Curt Schilling

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Schilling was born in Anchorage, Alaska, to Mary and Cliff Schilling. His father was a master sergeant with the 101st Airborne Division. He attended Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix, Arizona, and Yavapai College in Prescott, Arizona, in 1985. He began his professional career in the Boston Red Sox farm system as a second-round pick in MLB's final January draft. He was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 1988, then to the Houston Astros in 1991, and to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1992. With the Phillies, he won the 1993 NLCS MVP. He was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2000, where he shared the 2001 World Series MVP with Randy Johnson. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox in 2003. In the 2004 ALCS, he won Game 6 with a bloody sock due to an ankle injury that occurred in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Anaheim Angels. He pitched (and won) Game 2 of the 2004 World Series. After retiring, he founded Green Monster Games, later renamed 38 Studios, which released Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning in February 2012, laid off staff in May, and declared bankruptcy in June. He became a conservative radio personality on the Howie Carr radio network and joined Breitbart in 2016.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere at Fenway Park was electric as Schilling stepped onto the field for Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS. His right ankle was wrapped tightly, the white sock already stained with blood from the sutures holding his torn tendon sheath in place. The Yankees held a commanding 3-0 series lead, but Schilling refused to yield. He pitched through acute pain, his movements sharp despite the physical agony radiating up his leg. Each pitch required immense focus and willpower as he navigated the lineup of one of baseball's most storied rivals. The crowd roared with every strikeout and crucial out, sensing history in the making. When he finally exited the mound after seven innings, the red stain on his sock had become a symbol of resilience. This performance not only saved the Red Sox season but also shifted the momentum of the franchise forever, turning a potential collapse into a legendary comeback that would define Schilling's legacy in Boston.

Reader's Guide

Schilling's career highlights include being a six-time All-Star, winning three World Series titles, and sharing the 2001 World Series MVP. He led the majors in wins and innings pitched in 2001. He set the Phillies single-season strikeout record with 319 in 1997. He finished second in Cy Young voting in 2001 and 2002. He shared Sports Illustrated's 2001 Sportsmen of the Year award with Randy Johnson. The entire Red Sox team was named 2004 Sportsmen of the Year.

Did You Know?

• Schilling's ankle injury that led to the bloody sock occurred in Game 1 of the 2004 ALDS, not the ALCS.
• Schilling pitched 6 innings in Game 2 of the 2004 World Series, not 7.
• Schilling shared the 2001 Sports Illustrated Sportsmen of the Year award with Randy Johnson; the 2004 award went to the entire Red Sox team.
• The auction date for the first bloody sock is not specified in the source.