Sunday, November 18, 2007

Twilight of His Career


No this post is not an attempt to prove the doubters wrong about Congressman Shays' future. He is running again and is very excited to do so. Rather, I read a blog post at a premier Red Sox fan board I frequent regarding the infamous quote allegedly made by then Red Sox GM Dan Duquette to slight future Hall of Famer Roger Clemens. Here it is for ya:

Infamous quote from former Red Sox General Manager Dan Duquette, speaking about pitcher Roger Clemens.

Most members of the media (who have used the quote for years to ridicule both Duquette and the Red Sox in general) and fans believe Duquette was speaking about Clemens's last few years with the Sox and the decision not to resign him as a free agent. ... However, this is not completely accurate.

Here is the quote:


End of an Era - No return fire from Sox - Brass tried to keep ace

By Michael Silverman, Boston Herald

December 14, 1996

The Red Sox brass kept a mostly stiff upper lip yesterday, putting the shiniest gloss possible on the news that lifelong Sox Roger Clemens had left the fold.

Restraining themselves from returning the type of salvos that Clemens threw at the club, and particularly Dan Duquette, during his press conference in Toronto, the general manager and CEO John Harrington were more subtle.

The Sox were officially "disappointed" but far from devastated at losing Clemens, who, over 13 seasons, compiled a 192-111 record, three Cy Youngs, two 20-strikeout games and a share of the team lead with Cy Young for most wins and shutouts (38).

"The Red Sox and our fans were fortunate to see Roger Clemens play in his prime and we had hoped to keep him in Boston during the twilight of his career," said Duquette, who joined Harrington on a conference call yesterday afternoon. "We just want to let the fans know that we worked extremely hard to sign Roger Clemens. . . . We made him a substantial, competitive offer, by far the most money ever offered to a player in the history of the Red Sox franchise.

"Unfortunately, we just couldn't get together. We were hoping he could finish his career as a Red Sox and we also wanted him to establish a relationship beyond his playing career. We wanted him to have the status of a Ted Williams, but at the end of the day we couldn't get it done." ...


It turns out that the "twilight" Duquette was talking about was not 1994-96, but from 1997 on (if Clemens had decided to stay in Boston). And his "twilight" comment was made AFTER Clemens had signed with the Blue Jays, not during contract negotiations.

It is also worth nothing that in 1996, Clemens himself believed his career was coming to a close. On September 18, 1996, the day he struck out 20 Tigers, Clemens told the Globe: "If you work hard enough, good things will happen to you. I know I'm winding down. The wins haven't fallen my way this year."

For those that are mercilessly subject to the misrepresentation of this quote, it certainly is interesting, isn't it?

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