Clemens* All-Time Team

This is a project that I have started and stopped several times since way back in Season 50. To be honest, this was the reason I wanted to create the World Blog! Clemens is now in Season 60 and I am finally finding some time to do the research and put a few words together about my choices.

Below you will find my personal All-Time Clemens Team. I've put together a lineup and a small pitching staff. Hope you enjoy!

1B - Miguel Johnson

18 Seasons (35-53) | 13x All-Star | 5x MVP | 8x Silver Slugger | 2x World Series Ring | Home Run King

HBD loves Home Runs and Johnson holds both the single season (87) and all-time (941) Home Run records. His career slash line (.328/.396/.652) shows he wasn't just a power hitter. His 2 World Series Rings might seem low, but that's really on me not putting a better team around him. Joe Thomson is only 8 years into his career but has already amassed 5 MVPs.

Honorable Mention: Joe Thomson

2B - Edinson Hernandez

16 Seasons (20-25) | 14x All-Star | 5x MVP | 11x Silver Slugger | 3x World Series Ring

In my opinion, Hernandez is the best player in Clemen's history. Their wasn't anything Hernandez couldn't do in his prime at the plate, on the base paths, or in the field. Honorable mention Vincente Reyes was a tough omission, and I almost slotted him in at DH.

Honorable Mention: Vicente Reyes

3B - Joey Parent

18 Seasons (15-32) | 12x All-Star | 11x Silver Slugger (3B/SS/RF) | 2x Gold Glove (3B)

Parent is one of only three 3B in the Clemens HOF. As you will see with SS and C, HOF voters do not take defense into consideration much when casting votes. In Parent's case, he was great with the bat and the glove.

Honorable Mention: Izzy Mohler

SS - Sammy Gates

10 Seasons (1-10) | 7x All-Star | 3x Gold Glove | 2x World Series Ring

Through 60 seasons, not a single SS has been voted into the HOF! This made identifying potential candidates difficult and time consuming. I ended up selecting Gates, who was part of the World's inaugural season.

Honorable Mention: Mark Sheehan

LF - Alvin Sparks

16 Seasons (14-30)  | 8x All-Star | 2x MVP | 5x Silver Slugger (LF/CF) | 4x Gold Glove (LF/CF/2B) | 1x World Series Ring

With Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards at multiple positions, I could have slotted Sparks in any number of positions on this list. I was a little surprised to see Sparks with only 8 All-Star appearances but HBD has an interesting way of selecting  players for the Mid-Summer Classic.

Honorable Mention: Radhames Ramirez

CF - Joe Medlen

17 Seasons (27-45) | 14x All-Star | 2x MVP | 7x Silver Slugger (CF) | 3x Gold Glove (CF) | 3x World Series Ring

With a 95 Range and 89 Power in his prime, Medlen was a star in the field and at the plate. His 14x All-Star appearances tie him with Edinson Hernandez for the most in Clemens history.

Honorable Mention: Ricky Lowery

RF - Al Santana

15 Seasons (7-24) | 9x All-Star | 1x MVP  | 4x Silver Slugger (RF) 

The awards might seem a little light comparted to others on this list but Santana's career slash line of .297/.373/.558 and strong defensive numbers show he is deserving. Harry Miranda was a very close second and a player I tried many times to trade for.

Honorable Mention: Harry Miranda

C - Chad Quinn

16 Seasons (23-38) | 8x All-Star | 2x Silver Slugger

Only two Catchers are in the HOF. I was tempted to go outside the HOF'ers for this position and select between a handful of pitch callers that I believe to have been more impactful. In the end I went with Quinn who posted some MVP worthy seasons while holding his own behind the plate.

Honorable Mention: Cristobal Castillo

DH - Aramis Aviles

16 Seasons (43-58) | 12x All-Star | 8x MVP | 12x Silver Slugger | 4x World Series Ring

Aviles didn't play much DH in his career but I'm opening this position to the best hitter that I didn't slot into a defensive position. How good was Aviles in his prime? He stopped Miguel Johnson's run of 5 consecutive MVP awards and started his own streak!

Honorable Mention: Cristian Willits

LH SP - Benito Sosa

18 Seasons (37-54) | 8x All-Star | 1x Cy Young | 2x World Series Ring

A tough call between Sosa and Bruntlett. Both pitchers put up eye popping stats over numerous seasons, in Bruntlett's case 20 of them! In the end, Sosa's hardware was too much to ignore.

Honorable Mention:  Dustin Bruntlett

RH SP - Anibal Rivera

19 Seasons (15-34) 15x All-Star | 7x Cy Young | 2x No Hitter | 1x Silver Slugger | 1x World Series Ring

For my money, Rivera is the greatest pitcher in Clemens history. His 5 seasons with 200+ IP and a sub 1 WHIP are unmatched. If you care about Wins, well he's got 341 of those, the most ever. Bill Henry is a close second and might be the second greatest pitcher we've seen.

Honorable Mention: Bill Henry

LR -  Jason Valentine

15 Seasons (23-37) | 10x All-Star | 1x Cy Young | 2x World Series Ring

Valentine is the only long reliver in the HOF, so this wasn't that hard of a decision. Ken Puffer is the only active pitcher on this list and may pass Valentine by the end of his career.

Honorable Mention: Ken Puffer

CL - Yeico Moreno

5x All-Star | 3x Cy Young | 1x World Series Ring

Lyon is certainly the more traditional closer with 615 Saves, while Moreno boasts only 138 but does have 273 Wins to his name. In the end the 3 Cy Young Awards and more than 1000 more IP pushed Moreno to the top spot.

Honorable Mention: Rickie Lyon