Houston Astro pitcher William Roger Clemens (1962–), born on this day in Dayton, Ohio, is one of the most masterful pitchers in Major League Baseball history. One of six children, Clemens moved with his family to Houston in 1977, where he grew up idolizing pitching legend Nolan Ryan.

Known for his fierce focus, Clemens was described by catcher Brad Ausmus as having “fire and grit.” He addressed that intensity with honesty: “Everybody kind of perceives me as being angry. It's not anger, it's motivation.”

That motivation fueled a legendary career. Nicknamed “The Rocket,” Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, earned 354 wins, struck out 4,672 batters, and appeared in 10 All-Star Games—cementing his place among the all-time greats. In 2005, he signed an $18 million contract, the highest salary for a pitcher at the time.

“I take a deep breath, and here we go again,” he said, reflecting his trademark power and precision. “I'm ready for the challenge.”

In 2004, Clemens helped lead the Astros to within one game of their first World Series appearance. That year, he went 18–4 with a 2.98 ERA and 218 strikeouts—still delivering greatness on the mound.

“No matter my age or what I've done in the past, you want to make a good showing,” he said. “I'm just grateful I have a lot of friends and loved ones here to share this with.”

He and his wife Debbie founded the Roger Clemens Foundation in 1992 to support at-risk youth through athletics and education in Houston, New York, Boston, and Toronto. In 2023 alone, the foundation awarded over $270,000 in grants—proof that his heart works as hard as his arm ever did.

“He's a superhero, man,” said teammate Jeff Bagwell. “He's the Rocket. The legend of Rocket always grows.”