Hall of Fame Poll: Curt Schilling

This is Curt Schillings’ 7th time on the ballot, last year he was on 51.2% of the voters’ ballots. That’s right around where he’s been for the 6 years.

He doesn’t help himself. He tweeted a photo of a shirt that suggested reporters should hanged. When you are wanting reporters to support your bid for the Hall, you shouldn’t suggest they should be killed. That photo cost him some votes.

Schilling had a 216-146 record but things seem to click for him at age 30. After he turned 30 he won 162 games, winning over 20 haves 3 times, finishing 2nd in Cy Young voting 3 times and making 6 All-Star teams. When guys, especially of that time period, get better into their 30s, sometimes I question how it happened.

He has 3 World Series rings (we beat out his Phillies in 1993 or he would have 4). He was co-MVP for the 2001 World series. And you likely remember the ‘bloody sock’ from 2004. In 19 playoff starts, he is 11-2 with a 2.23 ERA. A good part of case for the Hall is his performance in the playoffs.

Course there is some post career stuff. He’s very right wing. That isn’t quite fair, because you can be right wing and not a crackpot, but Schilling, he is off the deep end. He was fired from ESPN for some rather extreme views. He rode his video game company into the ground, costing himself a fortune. He hasn’t gone out of his way to make friends with the writers that have the vote.

On the plus side he is a fan of OOTP Baseball: “The only baseball sim I’ve ever gotten addicted to”.

Normally I would say that his views shouldn’t cost him in the vote, he should be judged on his pitching, but sometimes it’s hard to get past things. I would have a hard time voting for Roger Clemens. And, if I was a reporter, I’d have a hard time voting for a guy who thinks it’s funny to joke about hanging journalists. I’m old enough to feel that’s over the line.

It is likely wrong to make journalists vote for the Hall, but, back when they started, there really wasn’t anyone else who could make the decisions. Now we could come up with a batter plan, but the Writers wouldn’t give it up. And I’m not sure there is any group who wouldn’t be swayed by a player campaigning or equally swayed by a player being a jerk.

His career stats are here.

Matt’s chart:

Most similar careers: Juan Marichal (elected by BBWAA), John Smoltz (BBWAA), Hal Newhouser (elected by Veteran’s Committee), Kevin Brown, Mike Mussina (on ballot). ERA- shortchanges Schilling because he allowed so few unearned runs, adjusting for that (run prevention of about 76 rather than 80) Whitey Ford (BBWAA) is an excellent comparison.