There is plenty of controversy surrounding the Baseball Hall of Fame as far as balloting and inductees. The same media that cheered on PED abusers and their fraudulent records now votes to keep them out of Cooperstown. But now there is a political controversy that is brewing in regards to this year’s Hall of Fame balloting and the failure of Curt Schilling to gain admittance into the Hall.
Schilling said the fact that he is an outspoken conservative Republican has damaged his chances for the Hall of Fame with the writers who vote.
Right Wing Radio Rant
Schilling went on Boston’s WEEI all sports radio station and assessed his plight. When comparing the 82.9 percent of the vote that went this year to John Smoltz to his own 39.2 percent of the vote Schilling complimented Smoltz as a worthy Hall of Famer and then added, “I think the other big thing is that I think he’s a Democrat and so I know that, as a Republican, that there’s some people that really don’t like that.”
When asked if he would have gotten more votes for not being so outspoken about politics Schilling added, “Absolutely, listen, when human beings do something, anything, there’s bias and prejudice. Listen, nine percent of the voters did not vote for Pedro (Martinez). There’s something wrong with the process and some of the people in the process when that happens. I know that there are guys who probably won’t ever vote for me because of the things that I said or did. That’s the way it works.”
Schilling later said that his comments were said “in jest.”
Susan Lucci Effect?
Whether Schilling is jesting or not it his comments would not be unreasonable. There has long been a perception of an overload of liberal bias in the American media, sports included, and the entertainment industry has long been a place where conservatives have not felt welcome. Soap opera mega star Susan Lucci has always believed that her long wait for a much deserved Emmy was based in large part to her being an open Republican.
However Schilling also does face the problem of a perception of hypocrisy due to his involvement of a failed business that received government subsidies which would seem to fly in the face of his conservative principles.
Comparable Numbers
Schilling retired with a career record of 216-146 with a 3.46 earned run average. He had 3,116 strikeouts and a 1.137 WHIP. He was 11-2 with a 2.23 ERA in post season.
Smoltz, conversely, had a 213-155 record with a 3.33 ERA, 3,084 strikeouts, and a 1.176 WHIP. He was 15-4 in post season with a 2.67 ERA. Smoltz also added 154 career saves. He also had the benefit of not having to regularly pitch against the designated hitter in the National League with Atlanta while Schilling had to face the DH in his years with Baltimore and Boston.
Despite the similar statistics, there was massive voting gap between Schilling and Smoltz, which does raise legitimate questions as to why that is.
