Recently, Curt Schilling had surgery on his throwing shoulder, effectively ending his season and possibly his career (at least with the Red Sox). That got me thinking about Big Schill's career and his time with the Red Sox. Schill is one of the best post season pitchers of all time, highlighted with his 10-2 record and a 2.23 ERA. I remember watching that 2001 world series vs the Yankees where it seemed he pitched every game. Pitching in 3 games on 3 days rest is the stuff legends are made of. That series helped him create a legacy of post season dominance. But then came 2004. He came to Boston to win a World Series and he promised it. Think back to the off season of 2003. The Red Sox were coming off a devastating 2003 ALCS lost to Yankees and "curse" talk was higher than ever. Before Schilling said he was coming to win a World Series, have you ever heard someone say that about the Red Sox? No, people were afraid to become next Bill Buckner or Mike Torrez. Schill was doing to commercials saying he was coming to Boston to break a 86 year old curse.
If the 2001 World Series didn't show that Schill is the ultimate gamer, than the 2004 post season proved it. Every Red Sox will remember how all hope was lost when Schilling got rocked in Game 1. If the guy we brought here to beat the Yankees couldn't get it done, then who else was going to do it? Later we find out that he had a messed up tendon in his right ankle and he couldn't push off the rubber with it. So now our big gun is down and the Sox are done 0-3 to the Yankees. David Oritz and Dave Roberts bring the series back to New York where Schill risks his career and plays with his tendon stitched all up. He goes out and puts on a show and ties the series up at 3 apiece. The rest is history.
Schilling has never really recovered from that injury. While hes pitched, he hasn't been the same. Last year, he added to his legacy by pitching and winning in the playoffs with a low 90s fastball by pitching with smarts and pure guts. I'll always remember what Curt Schilling did for the Red Sox. He promised us a World Series. He brought us 2. The Red Sox will miss when it comes playoff time. Say what you want about the guy but if I had a game to win, the guy I want pitching is Curt Schilling. I think he's a Hall of Famer. I know the Wiz will call me a biased ass but hey I call 'em like I see 'em. 3 World Series titles, 1 World Series MVP. Sound Hall worthy to me. So I'd just like to say, thanks Curt, thanks for coming to Boston.
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