In one of the most extraordinary stories to emerge from baseball history, former pitching ace Curt Schilling has revealed the bizarre fate that befell the ball from his legendary 2004 World Series performance - it was partially eaten by a goat in Toronto.
The Infamous 'Bloody Sock' Game
The baseball in question comes from Game 2 of the 2004 American League Championship Series, where Schilling pitched for the Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees while battling a serious ankle injury. The sight of blood seeping through his sock became one of the most iconic images in postseason history.
"That was the actual ball from the game," Schilling confirmed during a recent appearance on the 'Baseball Isn't Boring' podcast. "The one where the sock is bleeding through."
An Unlikely Culprit in Canada
The story takes an even stranger turn when Schilling explained how the historic artifact met its unusual end. While the ball was in Toronto, a goat managed to get access to it and took several bites, causing significant damage to the prized possession.
"It's in a case, and the goat ate part of it," Schilling revealed, though he remained somewhat philosophical about the incident. "I guess it's better than a goat not eating it?"
Memorabilia With Character
Despite the damage, Schilling appears to have made peace with the ball's condition, seeing the unusual incident as adding to its unique character and story.
The 2004 postseason remains legendary in baseball lore, with the Red Sox overcoming a 3-0 deficit against the Yankees to win the American League Championship Series before sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals to claim their first World Series title in 86 years, finally breaking the "Curse of the Bambino."
Schilling's performance throughout that postseason run, particularly his gritty effort in the "Bloody Sock" game, cemented his place in baseball history - even if one of its key artifacts now bears the teeth marks of an unexpected Canadian fan.
