Baseball great Curt Schilling offered his opinions on myriad subjects during an exclusive interview on Mama Grizzly Radio.
While appearing on The Palin Update, Schilling weighed in on his Hall of Fame chances, whether he thinks he belongs there, his admiration of Sarah Palin, Islamic terrorism, and much more.
The three-time World Series champion once again appears on the ballot for induction to Cooperstown. His career was masterful. But now all decisions rest with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The group unveils the 2016 Hall of Fame class later this week. Schilling’s numbers make a strong case
Schilling finished his career with a record of went 216-146 with a 3.46 ERA (127 OPS+) and a 1.14 WHIP. He was selected to six All-Star Games. Schilling led the league in wins, innings, batters faced, strikeouts, WHIP, and walk rate two times each.
Schilling’s control and command was nothing less than amazing. His career 4.38 K/BB ratio is the second best all-time among pitchers with 1,000 career innings. Perhaps it’s his postseason performances, rather than his regular-season stats, that make the best case for enshrinement.
When it mattered most, Schilling was dominant. He posted an 11-2 playoff record with an ERA of 2.23. He won three World Series titles (Arizona in 2001, Boston in 2004 and 2007). Schilling took home co-MVP honors in the 2001 fall classic and he was named MVP outright in the 1993 NLCS while pitching for Philadelphia. From mystique and aura to the bloody sock, Schilling brought baseball some of the most memorable performances of all time. So he’s got to be a Hall of Famer, right?
Not if you ask him.
“By my criteria, no—I’m not,” said Schilling when asked if we was Hall worthy on Mama Grizzly Radio. “I’ve always thought that Hall of Famers are people that you don’t debate about.” Schilling named former teammates Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez as no-brainer Hall of Famers.
As far as if he’ll get the votes this time around, his fourth time on the ballot, Schilling was less sure. “I don’t know,” he said. “It’s a challenge because it’s not something I talk about—not something I think about for a second besides when this happens. I didn’t get any better from last year to this year. I retired seven years ago. So, I don’t know how the vote totals change, but they do.”
Unlike so many in his shoes, Schilling has adjusted well to life after competition. In fact, he doesn’t long for those days in uniform one bit. “Absolutely, unequivocally, without a doubt, nothing,” said Schilling emphatically when asked what he misses about baseball. “I don’t miss anything about baseball. I got to pick when I walked away, which a lot of people do not get, and I was ready. Don’t take that as I didn’t love it. I appreciate everything I was given. I owe the game far more than it’ll ever owe me. But it was time and I was ready.”
As a Christian and conservative thinker, Schilling cares deeply about America. He often shares his views on politics without a filter. After catching heat for a tweet he posted regarding Islamic terror earlier this year, Schilling was grateful for the support he received from a fellow Alaskan also known for standing up for our country. After posting his tweet which dealt with factual statistics, liberals pounced. Schilling was suspended from his announcing gig.
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin picked up the pitcher in a way that would make David Ortiz proud.
“I absolutely appreciated her vocal support,” Schilling said. “I’ve been a fan of her’s forever and I watched that same media that you’re talking about destroy—or try to destroy her and her family by lying. By saying she said things she didn’t say. Or in her case they added words to some of her comments and quotes to make her seem stupid. That was disheartening.
“Then when her daughter (Bristol Palin) had all of the events in her life, there was no holds barred from what they’d say and do to her. It caught me off guard a little bit but it made me aware of the fact that there is a massive agenda at work and all you have to do is flip around the channels nowadays to see that.”
Schilling weighs in on Internet creeps who harassed his daughter and how he took it in his own hands to hold them accountable. He also discusses the presidential race, the cities he pitched in, his health, and much more in this wide ranging interview.
You can hear the full interview with Curt Schilling by visiting here.
The 2016 Hall of Fame class will be revealed on January 6, 2016.
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