Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling has said he is “at peace” after failing to receive the votes needed to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Schilling received 285 of the 401 votes, 71 percent, just 4 points out of 75 percent needed for inductions, reports the Boston Globe. However, none of the candidates received enough votes to be included.
On Facebook, Schilling shared a lengthy statement that she said was also sent to the American Baseball Writers Association.
Schilling asked to be removed from the ballot, adding: “I don’t think I’m a hall of fame, as I’ve often said, but if former players think they are, then I will accept that with honor.
“As I have often said in recent years to those with whom I have spoken in my heart, I am at peace. Nothing, zero, none of the statements made by any of the writers have merit, “Schilling said.” In the 22 years since I played professional baseball in the most culturally diverse locker rooms in sports, I have never said or acted in any other way than to be a good teammate. “
The retired baseball player is probably referring to criticism of his behavior on social media, where he attacked groups such as Muslims and transgender people. Schilling once posted a photo on Twitter comparing Muslims to Nazis. His online anti-trans comments led him to be fired as an analyst at ESPN.
A day after the deadly violation of the Chapter, on January 6, Schilling posted several tweets that appear to defend the insurgents while mocking the Black Lives Matter protesters.
The Globe shows an incident in which Schilling commented, “Okay, so great here” on a photo of a Trump supporter wearing a T-shirt that read “Rope. Tree. Journalist. An assembly is needed. ” TGlobe notes that Schilling’s hostile behavior on social media probably affected his chances of being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“Never maliciously, never intentionally or intentionally hurting another person. I was 100% responsible and I still am,” Schilling continued in his statement. “Even the thought of responding to claims of ‘Nazi’ or ‘racist’ or any other term so stifled and held by thornless cowards who have never met me makes me sick.”