Curt Schilling in Bronze?

Curt Schilling has officially retired ending his 20 season career. His career record is 216-146 with a 3.46 ERA. Schilling started in 436 games having pitched in a total of 569. Of the 436 he has 83 complete games and 20 shutouts. Schilling showed his depth as a pitcher in 2005 when he helped the Boston Red Sox by becoming their closer for much of the season starting only 11 of 32 games. Over that span Schilling collected 9 saves in 11 opportunities, and collecting 22 saves over the course of his career. The strength of Schilling's game came in strikeouts. Schilling compiled 3116 strikeouts in 3261 innings pitched. He had three seasons of 21 or more wins, his career high being 23 in 2002 going 23-7. Although Schilling never won the Cy Young Award, he was the runner-up 3 times and in the discussion 4 times. However this all took place during the regular season. Where Curt Schilling truly shined was the postseason.

 In the postseason Curt Schilling is 11-2 in 19 games, going the distance in 4. Schilling threw 2 shutouts and had a 2.23 ERA with 120 strikeouts and 25 walks. In his five years in the postseason he won 3 world series with two different teams (Arizona and Boston). Highlighting his postseason experience without question is the bloody sock game. Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS in Yankee Stadium. Schilling pitched seven innings allowing one run, a home run to Bernie Williams, with no walks and 4 strikeouts. The Red Sox were down in the series 3-2 after starting the series off 3-0. This game deflated the Yankee balloon, ultimately killing the Yankees hopes of making it to the World Series. 

Curt Schilling's career stats alone are not terribly impressive despite being a member of the 3000 strikeout club. His postseason stats are phenomenal and could quite possibly push him over the edge. Something Curt Schilling has to sway the voters is the infamous bloody sock game. One huge moment in the postseason can make a huge impact on voters. You want an example, no problem: Bill Mazeroski. Bill Mazeroski hit one of the two World Series ending homeruns in 1960 game 7.  Bill Mazeroski is in the Hall of Fame with a career batting average of .260 with 2016 hits and 138 homeruns. On top of that he had 853 RBIs and 27 stolen bases. However Mazeroski hit that homerun to win the World Series for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Without that homerun Bill Mazeroski would not have even been considered for the hall. Therefore I believe that Curt Schilling on the weight of his postseason career and game 6 of the 2004 ALCS will be enshrined in bronze in Cooperstown, New York. Not a first ballot Hall of Famer but I feel he is going to the hall.