Red Sox: A Farewell to Curt Schilling

As you know by now, Curt Schilling may have thrown his last pitch.

Oh, but what a career it was.

I could detail every great accomplishment of his 19-year career, but that would take an eternity. So I will cut it down to what he meant to me.

I became a fan of Schilling November 4, 2001: the day he went toe-to-toe with Roger Clemens during Game Seven of the '01 World Series. Even though he didn't get the win, the way he pitched made me think "Damn, why don't the Sox get someone like him? That way we can actually win a title."

It took another three years, but it became a reality; in November, 2003, Schilling was traded to Boston for...can't remember. What a bargain.

There was nothing Schilling didn't do that year. He went 21-6 with a 3.36 ERA, dominated the Yankees during the regular season, and, going into the playoffs, everything seemed to be going smoothly.

Until Game One of the ALDS, when Schilling injured his right ankle fielding a slow ground ball. It didn't seem serious at the time, so Terry Francona penciled Schilling as the ALCS's Game One starter.

The entirety of the injury wasn't disclosed until after Game One, and, by then, only a fool would think Schilling was 100 percent. The Yankees scored six runs off him in five innings, and now it was doubtful if he would pitch again that postseason.

As the Sox sank, so did I, nearly giving up hope before I watched as they climbed from the 0-3 hole to force a Game Six in the Bronx. And then came the most courageous performance in Red Sox history.

A day before Game Six, Schilling had the skin around the tendon sutured to the deep tissue, creating a sheath to hopefully hold the tendon in place.

As Schilling warmed-up, some of the sutures on the skin began to rupture and crimson blood began to show from the white sock. The sutures on the tendon, however, held on, and Schilling regained both command and velocity and went on to pitch the most important game of his Red Sox career.

The true Red Sock.

What happened afterward is history: The Sox win Game Seven, win the World Series and Schilling fulfills the promise of bringing a ring to the Beantown team.

If the story ended there, it would be a heck of a story. But it didn't.

Schilling spent most of the first half of the '05 season repairing the same injured ankle and even spent some time as the Red Sox closer. When he made it made back to the rotation, he struggled, and the Red Sox were knocked out of the playoffs by the Chicago White Sox.

The following season meant a new beginning. A healthy beginning.

Schill went 15-7 with 3.97 ERA, but what stood out were his milestones during that season.

He won his 200th career game (May 27), started his 400th career game (July 9) and recorded his 3000th strikeout (Aug. 10) but the Red Sox did not make the playoffs, which caused some people to overlook Schilling's great year.

The 2007 season was filled with ups and downs: A near no-hitter (one batter away) and a trip to the DL all marked a regular season which saw the Sox finish first in the AL East for the first time since 1995.

During the playoffs, Schilling continued his postseason success, winning a game in all three series, including Game Two of the World Series, which the Sox eventually won in four games.

The news that Schill may be done for his career saddens me, but isn't a real surprise; after the age of 40 a player's body can't handle the same physical toll without breaking down (unless you have some "help," right Rocket?).

For all the memories and great times, winning the World Series rings and being a great guy and an even better player, I know I speak for all of Red Sox Nation when I say, from the bottom of my heart:

Thank you Curt.