The Boston Red Sox honored legendary pitcher Roger Clemens on Friday, May 22, at Fenway Park by distributing 7,500 commemorative bobbleheads before a three-game series opener against the Minnesota Twins.
The promotion celebrated the 40th anniversary of Clemens striking out 20 batters in a single game in April 1986 against the Mariners, a feat he repeated against the Tigers in September 1996.
Clemens, a 2014 Red Sox Hall of Fame inductee, recorded 192 wins, three American League Cy Young Awards, and one MVP award during his tenure in Boston from 1984 to 1996.
Minnesota Twins first baseman Kody Clemens expressed excitement about the timing of the franchise celebration, which coincided with his second career series appearance at Fenway Park.
"They had to have planned this," said Kody Clemens. "I knew they were going to do a bobblehead.
But to pick the same weekend?"
The younger Clemens, who entered the series hitting .
240 with four home runs and 12 RBIs, noted that a large contingent of family members traveled to Boston for the occasion.
"It's red carpet," said Kody Clemens. "It's super cool for him to go back, and the fans love seeing him.
… He loves Boston. They have treated him really well over the last 40 years or whatever it's been.
It's awesome. I have a ton of family — basically everybody's coming for that weekend.
No one is missing it. It's a big crew."
He recalled his memorable appearance at Fenway Park in May 2025, when he hit a tie-breaking two-run home run off Boston's Hunter Dobbins in a 4-3 Twins victory with his parents in attendance.
"It was great," said Kody Clemens. "What are the odds that happens?
That's the baseball gods, you know? It was so fun to be able to play there.
… It's a cool feeling because I obviously grew up watching him play.
I wasn't really around in the Boston years, but I've seen all the videos and memories my family has there.
It's super cool to re-live and awesome for me to play there as well."
The younger Clemens has posted a . 300 batting average and an .
886 OPS in May 2026, while also leading major league first basemen with 5 Defensive Runs Saved according to Sports Information Solutions.
Twins manager Derek Shelton praised the infielder's development into an established major leaguer.
"Everybody first goes to who his dad is, but I think he's established himself as a really good major-league player," said Shelton.
"Sometimes, it's just getting the opportunity. … He's swinging the bat well.
I think with anything, if you perform well we're going to find a way to get you in the lineup."
On the mound, left-hander Payton Tolle started for the Red Sox after coming off an eight-inning victory against the Braves, while Connor Prielipp took the mound for the Twins seeking his first win since April.
According to ticket information from StubHub reported by Yahoo Sports, last-minute ticket prices for the 7:10 p.
m. ET matchup started at $46 and ranged up to $1,689.
