Schilling's Sock

Was it really blood? The entire baseball world seems to be asking itself that very question. During the 2004 playoffs, Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling had his ankle stitched up in order to temporarily fix a tendon problem. Schilling then pitched, and won, Game 6 of the American League Championship Series and Game 2 of the World Series while wearing a blood-stained sock. On Wednesday, a Baltimore Orioles commentator said that Boston catcher Doug Mirabelli had told him that Schilling had put red paint on his sock as a publicity stunt. Mirabelli has denied ever saying this, and controversy has ensued. In all likelihood, the sock really was stained with blood. It is hard to believe that Schilling would take the time to come up with something like this while trying to lead Boston to the greatest postseason comeback in baseball history. However, if this was just a publicity stunt, then Schilling is a PR genius. People were in awe of his "bloody sock" performance. He became a legend to Red Sox fans around the world. His sock even ended up in the Hall of Fame. If he could come up with a PR stunt like that, he definitely would have a new career lined up after his playing days are over.