Thoughts on Schilling
Some thoughts from Red Sox players and personnel on Curt Schilling, who announced his retirement today after 23 professional seasons:
DAVID ORTIZ
"He was a leader around here, the one guy who would push you to positive things. He did nothing but good things to help this ball club win championships."
On the bloody sock:
"It was freezing, raining, cold as hell, and the guy just had open surgery on his ankle. A lot of people come up to me and ask me, 'Hey, he was bleeding for real?' I'll tell you what, man. He showed me a lot of guts. I had a lot of respect for Curt."
THEO EPSTEIN
"He made a profound impact while he was here. He helped us win two World Series, had some great seasons for us. He really proved with the career that he had and the games that he pitched when it mattered the most, he deserves to be remembered among the all-time greats. He did some of his best work with us."
On his knack for rising to the occasion:
"It's hard to live up to expectations when you're part of a big trade. He delivered. Won 20 games, threw really well all year. The most memorable moment for me -- for everybody -- is probably coming back after the very crude surgery he had on his ankle to pitch against the Yankees."
On convincing him to come to the Sox in November 2003:
"I think in the end, we really didn't need to sell it. The Red Sox were perfect for him, because he likes the big stage, the history of the game. He likes to be the center of attention. It was a good fit."
JOHN SMOLTZ
"I wished I could have matched up against up a few more times. I remember the Arizona vividly, because I was waiting to pitch. Him and Randy Johnson dominated. I wish him the best in retirement.
"I always enjoyed -- I know you don't pitch against the guy; you pitch against the lineup. But I always enjoyed the opportunity to pitch against him, because of what he could do on the baseball field. He certainly commands that kind of attention. His postseason speaks for himself."
TERRY FRANCONA
"I go back to '97. He started the first game I ever managed. It's been a long time. A lot of good pitching. From my aspect, he'd always show up on time. He'd give you everything he has. Every time he pitched, you felt like you had a chance to win. He had the ability to reach back for more about as good as anybody I've ever seen."
On why Schilling was so good in October:
"There's a lot reasons. You'd better be good in June and July to be good in October. The big stage, he excelled. He didn't shy away from it. He wanted to pitch in those situations. He could command his fastball. He could compete. He didn't back down. He knew what he wanted to do, and he executed.
"Even in Philadelphia when we were struggling to win, you felt like you had a pretty good team that day he was pitching."
On the "bloody sock" playoff game against the Yankees:
"It was unfair, I'm sure. I expected him not only to pitch, but to win. That's probably not fair to him. But I always felt like that."
On Schilling's pregame demeanor:
"The surlier, the better. The few times where he did speak, I remember thinking, 'He's not ready to pitch.' That wasn't very often. The surlier the better. The first time I talked to him was usually whem I would take him out."
On whether he was surprised by today's news:
"I thought he was contemplating it, because I know he's got a lot of other stuff going on in his life. It looks like it's a new chapter."
JASON VARITEK
"I don't think we're standing where we're at, having won two world championships, without Curt. What he brought in his preparation as a winning commodity, as a winning pitcher, somebody that strived for this organization to do well, to work towards doing what his organization hadn't done in 86 years.
"He cares about winning. And he cared about this organization doing well. He was a great teammate to me. He helped me out quite a bit."
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I'll always remember Curt Schilling for his team-first approach as demonstrated by the bloody sock game as well as by his willingness to go from starter to the bullpen. The Red Sox would never have won the 2004 World Series without him and he paid dearly for that physically. He deserves all of our gratitude and admiration.
Thanks, Curt!
And he did without 'roids and head hunting!
I saw my 1st game in 1961 as a 7yr old and certainly saw some brutal teams and disappointments. Schilling was the linchpin that brought it together in 04. He gets slagged for his outspoken nature, but it's refreshing when an athlete can express himself in complete sentences, and speak beyond the usual platitudes and cliches. He never really recovered physically after 2004 in what was one of the b@llsiest performances in postseason history, given what was riding on it. Thanks, 38.
Thanks for everything Curt! You're a true champion. Good luck and don't be a stranger (as I'm sure you won't be).
This guy was a credit to the team, the uniform, and the history of the game. We love ya Schill.
Thanks for everything Curt, even the big mouth and silly comments. At least you had the fortitude to say what you really thought.
You will not be forgotten around here.
Bottom line was he won the big games. He was tough and clutch. I didn't always agree with what he said, but I don't always agree with my wife either. He had a better fastball though. I wish him nothing but the best in retirement.
By far the greatest , hands down. It has been a pleasure and an honer to have you pitching for the Red Sox . Most of all I want to say THANK YOU Curt Chilling!
Bravo Curt ! I'm 56 years old and never thought I'd see the day ----much less twice !
I even have a picture of my boy and myself with the two trophies . Thank you Curt and all the Sox from Malzone ,Radatz ,Yaz and even Dick Stuart right up to Jacoby ,Dustin and all the great young players we have now.
Curt you never quit and that's all we ever need around here.
Best always,
Dr Strangeglove
Dear Curt:
Thank you for every thing you did for the Sox and their fans. You're missed already. God bless you and your family. We'll see you in the Hall of Fame.
thanks for taking a full salary in 2008 and not pitching one pitch.
you are an arrogant greedy jerk
I thought you were already retired.
Curt, thanks for stepping into Red Sox Nation. In 2004 you brought to Beantown what we needed, someone to tear down the walls of doubt and unbelief. I still have the picture "Think Tank"; you and Tito and Bill Belichick sitting in a spring training dugout. Wow what a photo!!!
Thanks for the memories. Your bloody sock bore resemblance of our broken hearts over the many years of almost-winning-it-all.
Winning again in 2007 - when asked how did it compare to 2004? "Tie".
Great answer. Bless you and your wife and large extended family.
Paul, El Cajon, CA
Over rated...Hall of Fame, give me a break...but maybe since they have lowered the standards over the years. What an ego on this guy,no class,never knows when to sut his mouth....
Thank You Curt Schilling You will be missed a great deal I hope you make the hall of fame You deserve it. for all your great Pitching you did w/ the Red Sox
THANK YOU CURT
Hate hurts everyone, including those who hate.
Shill was great for the Sox from his first start - which I saw in Baltimore in April 2004, with Foulke closing it out, we saw he had a presence that would make a difference. He was as focused and dominant in April as any October
I will never forget Game 6 against the Yankees in the '04 ALCS. An all time great moment for any sox fan. It was fantastic watching you come up big time after time in the biggest games. Best of all not having to hear that obnoxious 1918 chant anymore. Good luck and thanks for the great memories Curt!
i bet curts got his hall of fame speach written already. history will show he was the most hated man in baseball and manny the most liked except by blowhards. randy johnson to this day hates schilling. but so what. just win baby .now go away. thanx red light
that arrogant greedy jerk does more for charities in one day - not to mention taking a family in upon the aftermath of hurricane katrina - than most of us will ever.
why is it that there is a section of people who feel like these athletes or a sports franchise owes anybody anything. they are running a buisiness. which in many respects, is none of ours. i know the difference between what it was like around here before schilling and now. no more having to re-live joe morgan's little liner to center, bucky dent, mookie wilson, aaron boone, babe ruth, those ghosts are all gone, thanks to number 38. he gave of himself like very few others.really, without a
peer.
thank you!
Arrogant Greedy JerK? Shill could have sat the rest of the 2004 postseason out and nobody would have blamed him. We all would still be bemoaning our Bambino-cursed fate. He probably could have then pitched for a few more years beyond 2007 and made a LOT more money. Instead he gave us 2 of the most amazing performances in postseason history and went on to give us several more years of drama, joy Yankee angst; and another title. Thank You, Curt, for leaving your arm on the mound at Fenway. May its ghost forever haunt our opponents.
The only people who hate Curt Schilling are liberals - showing, as they always do, that their "tolerance" extends only to those who share their views.
Yankee fans of course hate Schilling too, but they don't quite rise to the definition of "people"
Simply the Best!!!! What you did for the Red Sox in general was great but in '04 & '07 is was superb!!!! I wish you and your family the best.
Curt, Thank you for all you have done while with the Red Sox. You are a winner and your presence is infectious. You were a great team leader and added great chemistry. I am grateful that you were a Red Sox . You have helped instill confidence and a winning way all the way to the championships (2004 & 2007). I believe the Red Sox team now knows how to complete business and will many more times in the future. Thank you for being a part of the Red Sox and the Red Sox nation. You will be missed.
Curt,
As one who aspires to continue working with high school and collegiate athletes, the biggest lesson we can learn from the great career you had in baseball and with the Sox is that to always go about the game 110%.
Thank you for treating the game with dignity and honesty!
For anyone who thinks that Curt Schilling wasn't good for baseball, for the Red Sox, and for the community; then you haven't a clue what this man was and is about. I reiterate what a fellow poster said on how refreshing it was to have someone offer their true opinions, rather than the constant and never-ending cliche's. Sure he sometimes over-played the role of spokesman, but he always spoke from the heart and always gave those an out that didn't want to hear what he had to say. You can turn Schilling off, yet there's no way you can ignore the contributions he made to the Red Sox organization and their fans. You will be missed, Curt. Number 38 will always be yours in Beantown!!
Thank you Curt, for 2004 and 2007, you always spoke your mind. And thank you for silencing all those yankee fans, good luck
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