The 90s K Files: Roger Clemens, 1991

 

-Matthew McConkey  

In 1991, Roger Clemens was a force of nature in the American League. Not only did he lead the league in Ks that season with 241, he also paced MLB, leading all pitchers. Growing up, I didn't get to see Clemens pitch unless it was an NBC Game of the Week, ESPN, or the MLB All-Star game. But I watched highlights of him on the news and, of course, kept track of him through box scores in newspapers, and on the backs of baseball cards I'd pull. As a kid, I knew he was a great pitcher. 

That season in 1991, Clemens was masterful. Not only did he lead the game in strikeouts, but he also led MLB in innings pitched with 271.1, and he had an American League-leading ERA of 2.62. And, as a bonus for all his dominance on the mound, Clemens won his third AL Cy Young. 

Clemens Strikeouts At A Glance 1991

He struck out 241 out of the 1,077 total plate appearances. Giving him a 22.4% K rate of hitters faced

He had 7, 10+ strikeout games

He struck out 121 LHB and 120 RHB

Struck out 132 at home and 109 on the road

1st half struck out 123, 2nd half 118

In the 18 games Clemens won, he had 144 Ks, and in the 10 he lost, 59 Ks

He struck out more Yankees and Tigers than any team in the league, both with 29 Ks

Struck out 171 hitters during night games

Struck out 16 Detroit Tigers in Tiger Stadium in two starts, more than any ballpark he visited that 1991 season

Roger Clemens Stats

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clemero02.shtml