,672 strikeouts, which rank third behind Randy Johnson (4,875) and Nolan Ryan (5,714).
  • Two pitching Triple Crowns (led league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA) with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1997 and 1998.
  • 11-time All-Star.
  • Seven-time ERA champion.
  • Five-time AL strikeout leader.

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