There’s no quit in him . . . till now?

NEW YORK -- This was a retirement celebration for the ages. The World Series hero stopped for a parting salute, from his teammates on the top step of their dugout, from opposing players on the top step of their dugout, from 60,000 fans in enemy territory.

Roger Clemens waved to the crowd, to the players on the Florida Marlins, to his teammates on the New York Yankees. This World Series game would go into the eighth inning without him. Baseball would go on without him. He waved, one last time, then disappeared into the tunnel at Dolphins Stadium, and into retirement.

“Everybody was there to witness the finality to an incredible career,” said David Dellucci, then one of Clemens’ Yankees teammates.

That was four years ago, and Clemens starts for the Yankees today, with the Cleveland Indians one victory away from eliminating him and all the Yankees from the American League division series.

Stop if you’ve heard this before: This could be the final start of his Hall of Fame career, the last call for the seven-time Cy Young Award winner.

In 2003, he said he was 99.9% sure he would retire. By last winter, he said he was 80% sure he would retire. On Saturday, he said he had no idea whether this would be his last season.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I can’t tell y’all that. I’ve tried that for a long time.

“I was sincere and serious in Florida. I thought that was it -- shed some tears, and kind of reminisced about my career. So, way back when I left that percentage point open, you know, I’m glad I did. You never know what’s going to happen.”

But, for the first time, he might not have a choice whether to play another season. He might not have a chance. At 45, he might not want to take a pay cut, play far from home or play for a non-contender, even if he could skip spring training and the first two months of the season.

The Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros all bid for him last winter on a second summer of part-time work for full-time wages. In 2006, he got $12 million and started 19 games for Houston, with a 2.30 earned-run average.

In 2007, he got $17 million and started 17 games for New York. He went 6-6 with a 4.18 ERA and six strikeouts per nine innings, his lowest ratio since his rookie season. He averaged a career-low 5.76 innings per start.

He did not start for the Yankees until June, and he made just one start in the final 27 days of the season, troubled by elbow inflammation and a hamstring strain.

Texas owner Tom Hicks loves stars and tried to lure Clemens two years ago, but the Rangers finished in last place this season. Clemens’ hometown Astros stumbled through their worst season in seven years, and owner Drayton McLane fired the general manager and declared a renewed emphasis on player development.

The Red Sox could start Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester next season, plus they could re-sign Curt Schilling.

The Yankees appear stocked with Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina, Kei Igawa and rookies Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, plus Andy Pettitte has a player option to return, at $19 million. The Yankees also have a raft of youngsters in waiting, including Tyler Clippard, Matt DeSalvo, Jeff Karstens and Darrell Rasner.

“We’ve been transitioning this organization to try to get younger,” Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said. “One of the reasons Roger fit into ’07 is that he would allow us to hold the fort and allow our younger players to get better, so we wouldn’t have to rely on them too heavily in ’07.”

The Yankees have no complaints with Clemens, happy with his results on the mound and with his efforts mentoring young pitchers. They were 28-31 without him, 66-37 with him.

“We were listing pretty good,” Cashman said. “He could have gone to Boston. They were flying high. He signed up for the hard duty. I’m glad he did. He’s one of the reasons we’re here.”

The Yankees used nine starting pitchers in April, nine in May. Clemens joined the rotation June 9.

“He’s definitely one of the big puzzle pieces that helped get us back on line,” Cashman said. “He’s stabilized our rotation. His leadership has unquestionably had an impact on our club.”

Cashman says he has no idea whether Clemens plans to retire. Reggie Jackson, the designated hitter for the California Angels in Clemens’ first postseason game -- for the Red Sox in 1986 -- predicted Clemens would return if his body lets him.

“As long as he’s having fun and doing well, I think he’ll come back,” said Jackson, now a Yankees executive, “depending on how his body feels.”

Dellucci, a Yankees outfielder four years ago and an Indians outfielder today, said Clemens “could probably pitch four more years if he wanted.”

Dellucci has played for six major league teams in 11 years, yet he displays just two signed jerseys in his home. Derek Jeter signed one. Clemens signed the other.

Said Dellucci: “I’m very honored to tell my friends -- and one day when I have a little boy I’ll tell him -- that I had the opportunity to play with the greatest pitcher in baseball.”

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bill.shaikin@latimes.com

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Diamondbacks vs. Cubs

Diamondbacks win best-of-five series, 3-0

Game 1: at Arizona 3, Chicago 1

Game 2: at Arizona 8, Chicago 4

Game 3: Arizona 5, at Chicago 1