Roger Clemens NL Cy Young (1987)
The Rocket's explosive debut season that delivered Houston its first-ever Cy Young Award.
Acquired via trade from the Boston Red Sox just before the season began, Clemens immediately transformed into an ace for the expansion franchise, leading them to their first-ever playoff appearance while dominating the competition with elite strikeout numbers and a low earned run average.
- Role
- Starting Pitcher
- Award
- NL Cy Young Award
- Status
- Retired Legend / Hall of Famer
Lore & Background
He posted a 20-6 record with a 2.43 ERA, but it was his sheer volume of strikeouts that defined his campaign. His performance was instrumental in the Astros finishing second in the NL West, just two games behind the San Francisco Giants, which secured their first-ever postseason berth. This award validated his status as an elite pitcher and cemented his legacy with the organization.
In Their Own Story
The Astrodome hummed with a rare electric anticipation on a humid Houston night. Roger Clemens stepped onto the mound, adjusting his cap with a look of intense focus that silenced the crowd. As he wound up for the pitch, the world seemed to shrink down to the distance between him and the batter. With a roar from his arm, he unleashed a fastball that blurred through the air, ending in a sharp crack against the catcher's mitt as the umpire called a strikeout. In that moment, the Rocket wasn't just pitching; he was rewriting the history of the franchise.
Reader's Guide
This victory was historic as it marked the first time an Astros pitcher ever received the league's top pitching honor. His dominance helped propel the team to their first-ever playoff appearance, finishing second in the tough NL West division behind San Francisco. The award recognized his ability to overcome previous control struggles and deliver elite performance under pressure. Clemens set a new franchise standard for strikeouts in a single season, a record that stood for many years before eventually being surpassed by other future legends of the club.
Did You Know?
- Roger Clemens is the only Houston Astros pitcher to ever win the National League Cy Young Award.
- This award came during the same year the Astros made their first-ever postseason appearance.