Curt Schilling

In November 2003, the Diamondbacks traded Schilling to the Boston Red Sox. On September 16, 2004 Schilling won his twentieth game of the season for the Red Sox, becoming the fifth Boston pitcher to win 20 or more games in his first season with the team, and the first since Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley in 1978. Schilling ended his regular season with a 21-6 record and finished second in the Cy Young award voting to Johan Santana.

On October 19, 2004 Schilling won Game 6 of the 2004 American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees. Notably, he won this game playing on an injured ankle - the same injuries that contributed to his disastrous outing in Game 1 of the ALCS. These injuries were so acute that by the end of his performance that day his white sock was soaked with blood.

The win forced a Game 7, making the Red Sox the first team in MLB history to come back from a three-games-to-none deficit. The Red Sox would go on to win Game 7 and the ALCS and make their first World Series appearance since 1986. Schilling pitched (and won) Game 2 of the 2004 World Series for the Red Sox against the St. Louis Cardinals. In both series, he had to have the tendon in his right ankle stabilized repeatedly, in what has become known as the Schilling Tendon Procedure, after the tendon sheath was torn during his Game 1 ALDS appearance against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. As in Game 6 of the ALCS, Schilling's sock was soaked with blood from the sutures used in this medical procedure, but he still managed to pitch seven strong innings, giving up one run on four hits, whilst striking out four. This second bloody sock was placed in the Baseball Hall of Fame after Boston's victory over St. Louis in the World Series. A 4-game sweep of the World Series gave Boston its first World Series championship since 1918.

Schilling was once again runner-up in Cy Young voting in 2004, this time to Minnesota Twins hurler Johan Santana, who received all 28 first-place votes. Schilling received 27 of the 28 second-place votes. Later, the entire Red Sox team was named Sports Illustrated's 2004 Sportsmen of the Year, making Schilling only the second person to have won or shared that award twice.

Schilling began 2005 on the disabled list due to recurrent ankle injuries. After being placed on the disabled list again, he returned in July as Boston's closer. The idea was that Schilling would work out of the bullpen until gaining enough strength to rejoin the starting rotation. He eventually returned to the starting rotation and continued to struggle. The Red Sox made it to the playoffs, but were swept by the Chicago White Sox in three games.

For the 2006 season, Schilling was said to be healthy. He began the season 4-0 with a 1.61 ERA. He finished the year with a 15-7 record and 198 strikeouts, with a respectable 3.97 ERA.

The 2006 season was also a season of milestones for Curt Schilling. On May 27, he earned his 200th career win, the 104th major league pitcher to accomplish the feat. The Red Sox beat Tampa Bay, 6-4.

On July 9, Schilling made his 400th career start in his major league career versus the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

On August 30, Schilling collected his 3,000th strikeout against Nick Swisher of the Oakland Athletics. Schilling has the highest ratio of strikeouts to walks of any pitcher with at least 3,000 strikeouts, and is one of four pitchers to reach the 3,000-K milestone before reaching 1,000 career walks. The other three who accomplished this feat are Fergie Jenkins, Greg Maddux, and former Boston Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez.

In January 2007, Schilling announced on the Dennis and Callahan show that after talking with his family, he had changed his mind and doesn't want to retire at the conclusion of the 2007 season. He sought to negotiate an extension to his current contract, but Red Sox executives announced that they would not negotiate with him until after the season citing Schilling's age and physical condition as factors in their decision (Schilling reportedly showed up for training camp heavier than normal). Schilling went on to say he would become a free agent at the end of the season, for the first time in his career, and would not negotiate with the Red Sox during the 15 days after the end of the World Series when the team has exclusive negotiating rights with potential free agents. On a June appearance on the Dennis and Callahan Show, Schilling stated he would accept a one year extension to his contract at his current salary if the Red Sox offered it to him. Questioned on his statement, Schilling said "I said I wouldn't negotiate a deal during the season, and I'm saying that now. But I would accept that offer.

On June 7, 2007, Schilling came within one out of his first career no-hitter. Schilling gave up a two-out single to Oakland's Shannon Stewart, who lined a 95-mph fastball to right field for the A's only hit.

Schilling followed up his one-hitter with two poor starts and was sent back to Boston on June 20 for an MRI on his shoulder and was placed on the disabled list. He returned from the disabled list on Aug. 6, pitching at least six innings in each of his nine starts following the All-Star Break.

Schilling continued his career postseason success in 2007, throwing seven shutout innings in a 9-1 victory over the Angels in the ALDS, wrapping up a three-game sweep for Boston. However, he did not fare as well pitching in Game 2 of the ALCS against Cleveland, surrendering nine hits — two of them home runs — and five earned runs in just 4 2/3 innings. He did start again in the sixth game of the series, pitching 7 complete innings during which he recorded five strike outs, surrendering no walks with only two earned runs to gain the victory and force a Game 7.

He earned his third win of the 2007 playoffs in Game 2 of the 2007 World Series leaving after 5 1/3 innings, striking out four while allowing only four hits. With this win, he became only the second pitcher over the age of 40 to start and win a World Series game (Kenny Rogers became the first just one year prior). As Schilling departed in the 6th, the Fenway faithful, knowing all too well that they may have seen the last of Schilling, showed their appreciation for all he's meant to the Red Sox since 2004 and gave him a thunderous standing ovation.

The feeling Schilling would depart was confirmed when he filed for free agency on October 30, 2007. He said he would seek a 1-year deal.

Source: wikipedia.org

UPDATE: On 11/6/07 Schilling agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Red Sox to stay with the team in 2008.