Former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Curt Schilling was once again not selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, despite receiving an endorsement from President Trump last weekend.
Schilling received 60.9 percent of votes on Hall of Fame ballots Tuesday, short of the necessary 75 percent threshold. This marks the seventh straight year that Schilling has fallen short of the Hall of Fame, though Tuesday's vote was an improvement from the 51.2 percent he received last year.
Schilling, who returned to Arizona last season as part of the Diamondbacks' 20th Anniversary Team, helped guide the D-backs to the 2001 World Series championship. He went on to win two World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox.
Schilling is an outspoken Trump supporter -- and on Sunday, Trump tweeted support for Schilling in his Hall of Fame bid.
Curt Schilling deserves to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Great record, especially when under pressure and when it mattered most. Do what everyone in Baseball knows is right! @marklevinshow
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2019
Former New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera became baseball's first unanimous Hall of Fame selection Tuesday, elected along with Roy Halladay, Edgar Martinez and Mike Mussina. Rivera received all 425 votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America announced Tuesday.
Schilling congratulated all four men on their selection in a tweet Wednesday, and Trump congratulated Rivera.
4 men who absolutely deserved it. They were better men than they were players and their HOF players. Congrats Mo, Doc, Moose and Edgar. You all are deserving! #HOF2019
— Curt Schilling (@gehrig38) January 22, 2019
Congratulations to Mariano Rivera on unanimously being elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame! Not only a great player but a great person. I am thankful for Mariano’s support of the Opioid Drug Abuse Commission and @FitnessGov. #EnterSandman #HOF2019💯 pic.twitter.com/reU1gKWHSQ
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 23, 2019
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
