Curt Schilling snubbed by Hall of Fame for 9th time, says he 'will not participate' next year



Former Major League Baseball pitcher Curt Schilling missed out on induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame for the ninth straight year on Tuesday, and says he "will not participate" in the 10th and final opportunity for the honor.

The legendary player, who is an outspoken conservative and Trump supporter, has fallen under scrutiny on both social media and in the media for political takes.

What are the details?

The Washington Times reported that while Schilling received "the most votes of any player, appearing on 71.1% of the ballots from the Baseball Writers Association of America," he "fell short of the 75% threshold for induction."

Following the tallies, Schilling tweeted out, "Former players will be the ultimate judge, as it should be. I won't allow a group of morally bankrupt frauds another year to lie about my life."

He posted a link to a Facebook post that shared a lengthy letter he had written to the Hall of Fame the day before.

In his letter, he expressed his gratitude to the panel before telling them, "I can say at this point I am mentally done. I know math and I know trends and I know I will not attain the 75% threshold for induction."

He went on to address the controversies sparked over his expressed views, saying:

My love of this country has always been worn on my sleeve. My desire to do the right thing and be a good person has driven most of my life choices. I stood at my locker 400+ times after my starts and took every question and answered honestly. Those people who stood there asking the questions KNOW what they are claiming is untrue yet they quote, re-quote and link to one another story after story that began as lies and grew into bigger ones. The game has made it clear it does not want me back and that's fine, the game owes me exactly nothing. It gave a billion more times than it took and I'll forever be deeply in debt to it. My desire to work with and teach young men the art of pitching will be tucked away.

Schilling also discussed the pain that "hit pieces" written about him have caused his children and his wife, who is currently battling breast cancer.

"I am requesting to be removed from the ballot," he said. "I'll defer to the veterans committee and men whose opinions actually matter and who are in a position to actually judge a player."

The Times noted that Schilling was "referring to the Veterans Committee, which considers the candidacy of players not elected by the writers."

The legendary pitcher has become a controversial figure, a factor that several analysts suggested made a difference in the Hall of Fame voters' decision.

ESPN's David Schoenfield responded to the news by saying that Schilling "was clearly the best pitching candidate aside from Roger Clemens — this should have been his year, especially after getting 70% last year. But some voters stopped voting for him due to offensive comments he made on Twitter, and it's not a lock he gets in next year, his final one on the BBWAA ballot."

Bradford Doolittle agreed, saying of Schilling, "Once you reach 70%, as he did last year, that's supposed to be the tipping point. But if the ballots had not been due until after Jan. 6, his total would have been even lower. That doesn't bode well for his last year on the ballot next winter."

On Jan. 6, following the attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters, Schilling tweeted, "You cowards sat on your hands, did nothing while liberal trash looted rioted and burned for air Jordan's and big screens, sit back, stfu, and watch folks start a confrontation for shit that matters like rights, democracy and the end of govt corruption."

Anything else?

Schilling's outspokenness, particularly with regard to his conservative politics, has led to numerous controversies over the years. TheBlaze previously reported:

  • His June 2016 blog post in the wake of the terror attack at an Orlando gay nightclub lit into gun control advocates and Muslims.
  • ESPN fired him in April 2016 for a meme he posted that mocked transgender bathroom laws.
  • And the sports network pulled him off the air in September 2015 for the rest of the baseball season over a tweet against radical Islam.

During his 20-year MLB career, with several teams, Schilling won 216 games with a 3.46 career ERA and struck out more than 3,000 batters. He led two teams to World Series titles — the 2004 Boston Red Sox team and the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks. He compiled an 11-2 record in the post-season, including a 4-1 mark and 2.06 ERA in the World Series.

Left-wing radio host wants Trump fan Curt Schilling wiped from Phillies' Wall of Fame over 'racist' tweets. Schilling calls host a 'special piece of s**t.'



In our latest episode of the Cancel Culture Chronicles, we find a left-wing sports radio host apparently looking for a little attention — and greasing the skids by zeroing in on legendary pitcher Curt Schilling, who's been making headlines of late.

What is the background?

Earlier this week, Schilling — an outspoken conservative and major supporter of President Donald Trump — claimed that AIG canceled his insurance over his "social media profile."

We will be just fine, but wanted to let Americans know that @AIGinsurance canceled our insurance due to my "Social Media profile"
— President Elect Curt Schilling (@President Elect Curt Schilling)1610511562.0

The alleged insurance cancellation occurred in the wake of the U.S. Capitol riot last week, after which leftists — and the powers that be heeding their words — began vilifying and canceling conservatives at a dizzying pace. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pulled the plug on Trump, while Apple and Amazon took down Twitter competitor Parler.

Schilling posted a tweet hours after the riot — and it had some legs with the media: "You cowards sat on your hands, did nothing while liberal trash looted rioted and burned for Air Jordan's and big screens, sit back, stfu, and watch folks start a confrontation for s**t that matters like rights, democracy and the end of gov't corruption." His tweet was still active Friday afternoon.

Wanna be startin' somethin'?

Enter veteran sports talk radio host Mike Missanelli, a well-known figure in Philadelphia sports circles who was on the airwaves when Schilling and the Phillies were vying for a World Series title in 1993.

So Missanelli — who's as outspoken about his left-wing politics as Schilling is about his conservative views — let the former Phillies star have it:

In light of his tweets (racist among other things) following the seditious attack on the Capitol - re: today’s Inqu… https://t.co/71SEzW8ZPl
— Mike Missanelli (@Mike Missanelli)1610643143.0

"In light of his tweets (racist among other things) following the seditious attack on the Capitol — re: today's Inquirer — I call upon the Phillies and John Middleton to immediately remove Curt Schilling from their Wall of Fame," Missanelli tweeted Thursday.

How did Schilling respond?

As you might guess, Schilling was not pleased with Missanelli's declaration and threw down with the radio host: "You know my family, you've known me for almost 30 years. It takes a special piece of s**t to do and say things you know are lies. Esp given you know my wife and her battle with cancer right now. Do me a huge favor, next time we're ftf call me a racist."

Missanelli replied as most folks on social media do — absent any clear and present physical danger, of course: "Your family is great. I sent your WIFE best wishes (it should have read). You turned into a traitorous asshole. There. That more clear for ya?"

He added in another tweet to Schilling, "You should be ashamed of yourself for your ignorant tweet DURING an act of sedition and for supporting it in any way."

It's worth noting that unless Schilling posted and deleted another tweet, the one in question was posted at 11:52 p.m. Jan. 6 — after the afternoon riot was over.

How did folks react?

Commentary on the dust-up has been a mixed bag. Some back Missanelli's wish to cancel Schilling. But others? Not so much:

  • "Let me know when that goes down, Curt. I got your back," one user noted. "Would love to have a front row seat watching you beat the crap out of this bitter lowlife."
  • "Mike is a scumbag Curt you know this already," another commenter offered. "Typical looney liberal."
  • "'Remove all traces of people that disagree with me' is straight from the commie playbook for a reason," another user said.

Schilling's wife, who is battling cancer, even got in on the war of words:

@MikeMiss25 Just what I need right now is to see an old friend trying to take away what clearly was earned with the… https://t.co/1L2pqocWI7
— Shonda Schilling (@Shonda Schilling)1610690259.0

Missanelli sent the following reply: "Shonda, you know you have always had my best wishes. And I pray for your good health. Your husband tweeting what he tweeted, supporting an act of sedition, DURING the act, is disgraceful. He can't now play the victim."

Anything else?

Schilling's outspokenness, particularly with regard to his conservative politics, has led to numerous controversies over the years:

  • His June 2016 blog post in the wake of the terror attack at an Orlando gay nightclub lit into gun control advocates and Muslims.
  • ESPN fired him in April 2016 for a meme he posted that mocked transgender bathroom laws.
  • And the sports network pulled him off the air in September 2015 for the rest of the baseball season over a tweet against radical Islam.

Also it's long been opined that his politics have kept him out baseball's Hall of Fame, but a Philadelphia sportswriter wrote that "Schilling belongs in Hall of Fame even though his views are worthy of nothing but shame."

Just before Trump's 2017 inauguration, Schilling said his support of the president also was keeping him out of the Hall.

"I promise you if I had said, 'Lynch Trump,' I would be getting in with about 90 percent of the vote this year," Schilling told TMZ Sports, a reference to baseball writers' politics as well as their all-powerful votes that grant entrance into Cooperstown.

Baseball legend Curt Schilling — an outspoken Trump supporter — claims AIG canceled his insurance over his 'social media profile'



Former major league pitcher Curt Schilling — an outspoken conservative and supporter of President Donald Trump — on Tuesday claimed that AIG canceled his insurance due to his "social media profile."

We will be just fine, but wanted to let Americans know that @AIGinsurance canceled our insurance due to my "Social Media profile"
— President Elect Curt Schilling (@President Elect Curt Schilling)1610511562.0

What are the details?

Schilling also said on Twitter that his assertion is "real" and that it won't be "even close to what we will witness in the coming months, years." In his aforementioned tweet, he also included a screenshot of what appears to be communication from an AIG representative.

The text of the apparent AIG communication states: "Unfortunately, the underwriter was unable to accept my request. I also went up the chain of ... command and asked our AIG Marketing Representative for an exception, but unfortunately he was unable to grant one. He realized that you were a longtime AIG client since 2004 and also a profitable account (no claims), but it was a management decision that was made collectively between underwriting and marketing teams that could not be overturned."

When a commenter wondered if Schilling's claim about AIG is true, he shot back, "If it's true? First off why would I lie about some bulls**t like this, and second ... You don't think they'd be lining up lawyers to sue for defamation/slander/libel RIGHT NOW if I was lying? Hell, I tagged them in the tweet."

AIG on Wednesday didn't immediately reply to TheBlaze's request for comment on Schilling's accusation. Schilling also on Wednesday didn't immediately reply to TheBlaze's request for additional information.

What else did Schilling say?

Schilling also said his insurance cancelation mirrors "the coming storm" in America under Democrats who want "power and control, then FU."

Another commenter asked if his insurance being dropped is legal. Schilling replied, "Woooooooooo there. Hold up champ. 'Legal,' at least as I see it, is no longer a restraint on the left. The burning, looting, rioting, F the police, assault, all of that and the massive fraud. Hell the next time a Clinton does something legal will be the first. None in jail..."

In addition, Schilling posted a tweet the night of Jan. 6 that appeared to support the U.S. Capitol riot, saying, "You cowards sat on your hands, did nothing while liberal trash looted rioted and burned for Air Jordan's and big screens, sit back, stfu, and watch folks start a confrontation for s**t that matters like rights, democracy and the end of gov't corruption."

The aforementioned tweet was still on Schilling's Twitter page Wednesday afternoon; it's not clear if the tweet had anything to do with Schilling's claim about AIG dropping his insurance.

Outspoken

Schilling's outspokenness, particularly with regard to his conservative politics, has led to numerous controversies over the years:

  • His June 2016 blog post in the wake of the terror attack at an Orlando gay nightclub lit into gun control advocates and Muslims.
  • ESPN fired him in April 2016 for a meme he posted that mocked transgender bathroom laws.
  • And the sports network pulled him off the air in September 2015 for the rest of the baseball season over a tweet against radical Islam.

Also it's long been opined that his politics have kept him out baseball's Hall of Fame, but a Philadelphia sportswriter — Schilling played for the Phillies before taking the mound for the World Series-winning Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox — wrote that "Schilling belongs in Hall of Fame even though his views are worthy of nothing but shame."

Just before Trump's 2017 inauguration, Schilling said his support of the president also was keeping out of the Hall.

"I promise you if I had said, 'Lynch Trump,' I would be getting in with about 90 percent of the vote this year," Schilling told TMZ Sports, a reference to baseball writers' politics as well as their all-powerful votes that grant entrance into Cooperstown.