Roger Clemens rules out possible Congress run, 'climate in politics' impacts decision
While Curt Schilling is entertaining a run for Congress, which has been praised by President Donald Trump, another former major league right-hander is sitting out the next election cycle.
Roger Clemens, who played for four teams during a 24-year career, said he has "no interest" in running for the seat of U.S. Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX). Olson announced last month he was retiring after his current term, and Clemens had been urged to follow a similar path as Schilling and think about mounting a run for the House.
However, the seven-time Cy Young Award winner does not want to throw his hat in the ring.
"The climate in politics at this time is much more than I would want to undertake, along with my family considerations," Clemens said in a message to Olson that was obtained by ABC News.
Clemens won the 1986 American League MVP with the Boston Red Sox and went on to win 354 games with 4,672 strikeouts. He retired in 2007 and currently serves as a special assistant in the Houston Astros organization.
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"I am a Republican and I support our President and will continue to do so," Clemens said in the message to Olson. "No matter who our President may be, I will continue my support of them and root for them to be successful, just as I did when President (Barack) Obama was in office.
"I will ... do all I can to continue to promote the quality of life issues that we respect and try to maintain as citizens of the State of Texas and the United States."
Clemens has been tied to steroid allegations from his playing days, which caused him to testify in front of Congress in 2008. That led to a perjury charge he was found not guilty of. The episode did enough damage to delay his quest for the Hall of Fame; the 57-year-old garnered 59.5 percent of the vote on the most recent ballot -- 75 percent required for induction.