Curt Schilling announces retirement

by Randy Booth on Mar 23, 2009 11:31 AM EDT in News Comment 35 comments

Love him or hate him, but I think most people respected him. Curt Schilling announced his retirement today after 20 major league seasons, including four with the Boston Red Sox:

Schilling, a winner of 216 regular-season games and a crucial contributor to the Red Sox' 2004 and 2007 World Championships, made the announcement on his WEEI.com blog "38 Pitches" this morning, writing:

"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."

Part of me really believes that Schilling could pick up the ball today and still be an effective pitcher. It's a shame he's not going to get that opportunity, though. While some will pinpoint his age and effectiveness as a factor, I'd say the economy played a huge role in his retirement as well because some teams just aren't willing to put up any money for a questionable veteran.

We'll have more on Schilling's retirement later.

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A winner

Curt Schilling taught two franchises how to win – the Red Sox and the Diamondbacks. It was a pleasure to watch him pitch.

by ccthemovieman on Mar 23, 2009 11:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m sad I never got to see him pitch in person, but at least this prevents Doug Melvin from picking up yet another toasted ex-Red Sox utility pitcher who will completely hose everything up for the Brewers mid-season.

by morineko on Mar 23, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

what a gamer!

One of the game’s greatest competitors!

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Mar 23, 2009 12:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Curt.

by matzushocka45 on Mar 23, 2009 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

curt schilling

you delivered not just once for us but twice! many of us thought it would never happen!
you were a big part of it…. and many of us will be forever grateful.

i also admired your willingness to give back… your charitable efforts were many and i am happy to see you set such an example for your teammates and colleagues ( i almost said peers but that would limit the field too much ) in other sports.

congrats on a wonderful career.

by wise old fan on Mar 23, 2009 12:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

not worth a schilling

good riddence. just in the nick of time, before they found your tainted syringes

by roger clemmons on Mar 23, 2009 2:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, Roger, for the beautiful insight.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Mar 23, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Funny how your name breathes steroids...

Randy was nice in thanking you for the insight, but you won’t get the same from me

If you don’t like the guy, fine, but don’t accuse the man of steroids unless you have the God damn syringes in your pocket you filthy Clemmens loving FAKE Redsox fan. Curt has done more for this team than Clemmens has done for any team in his entire career.

Fuck All You Schilling Haters! He’s got more Balls that Clemens, A-rod, Sheffield, and any other Yankee steroid user has ever had!

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

by sox-inda-south on Mar 23, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wouldn't the steroids put them at a disadvantage?

www.instantrimshot.com

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Mar 23, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I smell a sockpuppet

Funny how you joined the site just to post that comment.

by RSNexile on Mar 23, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not a sock puppet

I think the correct taxonomy is Trollus interwebus.

by lone1c on Mar 23, 2009 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thank You, Schil

That’s all I can say. Thank. You.

"Hey we got a lot in common here... I'm gonna rape you"

by MerryGoByeBye on Mar 23, 2009 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks VERY MUCH Curt!

"We're not going to give up," It doesn't happen, so who cares? There's always next year. It's not like it's the end of the world."

by revigik on Mar 23, 2009 5:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thank you Curt.

Not just for what you did for us, but for what you didn’t do to us. Now I don’t have to hear from Rays fans about how ou hero is on their team.

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Mar 23, 2009 5:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No, Manny is a Dodger.

Swav or Die.

by SRQman on Mar 23, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Hero!!!

by CB,DT,LB,OR DE is what we need on Mar 23, 2009 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I forgot the "They don't know" tag.

I’m sorry.

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Mar 24, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uh I don't know because you don't make sense.

Swav or Die.

by SRQman on Mar 24, 2009 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, using the Rays "fans" at my school as a stereotype.

When the rumors about Schill being interested in the Rays started, a couple of them were bugging me.

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Mar 25, 2009 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stupid them.

I never wanted him.

Swav or Die.

by SRQman on Mar 25, 2009 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You are among the smarter Rays fans.

All of whom seem to be on DRB. The rest still haven’t figured out how to turn on the computer.

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Mar 26, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

Swav or Die.

by SRQman on Mar 28, 2009 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you Curt.

You had a huge role in bringing home two World Series. Boston and RSN will never forget you. Good luck with the game designing.

"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.

by 0157H7 on Mar 23, 2009 6:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Curt should and will be a HOF’er. He was a truly great pitcher for many, many years and a winner. Thanks for it all Curt. And keep talking your mind. I don’t always agree, but I like that there is some athlete out there with the balls to say what he feels.

by BTLove on Mar 23, 2009 8:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd vote for him

(and I’m totally objective) (/sarcasm).

But he seems very borderline to me. 216 wins might not be enough to cut it, even though he probably would have 250 if he hadn’t pitched for crappy Phillies teams in the 90s.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Mar 23, 2009 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

By the Black Ink, Gray Ink and HOF Monitor tests on baseballreference he looks in. He is borderline on the HOF standards test. He looks to be borderline by straight up stats, but I think the post-season heroics will push him over the top.

by BTLove on Mar 23, 2009 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope you are right.

Let’s hope his name doesn’t pop up on any list…

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Mar 23, 2009 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

to reiterate the sympathy

Thanks Curt. The Thanksgiving dinner sell by Theo and your eventually coming across was the last piece in the 2004 puzzle. For many of us who suffered through the years, the organisation finally pulled it off and we owe you a large debt of gratitude for the role you played.
Enjoy retirement and the HOF says welcome in 5 years….

by sydneysox on Mar 23, 2009 8:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Schilling was the biggest piece of '04

But trading Nomar was the last piece.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Mar 25, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn… I would have loved to see you dominate the hill just one last time. You SHOULD be in the Hall of Fame one day, there’s no doubt in my mind. 133 post-season innings, a 2.23 ERA, 120 K’s, 11 wins, 3 rings. And to think there’s some people who will say you’re “boarderline.” HA! Those people need to reference the third post in this thread.

Enjoy you’re well deserved retirement and legacy as one of the greatest clutch performers ever.

Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

-- Benjamin Franklin

by Red_October on Mar 23, 2009 8:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs