Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling said he was “at peace” after not receiving the required votes to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Schilling received 285 of the 401 votes, 71 percent, just 4 points less than the 75 percent required for inductions, the Boston Globe reports. However, none of the candidates received enough votes to be inducted.
On Facebook, Schilling shared a lengthy statement that he said was also sent to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Schilling requested to be struck from the ballot, adding: “I don’t think I’m a hall of famer, as I’ve often said, but if former players think I am, I’ll accept it with honor. .
“As I have said many times over the years to those with whom I have spoken in my heart, I feel at peace. Nothing, zero, none of the statements made by any of the authors are valuable, ”said Schilling. In my 22 years as a professional playing baseball in the most culturally diverse locker rooms in the sport, I have never said or acted in any capacity. than being a good teammate. “
The retired baseball player is likely referring to criticism of his behavior on social media, where he has attacked groups such as Muslims and transgender people. Schilling once tweeted a photo comparing Muslims to Nazis. His anti-trans comments online led to him being fired as an ESPN analyst.
A day after the deadly breach in the Capitol on Jan. 6, Schilling posted several tweets trying to defend the rioters while mocking Black Lives Matter protesters.
The Globe refers to an incident where Schilling remarked, “Okay, so cool here” in a photo of a Trump supporter wearing a t-shirt that read, “Rope. Boom. Journalist. Some editing required.” THe Globe notes that Schilling’s hostile behavior on social media has likely hurt his chances of being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“Never maliciously, never intentionally or intentionally hurt anyone. I was 100% responsible and still am,” Schilling continued in his statement. “Even the thought of responding to claims of ‘Nazi’ or ‘racist’ or any other term so watered down and made meaningless by spineless cowards who have never met me makes me sick.”