Curt Schilling has confirmed that he won’t be among the 2004 World Series champions attending the Red Sox home opener on Apr. 9.
The ex-pitcher has kept a relatively low profile since last September, when he revealed, against their wishes, that Tim and Stacy Wakefield were both battling cancer.
Even though the ex-pitcher has spent over a decade publicly complaining about his former club and miring himself in various controversies, the Red Sox were appalled and infuriated by his decision to publicize the Wakefields’ illnesses. The team quickly issued a statement on the family’s behalf, asking for privacy. Tim passed away three days later, and Stacy passed away at the end of February.
After the Sox unveiled their home opener details on Monday with a press release that specified that all members of the ’04 team were invited to attend, longtime Boston Globe sportswriter Dan Shaughnessy reported that Schilling had declined the invitation.
Schilling hasn’t made any official statement since the September incident, but ended up weighing in on Facebook this week. When he reacted to the San Francisco Giants’ Blake Snell signing by posting a photo of the reigning National League Cy Young with the caption, “Why this guy will never throw 200 innings in a season, in one picture,” one Facebook user replied, “Curt, you need to come to Fenway for opening day and get the standing ovation you deserve!”
“No I don’t,” Schilling wrote back. “Not this time. It’s about the 04 team and Wake, and we all know the media, CHB in particular, will be writing things that have nothing to do with either of those things, even more were I to attend.”
A point of clarification: “CHB” means “curly-haired boyfriend,” the nickname Red Sox outfielder Carl Everett gave Shaughnessy in 2000. Shaughnessy was the first to report that Schilling wouldn’t attend the home opener. It was the 70-year-old’s first byline since undergoing quadruple bypass surgery in early February. (It’s unclear if Schilling is aware of that.)
Schilling then pivoted to a more contrite tone.
“Let the focus be on 04 and Wakey and Stacey,” he continued. “I’ll forever regret what happened but I cannot in good conscience put my self in a position that would detract from the recognition that team and the Wakefields deserve. (For what it’s worth) I wrote a letter to all the people whose opinion matters to me, so the people I care about know.”
The Red Sox plan to pay tribute to the Wakefields and celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ’04 season during the home opener pregame ceremonies. The current team will also wear ’49’ patches on their jerseys for the entire season.
