Roger Clemens will pitch in amateur tournament in latest comeback
Next month, the National Baseball Council will host its annual World Series in Wichita, Kansas, where teams of amateur and semi-professional players will play against each other. But one team sure won’t be like the rest. Because it’ll have 53-year-old Roger Clemens.
The Kansas Stars will feature Clemens pitching plus Adam LaRoche and Dan Uggla in the infield. Carl Everett, Rick Ankiel and J.D. Drew will patrol the outfield while the bullpen will be something else: Tim Hudson, Ben Sheets, Brad Penny and Roy Oswalt.
[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Baseball contest now]
Yep, a team of ex-MLB players will be playing in the NBC World Series, where Clemens will likely be facing kids half his age. The whole thing sounds a little like the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant fell on hard times and had to recruit some past-their-prime ringers for the softball team. But there are 11 former All-Stars on the roster, and that will attract a good amount of attention when tournament play begins Aug. 6.
Twenty-four of the players on the 25-man roster are ex-big leaguers. The only one who isn’t? Koby Clemens, Roger’s son, who also happens to be the only player on the team younger than 30.
The team was organized by ex-Marlins, Tigers and Phillies pitcher Nate Robertson, who is from Wichita and co-own the independent Wichita Wingnuts. LaRoche, who retired from the Chicago White Sox earlier this season and is from the area, also helped recruit players.
Here’s the roster, according to the Wichita Eagle:
PITCHERS
Josh Beckett
Roger Clemens
Justin Germano
Tim Hudson
Jason Isringhausen
Ryan Kohlmeier
Roy Oswalt
Brad Penny
Nate Robertson
Ben Sheets
Brad Tomko
CATCHERS
Koby Clemens
Koyie Hill
INFIELDERS
Brandon Inge
Adam LaRoche
Jayson Nix
Pete Orr
Dan Uggla
Jack Wilson
OUTFIELDERS
Rick Ankiel
J.D. Drew
Carl Everett
Tim Hudson
Ryan Langerhans
Laynce Nix
Barry Wesson
As for the how the old-timers will keep up with the younger competition, Robertson doesn’t think they’ll make themselves look foolish. He told The Eagle:
“We’re kind of getting guys prepped to go three innings, max,” Robertson told the Wichita Eagle. “I’ve heard Roger is going to come in here and try to throw five. I guess he’s still a machine.
“These guys wouldn’t sign up if they were going to go out and embarrass themselves, so I think their bodies are capable.”
The last time Clemens played at something resembling this level was in 2012, when he pitched for the indy league Sugar Land Skeeters at age 50. In two starts, he threw eight innings and didn’t allow a run.
If it all works out, why stop in Wichita? This Kansas Stars team should go on the road and play amateurs all around the country, like the barnstorming days of baseball’s past. Maybe then Carl Everett will finally see a dinosaur.
And, no, we don’t mean Clemens.
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
– – – – – – –
Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
