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Hot Dang! The Rocket is coming out of...

The TVClubHouse: Archives: 2004 January - Arpil: Hot Dang! The Rocket is coming out of retirement users admin

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Texannie

Monday, January 12, 2004 - 1:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
to play at home with the ASTROS!!!!!!! and I am a season ticket holder and All Star tickets too!!!!!

Julieboo

Monday, January 12, 2004 - 2:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yeah, us Cubs fans (and Card fans for that matter) are really excited!!!! NOT!

Egbok

Monday, January 12, 2004 - 3:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Is this true Texannie??!! Wowza!!

Legalboxer

Monday, January 12, 2004 - 3:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
yup - it was on msnbc - one year at 5 million

Egbok

Monday, January 12, 2004 - 3:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks Legal! This is great news.

Jan

Monday, January 12, 2004 - 4:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
shows both my age and my Canadianism, I guess. I thought you were referring to Rocket Richard (of Hockey fame) and my first thought was ...isn't he dead??

Texannie

Monday, January 12, 2004 - 4:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I am so excited!!! He said at the press conference his two older boys gave him an Astro's hat. He asked them, "is this a hint?" LOL

http://www.click2houston.com/sports/2758126/detail.html

Clemens Joins Astros For $5 Million
Houston Native Ends Retirement To Sign 1-Year Contract

POSTED: 11:25 AM CST January 12, 2004
UPDATED: 3:44 PM CST January 12, 2004

HOUSTON -- Roger Clemens is pushing back his retirement, agreeing to a one-year, $5 million contract with the Houston Astros, News2Houston reported Monday.

Video


Clemens: 'It's Great To Come Home'
Clemens Joins 'Stros
How Many Games Will Clemens Win?





The six-time Cy Young Award winner had said for more than a year that he planned to quit after pitching last season for the New York Yankees.

But he was persuaded to join the Astros, his hometown team, after close friend and former Yankees teammate Andy Pettitte signed with Houston last month.

The official announcement was made at a Monday news conference at Minute Maid Park.

"It's great to come home. I have an opportunity to work and have a great deal of fun here at home, in front of a lot of family and friends," Clemens said. "I'm very excited. Everything kicked off and was put in motion when Andy (Pettitte) came home to pitch -- obviously (he's) a great friend, a great teammate.

"This decision was made possible by my family. Obviously I feel I still have a lot to give and once these guys put the uniform on, and I get in the dugout, I'm going to be excited to get back to work and give everything that I have, so we can become a champion. If you don't have a season ticket, you better hurry up."

Houston is deferring $3.5 million of Clemens' salary without interest until 2006, according to contract terms obtained by The Associated Press. In addition to the base, Clemens can earn an additional $1.4 million based on the Astros' home attendance: $200,000 for each 100,000 fans starting at 2.8 million and running through 3.4 million. The Astros drew about 2.45 million fans last year.

Clemens, 41, was 17-9 with a 3.91 ERA last season, his fifth with the Yankees. He spent his first 13 seasons in Boston, then went to Toronto for two years before moving on to New York, where he won World Series titles in 1999 and 2000.

His 310-160 record puts him 17th on the career wins list, and his 4,099 strikeouts place him third behind Nolan Ryan (5,714) and Steve Carlton (4,136).

"We certainly think the signing of Andy Pettitte and, now Roger Clemens, are two of the most significant occurrences in the history of the Houston Astros franchise, and they both occur in less than a month's time," said Drayton McLane, Astros owner.

Clemens' last appearance for the Yankees was a memorable one, in Game 4 of the World Series against the Florida Marlins. Flashbulbs popped repeatedly as fans photographed what they thought would be his final pitches.


Fifty friends and family members flew to Miami to watch the game; Clemens didn't get a decision as the Yankees lost to Florida 4-3 in 12 innings. Even the Marlins' players applauded after Clemens struck out Luis Castillo in what was thought to be his final major league pitch.

"So many people were using flash photography, it was quite amazing," Clemens said then. "I think everybody started understanding that it was going to be my last inning, my last hitter, my last pitch."

Clemens thought about pitching for the United States at the 2004 Olympics, but the Americans were eliminated in qualifying in November.

Clemens' outlook on retirement started to change Dec. 11, when left-hander Pettitte -- who also lives in the Houston area -- agreed to a $31.5 million, three-year contract with the Astros.

Houston, which has never been to a World Series, will head to spring training with a projected starting rotation that includes Clemens, Pettitte, Roy Oswalt and Wade Miller.

"Throughout history, Houston has always been looked on as the underdog and I'm proud to say, in recent years, we've pulled a number of rabbits out of our hat and we've given everybody a surprise or two," said Gerry Hunsicker, the Astros general manager. "The results today are official. The Astros have completed this winner's daily double -- and Roger Clemens has decided to unretire and come home and pitch for the good guys."

Tabbyking

Monday, January 12, 2004 - 4:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i am falling down laughing---not that i don't like him, but 'what retirement'!? he played all the way through one season and will be there for the start of the next one! that's quicker than michael jordan. methinks the big bucks for pettite helped with this decision.

Texannie

Monday, January 12, 2004 - 5:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
He even joked about his "retirement". He has said that was a huge deciding factor. He toyed with the idea before going to NY. He has always wanted to play here, but moneywise it just never worked out till now.

Jagger

Monday, January 12, 2004 - 5:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
So that's what their calling the off season now, retirement, I'm glad to see him signing with any team but the Yankees, hopefully he'll help them win a few games. It sounds like they should be in good shape with him and Pettite in their starting rotation.