Don’t Worry Everyone, Curt Schilling Will Have His Day In Cooperstown
By DJ Smith
August 3, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox former pitcher Curt Schilling throws out a ceremonial first pitch prior to a game against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
On Wednesday the Baseball Writers’ Association of America voted on the Class of 2014, a class that includes Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas. While those names were unquestionable, others like Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza and Curt Schilling, are still waiting their call for Cooperstown. All three (Biggio, Piazza and Schilling) had marvelous careers and were huge factors in the teams they played for, however it can be argued that Schilling, more than Piazza or Biggio had the biggest impact on all the teams he was apart of.
Curt Schilling debuted with the Orioles in 1988 and then moved on to the Astros in 1991 for one season, but in 1992 signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and spent 8 years in the “City of Brotherly Love”. Schilling had an immediate impact with the Phillies during the 1993 season where he went 16-7 and led the Phillies to defeat Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series. Although Schilling couldn’t vanquish the Blue Jays in the World Series, his two victories were pivotal in the series, it wouldn’t be the last time that Schilling showed up big in October.
In 2000 Schilling was traded to the Diamondbacks for a handful of players, and once again led the Diamondbacks to the World Series in 2001 versus the New York Yankees. In October, Schilling went 4-0 with a 1.12 ERA in the playoffs, and finally got his first World Series ring.
Schilling then moved on to play with the Boston Red Sox in 2004, with hopes of breaking the “Curse of the Bambino”. In his first season, Schilling went 21-6 during the regular season, but his defining moment would come October 19, 2004 in the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees. Schilling had injured his ankle in the previous round versus the Angels and required his torn tendon to be sutured by the team doctors. Heralded as the “Bloody Sock Game”, Schilling pitched seven strong innings, allowing one earned run and helping the Red Sox come back against the Yankees.
So why isn’t Curt Schilling in the Hall of Fame, yet Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux are?
Is it the Career ERA? (Maddux 3.16, Schilling 3.46, Glavine 3.54).
Is it the Career WHIP? (Maddux and Schilling 1.14, Glavine 1.31).
It must be the Career Starts right? (Maddux 740, Glavine 682, Schilling 436).
These are just the regular season numbers, ready for the postseason numbers?
Postseason ERA: Schilling 2.23, Maddux 3.27, Glavine 3.30.
Postseason WHIP: Schilling 0.968, Maddux 1.242, Glavine 1.273.
And perhaps most importantly,
World Series Rings: Schilling 3, Maddux and Glavine 1.
Curt Schilling SHOULDN’T have anything to worry about after seeing these numbers. It astonishes me that Curt Schilling isn’t in Cooperstown already, based on his postseason numbers alone. If guys like Maddux and Glavine (two great pitchers) are in the Hall of Fame, Curt Schilling deserves his spot in Cooperstown. The B.B.W.A.A. has another 13 years left on the ballot which is more than enough time for him to be elected, however that shouldn’t mean he should have to wait that long.