Curt Schilling

Boston Red Sox — No. 38
Starting Pitcher
Born: November 14 1966 (1966--) (age 40)
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
September 7, 1988 for the Baltimore Orioles
Selected MLB statistics (through September 26, 2007)
Win-Loss	216-146
Earned Run Average	3.46
Strikeouts	3116
Teams
Baltimore Orioles (1988-1990) Houston Astros (1991) Philadelphia Phillies (1992-2000) Arizona Diamondbacks (2000-2003) Boston Red Sox (2004-Present)

Curtis Montague (Curt) Schilling (born November 14, 1966 in Anchorage, Alaska) is an American Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. He has won World Series championships in 2001 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in 2004 with the Red Sox, and is widely regarded as one of the best postseason pitchers in baseball history.^[1]

Junior College years

Schilling spent his youth in Phoenix, Arizona and attended Shadow Mountain High School before attending Yavapai Community College in Prescott, Arizona. He helped lead his baseball team to the 1985 Junior College World Series.

Career

Early MLB career (1988-1992)

He began his professional career as a prospect in the Boston farm system, but was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 1988 for Mike Boddicker. His major league debut was with the Orioles (1988-1990), and he then spent one year with the Houston Astros (1991).

Phillies career (1992-2000)

Schilling was one of the key factors in the Phillies' pennant run in 1993. In that year, Schilling went 16-7 with a 4.02 ERA and 186 strikeouts. Schilling led the Phillies to an upset against the two-time defending National League champion Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series. Although he received no decisions during his two appearances in the six game series, Schilling's 1.69 ERA and 19 strikeouts were enough to earn him the 1993 NLCS Most Valuable Player Award. The Phillies went on to face the defending World Champion Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series. After losing Game 1, he pitched brilliantly in his next start. With the Phillies facing elimination the day after losing a bizarre 15-14 contest at home in Veterans Stadium, Schilling pitched a five-hit shutout that the Phillies won 2-0.

The Phillies slipped into mediocrity in the years after that, despite Schilling being the ace of the staff. He recovered from arm problems to strike out more than 300 batters in 1997, and 1998. He soon began voicing his displeasure with Phillies management, claiming they were not doing enough to build a winning team. He eventually requested a trade.

Diamondback career (2000-2003)

He was traded mid-season to the Diamondbacks in 2000. With Arizona, he went 22-6 with a 2.98 ERA in 2001 and went 4-0 with a 1.12 ERA in the playoffs. In the 2001 World Series the Diamondbacks beat the New York Yankees in seven games. Schilling shared the 2001 World Series MVP Award with teammate Randy Johnson. He and Johnson also shared Sports Illustrated magazine's 2001 "Sportsmen of the Year" award. In 2002, he went 23-7 with a 3.23 ERA. Both years he finished second in the Cy Young Award voting to Johnson.

Red Sox career (2004-present)

In November 2003, the Diamondbacks traded Schilling to the Boston Red Sox. On September 16, 2004 Schilling won his twentieth game of the season for the Red Sox, becoming the fifth Boston pitcher to win 20 or more games in his first season with the team, and the first since Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley in 1978. Schilling ended his regular season with a 21-6 record and finished second in the Cy Young award voting to Johan Santana.

On October 19, 2004 Schilling won Game 6 of the 2004 American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees. Notably, he won this game playing on an injured ankle - the same injuries that contributed to his disastrous outing in Game 1 of the ALCS. These injuries were so acute that by the end of his performance that day his white sock was soaked with blood.

The win forced a Game 7, making the Red Sox the first team in MLB history to come back from a three-games-to-none deficit. The Red Sox would go on to win Game 7 and the ALCS and make their first World Series appearance since 1986. Schilling pitched (and won) Game 2 of the 2004 World Series for the Red Sox against the St. Louis Cardinals. In both series, he had to have the tendon in his right ankle stabilized repeatedly, in what has become known as the Schilling Tendon Procedure, after the tendon sheath was torn during his Game 1 ALDS appearance against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. As in Game 6 of the ALCS, Schilling's sock was soaked with blood from the sutures used in this medical procedure, but he still managed to pitch seven strong innings, giving up one run on four hits, whilst striking out four. This second bloody sock was placed in the Baseball Hall of Fame after Boston's victory over St. Louis in the World Series. A 4-game sweep of the World Series gave Boston its first World Series championship since 1918.

Schilling was once again runner-up in Cy Young voting in 2004, this time to Minnesota Twins hurler Johan Santana, who received all 28 first-place votes. Schilling received 27 of the 28 second-place votes. Later, the entire Red Sox team was named Sports Illustrated's 2004 Sportsmen of the Year, making Schilling only the second person to have won or shared that award twice.

Schilling began 2005 on the disabled list due to recurrent ankle injuries. After being placed on the disabled list again, he returned in July as Boston's closer. The idea was that Schilling would work out of the bullpen until gaining enough strength to rejoin the starting rotation. He eventually returned to the starting rotation and continued to struggle. The Red Sox made it to the playoffs, but were swept by the Chicago White Sox in three games.

For the 2006 season, Schilling was said to be healthy. He began the season 4-0 with a 1.61 ERA. He finished the year with a 15-7 record and 198 strikeouts, with a respectable 3.97 ERA.

The 2006 season was also a season of milestones for Curt Schilling. On May 27, he earned his 200th career win, the 104th major league pitcher to accomplish the feat. The Red Sox beat Tampa Bay, 6-4.^[2]

On July 9, Schilling made his 400th career start in his major league career versus the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

On August 30, Schilling collected his 3,000th strikeout against Nick Swisher of the Oakland Athletics. Schilling has the highest ratio of strikeouts to walks of any pitcher with at least 3,000 strikeouts, and is one of four pitchers to reach the 3,000-K milestone before reaching 1,000 career walks. The other three who accomplished this feat are Fergie Jenkins, Greg Maddux, and former Boston Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez.

In January 2007, Schilling announced on the Dennis and Callahan show that after talking with his family, he had changed his mind and doesn't want to retire at the conclusion of the 2007 season.^[3] He sought to negotiate an extension to his current contract, but Red Sox executives announced that they would not negotiate with him until after the season citing Schilling's age and physical condition as factors in their decision (Schilling reportedly showed up for training camp heavier than normal).^[4][5] Schilling went on to say he would become a free agent at the end of the season, for the first time in his career, and would not negotiate with the Red Sox during the 15 days after the end of the World Series when the team has exclusive negotiating rights with potential free agents.^[6] On a June appearance on the Dennis and Callahan Show, Schilling stated he would accept a one year extension to his contract at his current salary if the Red Sox offered it to him. Questioned on his statement, Schilling said "I said I wouldn't negotiate a deal during the season, and I'm saying that now. But I would accept that offer."^[7]

On June 7, 2007, Schilling came within one out of his first career no-hitter. Schilling gave up a two-out single to Oakland's Shannon Stewart, who lined a 95-mph fastball to right field for the A's only hit.^[8]

Schilling followed up his one-hitter with two poor starts and was sent back to Boston on June 20 for an MRI on his shoulder and was placed on the disabled list. He returned from the disabled list on Aug. 6, pitching at least six innings in each of his nine starts following the All-Star Break.

Schilling continued his career postseason success in 2007, throwing seven shutout innings in a 9-1 victory over the Angels in the ALDS, wrapping up a three-game sweep for Boston. ^[9] However, he did not fare as well pitching in Game 2 of the ALCS against Cleveland, surrendering nine hits — two of them home runs — and five earned runs in just 4 2/3 innings.

Records

Schilling holds the major league record for consecutive starts without allowing an unearned run, at 69 games. The streak ended when he gave up an unearned run against the Yankees on May 23rd, 2007.^[10]

Scouting Report

During the prime of his career, Schilling was capable of reaching and sustaining speeds of 94-98 mph on his 4-seam fastball. Throughout his career, he has been characterized by a determination to go deep into ballgames, routinely pitching past the sixth and seventh innings. He has combined his endurance with pinpoint control, especially on his fastball. Schilling's "out" pitch is his split-finger fastball, which he generally locates beneath the strike zone (resulting in many swinging strikeouts). He also possesses an above-average changeup, a decent slider, and mixes in an occasional curveball, though he mainly alternates between his fastball and splitter. Though his velocity has decreased in recent years (to the 89-93 range on his fastball), his control has remained excellent, and he consistently sports one of the best K/BB ratios in MLB, including the highest K/BB ratio of all time. ^[11]

Off the field

Personal life

He considers his family's native Pittsburgh metro area to be home and is a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. ^{[12] [13]}

Schilling lives in Medfield, Massachusetts, in Drew Bledsoe's former home^[14]. He is one of just nine players born in the state of Alaska to play Major League Baseball. ^[15] He has been married for 15 years to Shonda, who is a survivor of malignant melanoma. They have four children.

Like many baseball players, Schilling has several superstitions. He never steps on the foul line when walking to or from the pitching mound. Schilling also wears a necklace that he kisses before he starts pitching. He does not start his warm-up routine until precisely 6:45 p.m. for night games.

He is a born-again Christian. ^[16]

Schilling is also an avid World War II history buff. In his collection, he has helmets and knives that were used in the war.

Political advocacy

Schilling campaigned for President George W. Bush in 2004, while certain members of the ownership of the Red Sox campaigned for the challenger, Senator John F. Kerry (D-Mass.). Schilling has apparently been encouraged to run for Kerry's seat in the U.S. Senate in 2008 as a Republican, according to the Boston Herald. ^[17] However, Schilling was quoted in The Boston Globe as saying that he intended to pitch in 2008, which would preclude a Senate run. ^[18]

He was called to Capitol Hill to testify about steroid use in March 2005, not as a suspected user but rather as a vocal opponent. Later, he supported having Rafael Palmeiro's stats erased from the record books.^{[citation needed]}

On January 29, 2007, Schilling announced in an interview that he will support Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the 2008 presidential election. He further criticized Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) for her comments against the war in Iraq. ^[19]

Charity work

Schilling is a supporter of care for ALS sufferers. His Curt's Pitch for ALS program allows fans and organizations to sponsor him, donating to the ALS Association for every strikeout he throws. He also donated to the charity his $25,000 winnings in a celebrity version of Jeopardy! that aired on November 9, 2006. In the 2004 playoffs, after the operation on his ankle, Schilling wrote "K ALS" (short for "strike out ALS") on his shoe, knowing that the cameras would be focusing on his foot numerous times while he was pitching. He also does a weekly radio show with WEEI in Boston that raises over $100,000 each year for ALS patients and research.

Conflicts with players

Schilling was publically criticized by Phillies teammates Mitch Williams, Larry Andersen, and Danny Jackson for his conduct during the 1993 World Series. Whenever Mitch Williams (a hard throwing closer with a penchant for unpredictability and erratic control) was on the mound, CBS television cameras caught Schilling in the dugout hiding his face with a towel. Although Schilling claimed that he was nervous in the heat of the World Series, others accused him of purposely trying to get more face time on television.

Schilling has also directed comments towards Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, once calling Rodríguez's swat of a tag in Game 6 of the ALCS a "bush league play" on The Jim Rome Show.

During a radio show appearance on May 8, 2007, Schilling criticized Barry Bonds, stating: "He admitted to cheating on his wife, cheating on his taxes and cheating on the game." After being reprimanded for his comments by his manager Terry Francona, Schilling issued an apology on his blog, stating that "it was absolutely irresponsible and wrong to say what I did."^{[20] [21]}

Conflicts with management

While with the Phillies, Schilling was a vocal critic of team management, stopping just short of calling the front office incompetent.

During a game as a Diamondback in 2001, he damaged a QuesTec camera with a bat because he disagreed with its intended purpose (evaluating umpires). He felt umpires were changing their strike zones to match the machines. This led to fine and a public exchange of insults with Major League Baseball executive Sandy Alderson who accused Schilling of whining and wanting balls to be called strikes. In response Schilling said Alderson was "ignorant to the facts and ignorant about what I said".^[22]

Conflicts with media

Schilling has exchanged insults with ESPN and former Arizona Republic reporter Pedro Gomez. The exchanges with Gomez began on November 4, 2001 when Gomez published a column critical of Schilling, the same day Schilling was pitching in game 7 of the 2001 World Series. In his column Gomez stated: "During the past few days, the country ... has discovered Schilling's little secret, the one baseball insiders have known for years but has rarely surfaced into the mainstream. Schilling is something of a con man, someone more intent on polishing his personal image through whatever means possible." He is also quoted later as saying Schilling was “the consummate table for one.” A year later he further incensed Schilling by stating that the friendship between Schilling and teammate Randy Johnson "was merely cosmetic".

In interviews in October 2004 and February 2006 Schilling is quoted as saying about Gomez: "There are a lot of [bad people] in that industry, Pedro Gomez, Joel Heyman, to name a few. People with so little skill in their profession that they need to speculate, make up, fabricate, to write something interesting enough to be printed. What makes them bad people? I am sure I cannot nail the exact reason, but I know some. Jealousy, bitterness, the need to be "different", I am sure there are others, but those are the ones I know off hand." and "You just kind of have to realize that there are people that don't like you and, unfortunately, sometimes those people have a voice, disliking me probably matches my dislike for him (Gomez), but I have a problem with people who don't have integrity and principle, so that stuff happens. You just kind of just let it go."^{[23][24][25][26]}

In 2007, Schilling has engaged in escalating war of words with Boston Globe sports columnist Dan Shaughnessy. Shaughnessy in his column and during television appearances has criticized Schilling for the condition he showed up in for spring training, referred to him as "the Big Blowhard"^[27] and mocked Schilling's blog and radio appearances. ^[28][29] Schilling has responded by using the Sons of Sam Horn forum ^[30] and his own blog ^[31] to point out errors in Shaughnessy's columns. In his responses he has referred to Shaughnessy as an "asshole", "tool", a "hack" and an "idiot".

On April 27, 2007, broadcaster Gary Thorne said that he overheard Red Sox catcher Doug Mirabelli say that the blood on the sock used by Schilling in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS was actually paint^[32]. Mirabelli accused Thorne of lying and a day later, after talking to Mirabelli, Thorne backed off his statement saying he misinterpreted what was intended as a joke, "Having talked with him today, there's no doubt in my mind that's not what he said, that's not what he meant. He explained that it was in the context of the sarcasm and the jabbing that goes on in the clubhouse.

Schilling responded in his blog by saying the following:

"So Gary Thorne says that Doug told him the blood was fake. Which even when he’s called out he can’t admit he lied. Doug never told Gary Thorne anything. Gary Thorne overheard something and then misreported what he overheard. Not only did he misreport it, he misinterpreted what he misreported."^[33]

Gaming

Schilling formed a deep-rooted interest in the board wargame Advanced Squad Leader.

ASL has become his constant companion on road trips, and every National League city is now his playground for baseball at night and ASL in the day. (All of which has become a bonanza for ASL players of his acquaintance, who are sometimes Curt's guests at stadiums around the country.)^[34]

Schilling's disappointment at not being able to attend the ASL Oktoberfest (an annual game convention) led him to create his own, The ASL Open, which debuted the weekend of January 15, 1993 in Houston, Texas. The Open was financed out of his own pocket. Schilling also started his own amateur publication entitled Fire for Effect, a bi-monthly featuring "some of the ASL hobby's best writers".^[35]

When his favorite game was sold along with Avalon Hill to Hasbro, Schilling founded the small gaming company Multi-Man Publishing to maintain ASL and other Avalon Hill titles. He also started a new, professional publication entitled ASL Journal and contributed articles, editorials, and game scenarios.

Schilling also plays EverQuest and EverQuest II, and has reviewed two of the game's many expansion packs for PC Gamer magazine. In 2006 Schilling created 38 Studios (originally named Green Monster Games).

Internet

He is an avid web communicator, feeling this is the best way to speak to the fans. Schilling has combined his fight against ALS with his love for EverQuest II, as the creators of the game have made Schilling a special online character. Between June 5, 2006 and June 7, 2006, fans were able to battle a virtual Curt Schilling in the game. Every time the virtual Schilling was defeated, Sony Online Entertainment donated $5 towards ALS research.^[36] Later that year, it was announced he would form an online game production company called Green Monster Games, which, despite widespread rumor, was not named after the Fenway left field wall.^[37] Schilling recently started a blog called 38pitches.com ^[38] in which he answers fan questions, documents his starts and refutes press coverage about him or the team that he believes is inaccurate.

See also

• 100 Inning Game - Annual event to raise funds for Curt's Pitch for ALS
• 3000 strikeout club
• List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
• List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions
• List of Major League Baseball wins champions
• List of Major League Baseball wins champions
• Top 100 strikeout pitchers of all time
• Arizona Diamondbacks all-time roster

References

External links

• Official Curt Schilling's Blog

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference
• Interview with GameSpy.com
• Curt Schilling at the Internet Movie Database
• Curt Schilling - Official Red Sox Web Site

Awards and achievements
Preceded by John Smoltz	National League Championship Series MVP 1993	Succeeded by Mike Devereaux
Preceded by Barry Larkin	Lou Gehrig Memorial Award 1995	Succeeded by Brett Butler
Preceded by John Smoltz	National League Strikeout Champion 1997-1998	Succeeded by Randy Johnson
Preceded by Tom Glavine	National League Wins Champion 2001 (with Matt Morris)	Succeeded by Randy Johnson
Preceded by Derek Jeter	World Series MVP (with Randy Johnson) 2001	Succeeded by Troy Glaus
Preceded by Derek Jeter	Babe Ruth Award (with Randy Johnson) 2001	Succeeded by David Eckstein
Preceded by Roy Halladay	American League Wins Champion 2004	Succeeded by Bartolo Colon

The Yankees-Red Sox Rivalry & The Curse of the Bambino

The New York Yankees • The Bronx, New York City, New York • Yankee Stadium Owner: George Steinbrenner • General Manager: Brian Cashman • Manager: Joe Torre The Boston Red Sox • Boston, Massachusetts • Fenway Park Owner: John W. Henry and Tom Werner • General Manager: Theo Epstein • Manager: Terry Francona Key Moments Frazee's Folly • Curse of the Bambino • Bucky Dent's Home Run • Buckner's Blunder • The Impossible Dream • Aaron Boone's Home Run • The Bloody Sock • The Curse Reversed Key Series 1918 World Series • 1975 World Series • 1986 World Series • 1999 ALCS • 2003 ALCS • 2004 ALCS • 2004 World Series Key People Babe Ruth • Harry Frazee • Joe DiMaggio • Ted Williams • Carlton Fisk • Thurman Munson • Bucky Dent • Bill Buckner • Roger Clemens • Wade Boggs • Derek Jeter • Pedro Martinez • Alex Rodriguez • David Ortiz • Manny Ramírez • Curt Schilling • Jason Varitek • Johnny Damon

Arizona Diamondbacks 2001 World Series roster

4 Craig Counsell | 5 Tony Womack | 9 Matt Williams | 12 Steve Finley | 13 Midre Cummings | 16 Reggie Sanders | 17 Mark Grace | 20 Luis Gonzalez | 22 Greg Swindell | 25 David Dellucci | 26 Damian Miller | 28 Greg Colbrunn | 29 Danny Bautista | 32 Albie Lopez | 33 Jay Bell | 34 Brian Anderson | 36 Mike Morgan | 38 Curt Schilling | 40 Bobby Witt | 43 Miguel Batista | 44 Erubiel Durazo | 48 Rod Barajas | 49 Byung-Hyun Kim | 51 Randy Johnson | 54 Troy Brohawn Manager Bob Brenly

Boston Red Sox 2004 World Series roster

3 Pokey Reese | 7 Trot Nixon | 11 Bill Mueller | 12 Mark Bellhorn | 13 Doug Mientkiewicz | 15 Kevin Millar | 18 Johnny Damon | 19 Gabe Kapler | 24 Manny Ramírez | 28 Doug Mirabelli | 29 Keith Foulke | 31 Dave Roberts | 32 Derek Lowe | 33 Jason Varitek | 34 David Ortiz | 38 Curt Schilling | 43 Alan Embree | 44 Orlando Cabrera | 45 Pedro Martínez | 49 Tim Wakefield | 50 Mike Timlin | 61 Bronson Arroyo Manager Terry Francona

3000 strikeout club
Blyleven | Carlton | Clemens* | Gibson | Jenkins | R. Johnson* | W. Johnson | Maddux* | Martínez* | Niekro | Perry | Ryan | Schilling* | Seaver | Sutton asterisk denotes "active pitcher"

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