95 MPH Throwback; Get Chills as The Shark Remembers 1986

It is just hours away from the 30th anniversary of Roger Clemens striking out 20 batters in a game. The first time this feat had ever happened and this call from Ned Martin gives me chills every time.

1986 was a magical year for New England sports fans as 3 of our major sports teams were conference or league champions. My seventh grade class had just watched Clemens pitch at Fenway on Thursday April 17th. Best field trip ever!

Clemens went the distance in that game as well, striking out 7 and surrendering a vicious home run to Manchester, NH native slugger Steve Balboni.

The Red Sox won in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the 9th. Don Baylor hit an equally vicious Grand Slam to give the home town team a 6-2 walk off victory. Little did I know that the game I witnessed would pale in comparison to "The Rocket" striking out 20 less than 2 weeks later.

I had forgotten that Clemens had a chance to strike out TWENTY ONE but Ken Phelps hit a weak grounder to short to end the game . Damn You Phelps!