CLEMENS' LEGACY WILL BE GRIT AND DETERMINATION.

Byline: Steven Krasner Providence Journal-Bulletin

There were times when his mouth got him in trouble.

``You don't understand, I have to carry my own bags.''

Remember that gem, when Roger Clemens complained about having to lug his own bags through customs in Toronto about 10 years ago?

But it wasn't his mouth that captured the fancy of the World Championship-starved Boston Red Sox fans.

It was Clemens' powerful right arm.

The one that unleashed sizzling fastballs through the strike zone with uncommon accuracy, often overmatching the opposition.

In his 13 seasons with the Red Sox, Clemens was the team's enduring main man. The Rocket.

On a team historically noted for a potent, powerful offense, Clemens was the franchise's best, most consistent and hardest-working pitcher since the legendary Cy Young, who threw his last pitch in 1908.

Clemens' mere presence on the staff provided fans and teammates alike with the hope that he would be able to lead the Red Sox to its first World Series crown since 1918.

It never happened.

In fact, the Red Sox made it to the World Series only once, in 1986, with Clemens on the staff.

And, of course, no one needs to be reminded that the Red Sox self-destructed to the New York Mets in that Series.

Few remember, though, that had Calvin Schiraldi done his job, Roger Clemens would have been the winning pitcher in Game Six, a victory that would have provided Boston with that elusive World Championship.

Overall, however, Clemens won only one postseason game in eight starts, a thorn that noticeably stuck out when the pro-Clemens and anti-Clemens fan factions would debate his greatness.

Which is not to say that Roger Clemens was not an outstanding pitcher for Boston.

He was, compiling a 192-111 overall. And, judging by his efforts last season, he still is, a perception shared obviously by Boston, Toronto, the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians, who made healthy bids for his services.

Their contract offers were fueled not so much by Clemens' mediocre 10-13 record, but by his 3.63 E.R.A. and league-leading 257 strikeouts in 242-2/3 innings, including a 20-strikeout domination of Detroit on Sept. 18 that tied his major league standard.

Clemens, who will turn 35 during the 1997 season, tied Cy Young for the most wins (192) and shutouts (38) in franchise history. Along the way, he racked up three Cy Young Awards as the American League's top pitcher.

And how important was he to the Red Sox?

Well, on one level, his teammates always felt they had a chance to win when he was on the mound. The opposition, meanwhile, knew it would be in for a tough game. Rarely was Clemens ever blown out in a game.

On the tangible side, from 1986 through 1996, the Boston Red Sox won 895 games and lost 821.

Over that span, Roger Clemens was 166-89. Without Clemens, the Red Sox' record was under .500, at 729-732.

There is little doubt Clemens one day is headed for enshrinement into baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., by way of Toronto.

But, if history is any judge, there are likely to be a few bumps in the road there, too.

His tenure with the Sox certainly was not without its controversies. There was the holdout in spring of 1987, when he demanded to renegotiate his contract after going 24-4 with a 2.48 earned-run average in pitching the Sox into the World Series in 1986.

There was the bizarre game in Oakland in the 1990 American League Championship Series, when he wore eye black and was ejected by plate umpire Terry Cooney in the second inning for what the umpire claimed was threatening, vulgar language, a charge Clemens denied.

There were the protests on behalf of what he perceived as shabby organizational treatment of Jim Rice and Dwight Evans. He went so far as to wear Rice's uniform number 14 in a spring training game instead of his own 21 as a tribute to his former teammate.

Certainly, there were times when even his staunchest admirers had to be wishing he would just shut up and pitch.

Stop complaining about being squeezed by umpires. Stop whining about having his words taken ``out of content.'' Just stop talking, period.

So Roger Clemens leaves the Red Sox. His legacy will be grit and determination.

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Photo

Photo: Roger Clemens had a 10-13 record last season and a 40-39 record over the past four years.

Daily News File Photo