Curt Schilling Fired by ESPN: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Former MLB pitcher Curt Schilling has been terminated by ESPN, where he worked as an analyst.

ESPN released a statement on the decision Wednesday, per Richard Sandomir of the New York Times: "ESPN is an inclusive company. Curt Schilling has been advised that his conduct was unacceptable, and his employment with ESPN has been terminated."

Cyd Zeigler of SB Nation's Outsports reported Tuesday on Schilling's controversial use of Facebook. The former pitcher shared an offensive anti-transgender meme and posted derogatory comments on the social media website.

Zeigler passed along Schilling's comments: "A man is a man no matter what they call themselves. I don't care what they are, who they sleep with, men's room was designed for the penis, women's not so much. Now you need laws telling us differently? Pathetic."

This isn't the first time Schilling has generated controversy with his comments. Joe Rodgers of Sporting News noted the analyst compared Muslim extremists to Nazis on his Twitter account in August 2015. As a result, the network pulled him from its Little League World Series coverage, per ESPN.com, and banned him from its Sunday Night Baseball broadcasts for the remainder of the 2015 regular season, per Rodgers.

Schilling did take to Twitter after that suspension, conceded it was a poor decision and accepted the punishment.

Rodger Sherman of SB Nation chronicled Schilling's history of posting and sharing anti-Muslim rhetoric on social media that included offensive videos, images and a misattributed quote.

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Rodgers also pointed out Schilling "again found himself in hot water in March" when he suggested presidential candidate Hillary Clinton should be "buried in a jail somewhere." Rodgers said the analyst was allowed to return to the network but was asked not to use social media for a few days.

On Tuesday, Jesse Spector of Sporting News called for ESPN to fire Schilling in light of his anti-transgender thoughts on Facebook. Spector said not firing Schilling would be a "tacit endorsement of the darkness he brings."

Before working at ESPN, Schilling pitched 20 seasons in the major leagues for the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox. He was a six-time All-Star and won three World Series rings, once with the Diamondbacks and twice with the Red Sox.