Boston, MA (My Sportsbook) - Curt Schilling has decided to retire, making the announcement on his personal web site.
"This party has officially ended," Schilling wrote on his WEEI-AM radio blog, 38pitches. "After being blessed to experience 23 years of playing professional baseball in front of the world's best fans in so many different places, it is with zero regrets that I am making my retirement official."
Schilling, who spent the last four years of his 20-year big league career with the Boston Red Sox, did not pitch last season because of a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery in June. Just before undergoing the procedure, the veteran hurler thought he might not pitch again.
The 42-year-old right-hander last pitched during the 2007 campaign, when he finished 9-8 with a 3.87 earned run average in 24 starts for the Red Sox. He missed time with a shoulder problem, but returned in August and posted a 3-0 mark in four postseason games to help the club to its second World Series title in four years. Schilling also won a World Series crown with Boston in his first year with the team in 2004.
"Today we join Red Sox Nation and baseball fans worldwide in saluting Curt Schilling for an exceptional and lengthy career," the Red Sox said in a statement. "One of the most skilled, determined and passionate players of his era, he made significant contributions to the Boston Red Sox organization both on and off the field. Curt helped bring two World Series championships to the City of Boston through tireless preparation and personal sacrifice. A true clutch performer, he delivered in the most challenging of circumstances."
Schilling also won a World Series title with Arizona in 2001, earning co- MVP honors with Randy Johnson, and he has a career postseason record of 11-2.
Schilling has pitched in 569 games -- 436 starts -- and posted a 216-146 regular-season mark with a 3.46 ERA over 20 seasons for Baltimore, Houston, Philadelphia, Arizona and Boston. The six-time All-Star has 83 career complete games, 20 shutouts and struck out at least 300 in three seasons.
