Curt Schilling today announced on his blog (38pitches.com) that he was "calling it quits" after a 20-year major league career. Schilling came to Boston before the 2004 season, and in his 4 seasons he helped the Sox win 2 World Series titles (2004, 2007). His final Boston numbers: 53-29, 3.95 ERA and 574 strikeouts. More importantly he was 6-1 with a 3.28 ERA in 7 post-season starts for Boston. His career totals (216-146, 3.46 ERA, 3116 K, 5x All Star) may make him a boarderline Hall of Fame candidate, but I believe his post-season heroics (11-2, 2.23 ERA, 3 World Series titles, 1993 NLCS MVP, 2001 World Series MVP) should be enough to warrant induction. But regardless of what Cooperstown voters decide in 5 years, one thing is certain: Theo and the Sox got everything they could have hoped for when they traded for him in November of 2003. Brandon Lyon, Casey Fossum, Jorge de la Rosa and Michael Goss will all likely be forgotten in these parts (if they haven't been already), but no Red Sox fan will ever forget Big Schill. Thanks Curt.
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Before anyone argues the point, I am not saying that Schilling is THE most deserving person not in the Hall, but I do think he deserves to be in. I put him on par with Jack Morris and I find it shocking that Morris hasn't gotten in yet.
At this year's RBSF Awards (coming in July) Schilling will definitely be a candidate for the "Fond Farewell Award". Troy Brown won it last year. Other possible candidates this year (so far) include Manny, Mirabelli, Timlin, Cora, Vrabel, Cassel and Posey. There will be 4 finalists.
Hey were you out in Vegas with Mitch?
Yes
Schilling's full statement:
“Turn out the lights, the party’s over”
I used to wait with bated breath for Don Meredith to start singing that on “Monday Night Football.” Normally, it was sweet music if the Steelers were playing.
If I could get him to sing it again, I would. This party has officially ended. After being blessed to experience 23 years of playing professional baseball in front of the world’s best fans in so many different places, it is with zero regrets that I am making my retirement official.
To say I’ve been blessed would be like calling Refrigerator Perry “a bit overweight.” The things I was allowed to experience, the people I was able to call friends, teammates, mentors, coaches and opponents, the travel, all of it, are far more than anything I ever thought possible in my lifetime.
Four World Series, three World Championships. That there are men with plaques in Cooperstown who never experienced one — and I was able to be on three teams over seven years that won it all — is another “beyond my wildest dreams” set of memories I’ll take with me.
The game always gave me far more than I ever gave it. All of those things, every single one of those memories is enveloped with fan sights and sounds for me. Without the fans, they would still be great memories, but none would be enduring and unforgettable because they infused the energy, rage, passion and “feel” of all of those times. The game was here long before I was, and will be here long after I’m gone. The only thing I hope I did was never put in question my love for the game, or my passion to be counted on when it mattered most. I did everything I could to win every time I was handed the ball.
I am and always will be more grateful than any of you could ever possibly know.
I want to offer two special thank you’s.
To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for granting me the ability to step between the lines for 23 years and compete against the best players in the world.
To my wife Shonda and my 4 children, Gehrig, Gabriella, Grant and Garrison for sacrificing their lives and allowing baseball to be mine while I played. Without their unquestioned support I would not have been able to do what I did, or enjoy the life, and I am hopefully going to live long enough to repay them as much as a Father and Husband can.
Thank you and God Bless
Curt Schilling
I will say this is the first time someone thanked God in a way that wasn't completely ass backwards.
Most of the time someone thanks Jesus God Allah - Imaginary person in the clouds etc. It is usually after wining something. Which when done that way always comes off as thanking God for the victory. This inherently means that God Choose you over the other compeitiors.
Be better if people just kept God out of it. But the way he did it was great, by referencing the ability.
Bloody Sock and all - Curt Schilling Announced his retirement today. Should be a first ballot Hall of Famer. This would be the case for me if he didn't do anything except pitch and win those 2 games in the 2004 playoffs against the Yankees and the Cardinals to bring Boston their first World Series in 86 years. The guy made 2 starts - each with about 55 stitches in his ankle, and proceeded to only allow 8 hits and one run in 13 innings.
A much better pitcher than public relations manager, Curt never missed an opportunity to speak his mind, most of the time he held his own, but some of the time his passions got the better of him, usually when he just spoke his mind. He at times alienated teammates, but much more often than not the guy was dead on right. He took on many subjects which most people shied away from discussing.
For me it was refreshing - agree with him or not at least you know where he stands. As people in general go he was much more well spoken than average - as a Base Ball Player it makes him the "Grand Puba" of the Toast Masters. I mean lets face it the combination of speaking ability and athletic prowess are not often matched together. Guys like Johnny Damon have difficulty discussing the weather let alone some of the issues that Curt tackled.
I really liked Schilling on the mound and he really went out on top. I always wondered if he was as prepared as people claimed or was he good at faking like he is good at taking notes for posture sake.
For a guy whose best pitch abandoned him (splitter) his last year, he still won a world series game.
to quote Curt:
“I care what people think, but that doesn't change what I say. I am who I am.”
and Curt, you left the game as a fat man who did not care to get in shape. Aside from that, I enjoyed everything you did on the mound
Loved Curt the pitcher, but as a dude - he's definitely a douche bag now. I hope this ends people reading his dumb blog of bullshit.
One thing that I think needs to be said: Curt Schilling pitched in 6 playoff series in the Sox 2 World Series runs and won a game in each of them. Now THAT is good stuff.
His pitching in October gets him in the Hall.
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