Since the announced retirement of Curt Schilling, the question du jour is whether or not he should be voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. My initial, knee-jerk reaction was no. However, I’m now having second thoughts.
I am not a stat machine, so if you’re looking for all the numbers, you can look ‘em up on numerous sites. However, what I do know is that Schilling has 216 wins; six all-star appearances; one World Series co-MVP; one of the best post-season pitching records in baseball history; and three championship rings.
A friend and colleague of mine said, “He absolutely does not belong in the Hall.” However, my friend also thinks Schilling is a blowhard – and that the blood-soaked sock was really ketchup. So, his judgment may be influenced by his disdain for him, rather than analyzing his accomplishments.
Players need not win championships to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. See Ted Williams, Ernie Banks, et al. However, those who have accomplished the feat, especially multiple times, definitely deserve consideration.
Curt Schilling has been known for speaking his mind…and, in 2004, when he stated, “I’m going to Boston to break an 86 year-old curse,” he fulfilled his brash prediction. His memorable, bloody-sock, game-six win versus the Yankees in the 2004 AL Championship Series was one of the gutsiest performances I’ve ever witnessed. He later repeated his bloody sock heroics in a game-two World Series win versus the Cardinals when doctors, in an unprecedented procedure, made a wall of stitches to keep Curt’s tendon in place. Even if it were ketchup on his sock, Schilling later had surgery on his right ankle to repair the ruptured tendon.
And, in 2007, Schilling was part of a second Red Sox World Championship.
So, whether you like him or not…you can’t deny his accomplishments. While his 216 regular-season wins might not be Hall of Fame numbers, his post-season record of 11-2 with a 2.23 ERA might get him over the hump.
And, oh yes, there’s also those three rings.
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Sounds as if the blogger’s friend has GBHDS (George Bush Hatred Derangement Syndrome). Lots of seemingly intelligent people around here have it too. Too bad he can’t see one of the greats because of it. No doubt if Curt Schilling were an O-bot (Obama Robot) he would be lauding all his achievements.
Comment by Bostonian — March 25, 2009 @ 8:24 pm
Schilling is a borderline case. But, if Don Drysdale is in…Curt should get the nod, too.
Comment by MrMet — March 25, 2009 @ 8:41 pm
Love Schilling. He was great in Arizona and in Boston - and had a few good years in Philly, too. Best post-season pitcher ever! Too many pitchers in Hall not as good as Schill, so he should go in.
Comment by ZoniFan — March 26, 2009 @ 6:06 am
One of the things few know about Schilling is his dedication to kids and charities. Of course his work to help find a cure for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) is well known. But every day (and I know this from first hand knowledge) he and his wife spend hours personally sending pictures and baseballs and well wishes to sick kids, all without any fanfare.
Comment by Bostonian — March 26, 2009 @ 7:22 am
Nice touch, Bostonian…but all that good-will doesn’t help his numbers for getting into the Hall….
Comment by giants24 — March 26, 2009 @ 9:10 am
And on its face such kindness should not matter. However, since an impartial method of choosing Baseball HOFers does not exist, and all rests on the subjective impressions of select baseball writers, a player’s off-field character does count. For some reason, Schilling was not a favorite of many baseball writers, ironically, because he gave them exactly what they wanted – his unvarnished opinions.
Comment by Bostonian — March 26, 2009 @ 11:14 am
Schilling can get in AFTER
Tommy John 285 Wins
Bert Blyleven 286 Wins…6th All Time Strikeouts
Jim Katt 283 Wins
Jack Morris 255 Wins…Two WS…..WS MVP
If Schilling didn’t play for the Red Saux you wouldn’t even be bringing it up.
I JOKE about the ketchup…..You guys whined long enough to get Borderline Rice in.
But at least Rice handled it like a man. Can you imagine how much whining “Schill”
will do…..he’ll make that all time Cryer-whiner non-Hall of Famer Gossage look like a mute.
ps: and Drysdale doesn’t belong….
Comment by Re-Pete — March 28, 2009 @ 7:17 pm
A few things for “Re-Pete” to consider: 1) Players should be compared to their peers - not players from different eras. 2) “Wins” aren’t the ‘be-all’ to a pitcher’s stat sheet. They can pitch great and still loose. ERA is more important. 3) I believe all those pitchers pitched in a 4-man rotation. 4)Can’t blame Schilling for those guys not getting in. Blame the baseball writers!
Comment by D.Blue — March 29, 2009 @ 6:43 am
Keep diluting the Hall of Fame….let eveyone in…..make everyone happy. More pussification of America. Schilling was an excellent pitcher…..NOT a hall of famer………Compare him to his peers….He’s not Clemens, Johnson, Maddux, Glavine or Martinez…..
Will never get 75% of the votes so the discussionh is moot…..
Comment by Re-Pete — March 29, 2009 @ 4:31 pm
I’m not a big Schilling fan … and doubt I would vote him into the Hall of Fame if I had a vote. But, Re-Pete needs to understand that not all Hall of Famers are equal. There are levels of greatness even within Halls of Fame. There are the “greatest” to ever play…there are “great” players of their era…then there are “borderline great” players that may get voted in for a number of specific reasons.
I’m fortunate to be in my high school Hall of Fame. However, I’m well aware I was not as good as some of my school’s all-time greats. But, I was also better than some who were voted in. That’s just the way it works….
Comment by Delmartian — March 30, 2009 @ 9:31 am
And Schilling falls BELOW the 75% level
Comment by Re-Pete — March 30, 2009 @ 9:51 am
I’ll get back to you in 5-years!
Comment by Delmartian — March 30, 2009 @ 10:09 am
Talk about pussification: Sounds as if at least one Yankee fan in here can’t get over the 2004 pinstripe pissaway, a failure which will go down in history as the most pathetic choke ever in any sport.
Comment by Bostonian — March 30, 2009 @ 11:29 am