The Rocket That Fell to Earth

“Pearlman’s book develops a stark, unsparing picture of Clemens’s life that surpasses anything that’s come before.” —Boston Globe

New York Times bestselling author Jeff Pearlman reconstructs pitcher Roger Clemenss life—from his Ohio childhood to the mounds of Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium—to reveal a flawed and troubled man whose rage for baseball immortality took him to superhuman heights before he crashed down to earth.

A fearless, hard-nosed Texan with a 98-mph fastball and a propensity to throw at the heads of opposing hitters, Roger “the Rocket” Clemens won 354 games, an unprecedented seven Cy Young Awards, and two World Series trophies over the course of twenty-four seasons. But the statistics and hoopla obscured a far darker story—one of playoff chokes, womanizing (including a long-term affair with a teenage country singer), violent explosions, steroid and human growth hormone use. . . and an especially dark secret that Clemens spent a lifetime trying to hide: a family tragedy involving drugs and, ultimately, death.

A Fall from Grace: Go beyond the headlines to see how a seven-time Cy Young Award winner’s rage for immortality led to a stunning downfall fueled by secrets and scandal. The Steroid Era Uncovered: Uncover the truth behind Clemens’s alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs, placing his legendary career at the heart of baseball’s most controversial period. A Troubled Family History: Discover the dark secret Clemens spent a lifetime trying to hide—a devastating family tragedy involving drugs and death that shaped the man he would become. A Controversial Legacy: Examine the full, complicated story of “the Rocket,” from playoff chokes and violent explosions to a long-term affair with a teenage country singer.