MLB

Torre says Clemens deserves spot in Hall Of Fame

Joe Torre, who managed the Yankees to four championships, has made peace with the organization and participated yesterday in another Old-Timers’ Day. Is Roger Clemens next?

The legendary righty hasn’t been back to Yankee Stadium or had any relationship with the organization since he was named as a PED-user when the Mitchell Report was released in December 2007. But Clemens last month was acquitted of perjury, false statements and obstruction of Congress.

So would Torre, now an executive in baseball’s front office, like to see the Yankees reconnect with the Rocket?

“I’m a little prejudiced on Clemens. He was like a son to me,” Torre said yesterday. “Unfortunately the question mark is always gonna be there with him. It’s something that’s sad — for me because Roger Clemens in the way he went about his business — and I disliked him like everybody else until I got a chance to know him.

“But he was a great teammate for these guys and he was very devoted to the team he was playing on and I always respected that. As I said, I have a closeness that I’ll always have with him and I’m just happy he had a chance to exhale now.”

Pressed further on Clemens and the Yankees, Torre said, “I’ve been reading where [Astros owner Jim] Crane over there in Houston was talking to him. I don’t know in my present job if I’m allowed to comment on stuff like that. I’m just telling you from a personal nature that Roger will always be special to me.”

Torre also said he believes Clemens should be considered a Hall of Famer.

“He is to me,” he said. “I can’t make other people look at him. I can just tell you the way I feel about him.”

Paul O’Neill said he’d like to see the Yankees reconnect with Clemens.

None of Clemens’ former teammates and coaches who was asked about him yesterday said the team should keep him away. “[Clemens] was a big part of a world championship. You want to see all the good players come back,” O’Neill said. “I’m sure in due time — that’s kind of the way it happens.”The tradition here is most important and it’s very important to this organization.”

Derek Jeter also reaffirmed his support of Clemens. Asked if he’d like to see the Rocket back in pinstripes, he said, “Of course. I’m sure everyone would like to see him back.”

Added Willie Randolph, “I’d like to see him get back into the game because he gives so much back.”

Said Joe Girardi, another of Clemens’ former teammates, “That’s something that our organization deals with and they determine when the right time is. I think that as time goes on, they’ll make a decision on what the best thing is to do. But we’ve had a lot of players that have come back, that have gone through difficult times and come back and they’ve been welcomed back. I can’t tell you exactly what’s going to happen, but Roger was a great Yankee.”