A Foothold on History

Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, the bloody sock and his crafted “K ALS” cleat became one of the hottest topics in postseason history during the 2004 playoffs – so dramatic that not even Hollywood could script it.

Down three games to none in the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees, the Red Sox seemed destined for defeat. No MLB team had ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series to force a Game 7. However, in a rare occurrence, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera blew the save in Game 4. With the help of Schilling, the Red Sox made one of the most legendary comebacks in baseball history.

The Red Sox won Games 4 and 5 of the ALCS and Schilling was scheduled to take the mound for Game 6. He was roughed up in his previous performance in Game 1, allowing six runs on six hits in three innings. A torn tendon sheath he suffered in his right ankle during the first game of the American League Division Series against the Angels seemed to get the best of him. “Every step made me question my ability to pitch,” Schilling said.

Amid enormous pressure, Boston team doctor Bill Morgan made the desperate decision to suture the ankle skin to the tissue surrounding the tendon in an attempt to hold everything in place long enough for Schilling to pitch Game 6. Blood began oozing out before the first inning, visibly soaking his sock. Red Sox fans clutched their lucky caps as Schilling allowed only one run on four hits in seven innings. Boston’s victory turned Schilling’s performance into an instant classic. The following day, the media plastered images of the bloody sock on television networks and newspapers throughout the country.

The Red Sox completed their historic defeat of the Yankees in Game 7 and found themselves facing the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. Slotted to pitch Game 2, Schilling continued to suffer from his torn tendon sheath and he knew that cameras would once again fixate on his ankle, so he decided to make a statement. In silver marker, he wrote “K ALS” on his right cleat, just below his injury. The message stood for striking out amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)—the disease that abruptly ended the life of Schilling’s hero and beloved Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig in 1941.