Carter – Clemens: Stories from Blue Jay Lore

BLUE JAYS 

EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO

DUNEDIN, FLA.–For the first time in over 30-years according to team officials field one at the Toronto Blue Jays minor league complex is getting a new infield.  The complex built around 1980 originally had just three full fields running west to east which saw fields two and three replaced by four full field in 2002.  Outside of hosting high school and American Legion baseball there was one incident during spring training in 1997 that brought two famous Toronto Blue Jays together.  While facing live hitters for the first time during camp RHP Roger Clemens served up a fastball to OF Joe Carter who swung and hit the ball over the left field fence, the street beyond, the housing complex fence and finally landing half way across a roof of a house.  A conservative estimate of the length the ball traveled was 500 feet plus, as it’s 351-feet down the left field line.  After Clemens and Carter both watched the flight of the ball Carter quickly exited the batting cage yelling out to Clemens, “I’m sorry, it hit my bat.”