Curt Schilling Should Enter HOF as a Diamondback
With the announcement of his retirement on Monday, Curt Schilling sparked a firestorm of debate over his worthiness to be enshrined in Cooperstown. Let’s assume for a moment that he’s Hall of Fame material and consider whose cap he ought to wear on his plaque. Schilling’s ML career spanned 20 seasons with five clubs, so there are multiple contenders for the honor. Here at Diamondbacks Nation, we are firmly resolved that Schilling should be the first player inducted into the pantheon as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Have Gun, Will Travel (1988 to 1991). Originally drafted by the Red Sox, Schilling was dealt to the Orioles in July 1988 and made his first ML appearance with Baltimore that September. After a handful of starts over three seasons, the hard-throwing right-hander was shipped to Houston, where he pitched exclusively from the pen. (The 1991 Astros club also featured future Diamondbacks Luis Gonzalez and Steve Finley, the latter included with Schilling in the BAL-to-HOU deal.) Over 46 relief appearances, Schilling displayed strikeout stuff (8.44 K/9), but evidently issued too many free passes (4.64 BB/9) for the Astros’ liking. Despite his live arm – or perhaps because of it – the 25-year old Schilling would soon find his way to his fourth professional organization.
Learning to Fly (1992 to 2000). Prior to the 1992 season, Houston swapped Schilling to Philadelphia for another would-be Snake (Jason Grimsley, ouch!). Schilling emerged as a highly effective starter in his debut season for the Phillies, winning 14 games with a 2.45 ERA. He would notch 16 wins more in the regular season and another in the post-season for the 1993 NL Champions, before Philly fell to Toronto in the World Series.
A series of injuries cost Schilling the bulk of the 1994 and 1995 seasons. After shoulder surgery and rehab, he returned in 1996, with a 9-10 record, 3.19 ERA, 1.085 WHIP and 182 K in 183.1 IP. Schilling built on that comeback performance to win All-Star plaudits in each of the next three seasons. His 1997 campaign (17-11, 254.1 IP, 236 H, 58 BB, 316 K, 2.97 ERA, 1.046 WHIP, 2.05 BB/9, 11.29 K/9) was arguably the finest regular season of his career.
Alas, regular season stats were all he could manage. Schilling’s sparkling numbers were obscured by the crappy Philadelphia teams on which he played. In every year of his tenure but 1993, the Phillies finished with a sub-.500 record. Denied the opportunity to play meaningful games in October, Schilling grew frustrated. Although he remained among the best pitchers in the game, he could not match his 1997 total of 17 wins and his ERA, WHIP and K/9 deteriorated each year from 1998 through 2000.
The quality of his annual numbers varied, but taken as a whole, Schilling’s work in Philly was outstanding -- 101 W, 2.25 BB/9, 8.43 K/9, 3.35 ERA, 1.120 WHIP. He spent more seasons, made more starts, pitched more innings, tallied more wins and recorded more strikeouts in Philadelphia than anywhere else. Had he maintained the level of performance he achieved there, Schilling would have been remembered as an above-average starter for a second-division club. But solid, occasionally brilliant production for a losing team is not what it takes to be counted among the all-time greats.
With free agency looming after the 2001 season, the chances of an extension were as poor as the Phillies’ won-loss records. His relationship with the team soured and Schilling was put on the block once more.
Greatness Realized (2000 to 2003). At the 2000 trade deadline, the Snakes snapped up Schilling in hopes that he would give them the edge in a tight NL West race. Overall, Schilling pitched well down the stretch (97.2 IP, 5 W, 94 H, 13 BB, 72 K, 3.69 ERA, 1.096 WHIP), but his K/9 dipped and he alternated strong starts with ugly losses. Post-season glory was deferred yet again, as Schilling finished 5-6 and Arizona slumped to finish third in the division, 11 games out in the NL West and nine games short of the Wild Card.
Disappointment did not stop Arizona from inking Schilling to a three-year extension through the 2004 season. Schilling proved the money was well-spent by delivering the best seasons of his career in a Diamondbacks uniform. Together with co-Ace Randy Johnson, he dominated the NL from 2001 through 2003. Not one to shrink beneath the Unit’s long shadow, Schilling had strikeout rates better than 10 K/9 and allowed fewer than 2 BB/9 in each of his three full seasons in Arizona, twice posting a sub-3.00 ERA. He topped 20 wins and finished second to Johnson in NL Cy Young voting in each of 2001 and 2002.
| TEAM | YEAR | W | L | W% | IP | ER | H | BB | K | BB/9 | K/9 | ERA | WHIP |
| ARI | '00 | 5 | 6 | .456 | 97.2 | 40 | 94 | 13 | 72 | 1.20 | 6.63 | 3.69 | 1.096 |
| ARI | '01 | 22 | 6 | .786 | 256.2 | 85 | 237 | 39 | 293 | 1.37 | 10.27 | 2.98 | 1.075 |
| ARI | '02 | 23 | 7 | .767 | 259.1 | 93 | 218 | 33 | 316 | 1.15 | 10.97 | 3.23 | 0.968 |
| ARI | '03 | 8 | 9 | .471 | 168.0 | 55 | 144 | 32 | 194 | 1.71 | 10.39 | 2.95 | 1.048 |
| TOT | 58 | 28 | .674 | 781.2 | 273 | 693 | 117 | 875 | 1.35 | 10.07 | 3.14 | 1.036 |
With consistently superb performances, Schilling became a HOF-worthy as a Diamondback. He arrived in the desert already 33-years old and with a dozen seasons on his resume, but Schilling defied age and a ballpark that favors hitters to record the highest winning percentage and K/9 and the lowest H/9, BB/9, ERA and WHIP of any stop in his career. And in contrast with the futility of his Philadelphia years, he produced for the Diamondbacks more than mere statistics. Schilling was a workhorse for back-to-back division winners.
Finally featured on a quality team, Schilling confirmed his greatness by performing at an even higher level in the playoffs. Schilling opened the 2001 post-season with a shut-out win over the Cardinals, then gave up one run over nine innings to win Game 5 and clinch the NLDS. He struck out a dozen Braves en route to a complete game victory in Game 3 of the NLCS. Schilling went on to defeat the heavily favored Yankees in Game 1 of the 2001 World Series, left Game 4 with a lead after seven innings, and pitched deep into the decisive Game 7. For his part in securing Arizona’s World Series championship, Schilling shared with Johnson co-MVP honors and a nod from Sports Illustrated as “Sportsmen of the Year.”
Schilling again helped carry the Diamondbacks to an NL West title in 2002. He set personal bests with 23 wins, 1.15 BB/9 and 0.968 WHIP. His 316 K and 10.97 K/9 were the second-highest single-season marks of his career. Sadly, Arizona crashed out of an NLDS rematch with St. Louis, wasting Schilling’s strong effort (7 IP, 7 H, R, BB, 7 K) in Game 2. It would be his final playoff appearance for the Snakes, as the aging team fell into decline in 2003. Although Schilling remained outstanding, his reward was a meager eight victories, a total surpassed by rookie Brandon Webb. Schilling was still an anchor in the rotation, but injuries and age seemed likely to render the Diamondbacks a sinking ship, so the club sent the 37-year old and his $12M salary to Boston in November 2004.
Last Hurrahs (2004 to 2007). After an 86-year title drought, the Red Sox brought Schilling from the desert to make rain. True to the form he established with the Diamondbacks, Schilling did not disappoint. Reprising the two-headed monster approach that Arizona used so successfully, he paired with Pedro Martinez in the Boston rotation. Schilling thrilled Red Sox Nation with 21 wins against just 6 losses in 2004. Over 226.2 IP, he totaled 206 H, 35 BB, 203 K, 3.26 ERA and 1.063 WHIP. Only his 8.06 K/9 hinted at a decline.
Most importantly from Boston's perspective, Schilling excelled in the 2004 playoffs. Despite the blemish of 7 ER and 5 K in 10 IP against the Yankees in the ALCS, Schilling beat New York in Game 6 while showing off his real Red Sox. He completed the redemption with a Game 3 win over the Cardinals, propelling Boston to its first World Series win since 1918. Jubilant Red Sox fans could forgive and forget his sliding strikeout rate (5.16 K/9) and good-not-great 3.57 ERA in the playoffs. That Schilling's post-season record of 3-1 came without dominance evidenced his advancing age.
At 38 and weary from years of heavy workload, Schilling’s 2005 season (93.3 IP, 5.69 ERA, 1.532 WHIP) was the worst since his early career. Injuries limited him to 11 starts, although he made another 21 appearances in relief, saving nine games. The Red Sox missed the playoffs in 2005 and again in 2006, notwithstanding Schilling’s rebound to 15-7 with 204 IP, 220 H, 28 BB, 183 K, 3.97 ERA and 1.216 WHIP.
Schilling’s swansong would come in 2007. He won just nine games with 3.87 ERA, 1.245 WHIP and 101 K over 151 IP. But Schilling again rose to the challenge of the playoffs (3-0, 24 IP, 16 K, 3.00 ERA, 1.167 WHIP) and pitched Boston to its second title in four years, burnishing his HOF credentials with a third ring.
Even in the afterglow of that final World Series run, there were signs that Schilling’s playing career would end. The shoulder woes that had plagued him since Philly would cost Schilling the 2008 season. Now 41-years of age, his prospects for another return from injury looked dim, an impression Schilling confirmed by declaring his retirement from the game.
Closing Arguments. The arc of Schilling’s career is apparent. During his years with Baltimore and Houston, he had yet to harness his raw talent. He blossomed upon arrival in Philadelphia, then was stymied by injury and the Phillies’ listless franchise. With the Diamondbacks, Schilling reached the height of his powers by a fortuitous combination of talent, experience, health and teammates at the peaks of their own careers. His individual numbers declined in Boston, but he helped restore to glory a franchise that had spent decades in frustration.
If counting stats alone are the measure, then Schilling will enter Cooperstown wearing Phillies colors. If we identify him with the storied club for whom he finished his career, then he will wear “B” for Boston. But Diamondbacks Nation recognizes that Schilling’s greatest seasons were spent with Arizona.
The regular season statistics bear out that claim.
| TEAM | YEARS | W | L | W% | IP | ER | H | BB | K | BB/9 | K/9 | ERA | WHIP |
| BAL | '88-'90 | 1 | 6 | .143 | 69.1 | 35 | 70 | 32 | 42 | 4.15 | 5.45 | 4.54 | 1.471 |
| HOU | '91 | 3 | 5 | .375 | 75.2 | 32 | 79 | 39 | 71 | 4.64 | 8.44 | 3.81 | 1.559 |
| PHI | '92-'00 | 101 | 78 | .564 | 1659.1 | 617 | 1444 | 415 | 1554 | 2.25 | 8.43 | 3.35 | 1.120 |
| ARI | '00-'03 | 58 | 28 | .674 | 781.2 | 273 | 693 | 117 | 875 | 1.35 | 10.07 | 3.14 | 1.036 |
| BOS | '04-'07 | 53 | 29 | .646 | 675.0 | 296 | 712 | 108 | 574 | 1.44 | 7.65 | 3.95 | 1.215 |
| TOT | 216 | 146 | .597 | 3261.0 | 1253 | 2998 | 711 | 3116 | 1.96 | 8.60 | 3.46 | 1.317 |
As do the post-season numbers.
| TEAM | YEARS | W | L | W% | IP | ER | H | BB | K | BB/9 | K/9 | ERA | WHIP |
| PHI | '93 | 1 | 1 | .500 | 31.1 | 9 | 24 | 10 | 28 | 2.87 | 8.04 | 2.59 | 1.085 |
| ARI | '01, '02 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 | 55.1 | 7 | 32 | 7 | 63 | 1.14 | 10.25 | 1.14 | 0.705 |
| BOS | '04, '07 | 6 | 1 | .857 | 46.2 | 17 | 48 | 8 | 29 | 1.54 | 5.59 | 3.28 | 1.200 |
| TOT | 11 | 2 | .846 | 133.1 | 33 | 104 | 25 | 120 | 1.69 | 8.10 | 2.23 | 0.968 |
Schilling’s individual and team achievements from 2000 to 2003 epitomize HOF-caliber pitching. His status as an icon of the franchise is indisputable. His play in the post-season was heroic.
At times in Philadelphia he had comparable individual numbers, but he lacked consistency and post-season success. He was vital to the renaissance of the Red Sox, but his own stats from that period fall far short of immortal standards. Only in Arizona did Schilling embody all the elements of his greatness.
Curt Schilling became worthy of enshrinement during his years in Arizona. His combination of individual and team achievements here are the best of his career. He should enter the Hall of Fame as member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
9 responses to this Post, with 5 unique participants
Sock-Puppet
I'll acknowledge the historical significance of his '04 efforts. The Red Sox are an older team in a bigger, East Coast market, who came into that post-season w/ an eight-decade reputation for choke-artistry. So, yah, Curt made memorable contributions to BOS finally shaking its demons.
But remember, 2001 was loaded w/ historical import, too. The season had been put on hold for a week following the 9/11 attacks, from which the country was still reeling at the start of the playoffs. There was huge emotional investment in NYY, on account of their status as 3x defending champs and New York's status as Ground Zero. Patriotic sentiment in general was at an incredible swell. The World Series was the first event worthy of national attention -- and even then, nobody forgot for a moment what we'd just been through.
In that environment, a four-year old Diamonbacks franchise beat a trio of old guard, established clubs in the Cardinals, Braves and Yankees to win the title. Shadow-of-RJ or no, Schilling was the huge every step of the way. Consider his lines in each round of the playoffs --
NLDS v. STL: 2 GS, 2 CG, 2 W, 18 IP, 1 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 18 K, 0.50 ERA, 0.611 WHIP
NLCS v. ATL: 1 GS, 1 CG, 1 W, 9 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 12 K, 1.00 ERA, 0.667 WHIP
WS v. NYY: 3 GS, 1 W, 21.1 IP, 4 ER, 12 H, 2 BB, 26 K, 1.69 ERA, 0.656 WHIP
I don't care what some gimmicky sock-puppet says, those numbers blow away what he put up in 2004.
Maybe one's sense of the relative impact of his play depends on whether you're a fan of the Diamondbacks, the Red Sox, or somebody else. For sure, BOS has a much higher profile in the mind of the casual fan. But even if you're a hardcore Sox fan, I defy you to tell me that the 2001 post-season some mundane exercise. That was a crazy time for our country. The odds were way stacked against ARI. And Curt was a beast.
Sorry guys
I'm no stat geek, and although you make strong arguments, you're all basically pissing in the wind. Though Schilling had his greatest successes with AZ and Boston, he spent the majority of his career with Philadelphia. His heart is with Philly. He is going in as a Phillie. He should go in as a DBack, but that doesn't change a thing.
Deja Vu
Gee, Fez, I feel like I've had this experience before. I make a compelling argument, you dismiss it out of hand. Same as it ever was. :P
Seriously, tho ... there's a case to be made for each of Philly, Arizona and Boston. While I think the argument for the Diamondbacks is strongest, I'd probably agree that the Phillies trump the Red Sox. I get the impression that mine is an unorthodox view and that most people would put him in the HOF w/ Boston. But I bet that has more to do w/ the freshness of the memories of the '04 and '07 World Series and the vast number of Red Sox supporters. By the time he's eligible for the ballot, I think HOF voters will have a different perspective.
Setting aside his stats in BOS (which don't come close to his best work), I think his best three-year period w/ PHI (1996 thru 1998) stacks up pretty well against his three full years for ARI (2001 thru 2003).
1996-1998: 706.1 IP, 41 W, 3.17 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 10.21 K/9, 2.15 BB/9, 4.74 K/BB
2001-2003: 684 IP, 53 W, 3.07 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 10.57 K/9, 1.34 BB/9, 7.72 K/BB
The key differences are that w/ the Diamondbacks (a) he improved his command considerably, slashing his walk rate while maintaining his superb strikeout rate; and (b) he was one of the three best players and biggest contributors on a team that won a pair of division titles and a World Series.
I've looked at those numbers backwards, forwards and upside down. I could give you stats neutralized by ballpark and league averages. They all same the same thing. Schilling was simply a better pitcher with the Diamondbacks than with the Phillies ... and that's w/o factoring in his post-season numbers, which were otherwordly.
Maybe his heart is in Philly. He spent the biggest part of his career there, even if he didn't leave on great terms. Remember, tho: players don't get to pick the team w/ which they're affiliated for HOF induction, the HOF itself chooses. If Schilling expresses his preference for the Phillies, that may sway those who make the call. I just think the Diamondbacks case is stronger.
The Sock
All I am saying is that the bloody sock is already in the HOF and it only reasons that he follows in suit.... literally.
Don't Bogart the HOFers
There are ELEVEN (11) players enshrined in Cooperstown w/ the Red Sox identified as their "primary team."
Wade Boggs
Joe Cronin
Bobby Doerr
Rick Ferrell
Carlton Fisk
Jimmie Foxx
Lefty Grove
Harry Hooper
Ted Williams
Carl Yastrzemski
Cy Young
They can keep the bloody sock, but do the really need Curt, too?
FYI, the Basball Writers' Association of America votes on HOF candidates and the museum itself determines the primary team w/ which an enshrinee is identified. Here are the applicable standards:
ON VOTING CRITERIA: "Voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played." http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/bbwaa.jsp
ON LOGO SELECTION: "The choice of which team’s logo appears on a player’s plaque is the Museum's decision, though we always consider the wishes of an inductee. As a history Museum, it's important that the logo be emblematic of the historical accomplishments of that player's career. A player's election to the Hall of Fame is a career achievement, and as such, every team for whom he played is listed on the plaque; however, the logo selection is based on where that player makes his most indelible mark." http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/faq.jsp#logo
The standards -- "contributions to the team" and "most indelible mark" -- are a bit nebulous. I think it the choice comes down to whether the curators favor the club for which a player played the longest over the club for which he played the best. In Schilling's case, Philadelphia is the former, Arizona is the latter, and Boston is neither.
If he goes in as a member of the Red Sox, it will be because they're a "big" team. His contributions (6 wins) to Boston's playoff runs were important, but we're talking 46.2 IP of a quality markedly inferior to what he did in the playoffs w/ PHI and ARI. In his 675 IP during the regular season for BOS, he had a 3.95 ERA. Sorry, I'm still not buying that.
Phillies
PHXMLB, I think you make a great argument for Schilling getting in as a D-back. There is NO WAY that Schilling is going in as a Red Sox. I, for one, actually think that he should go in as a Philly. He spent 9 years with the Phillies compared to the 4 with the Dbacks. I guess part of my reasoning is as a baseball fan, I do consider regular season performance and length of service more important than the post season. In Schillings case, I think it is VERY difficult to figure out which team he should represent considering that he would not get in the HOF solely based on his regular season, but he would also not get in solely based on his post season. It is the combination of the two that gets him in, but his length of service, plus almost half of his wins came as a memeber of the Phillies pushes him ahead.
Either way, it will be interesting to see which team the Hall of Fame decides to put Curt Schilling in with...
Online Petition Schilling 4 HOF
Let's petition the BBWAA to show support for Curt Schilling.
This takes 20 seconds to sign www.tinyurl.comcurt4hof
As for the cap on the plaque that is to be decided by MLB....and not the HOF player.
Thank You Tampa Bay. MLB changed the rule because the then Devil Rays had $1,000,000.00 bonusses in the contracts of Boggs and Canseco if they wore the D-ray cap on their plaques.
this link works
www.tinyurl.com/curt4hof
You make a good case
I think the numbers speak for themselves, but in the end the HOF is just as much about the history of the game as the players themselves. Can the bloody sock game be match in importance the wins he had in RJ's shadow?