The stage was set in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. Holding a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning against the Mets in Shea Stadium, Roger Clemens was standing on the mound, more than ready to close out the game and bring a long awaited World Series championship to Boston. Then, Roger, the stud pitcher and Red Sox hero all season, left the game mysteriously with a blister on his index finger. The controversy surrounding this exit continues today, with Clemens saying strongly that manager John McNamara pulled him from the game. McNamara claims Clemens told him he was finished. Enter Calvin Schiraldi. Enter Bob Stanley. Game over.
And from that night on, after the Sox eventually lost the seventh game of the Series and saw another golden opportunity slip away, Clemens mental toughness and ability to pitch successfully in
