Curt Schilling tweets gross picture from bloody sock game

Curt Schilling reminded everyone what was behind his bloody sock in the 2004 ALCS.

Curt Schilling's "bloody sock game" is hard to forget. Aside from its place in baseball lore -- his performance in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS brought the Boston Red Sox to within one game of completing their eventual comeback from 0-3 against the New York Yankees -- the name says it all. And even among Schilling's legitimate Hall of Fame credentials, the bloody sock is perhaps the most enduring image of his 20-year career.

But just in case anybody forgot what caused the whole thing -- a tendon in Schilling's ankle needed repeated surgical stabilization throughout the 2004 postseason -- the current ESPN broadcaster issued a reminder on Wednesday.

Found this in an old folder, for all you ketchup dinks.. pic.twitter.com/DuJiCQfE9M

— Curt Schilling (@gehrig38) November 12, 2014

Gross stuff. Because of it, "Schilling tendon procedure" now has its own Wikipedia page to accompany its spot in baseball lore. Non-medical types -- or those insisting that red substance on his sock was ketchup or something -- might appreciate this explanation:

The procedure involves the placement of three sutures through the skin anterior to the path of the peroneus brevis tendon and into the underlying deep connective tissue. These sutures provide a temporary barrier, preventing the tendon from moving anteriorly over the malleolus. The procedure is performed with local anaesthetic, about 24 hours before the player begins to pitch. The stitches must be removed immediately following the cessation of play, and indications are that the stitches may tear during the course of a game.

You don't say...

[youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwjJg3vmM_Y]

- Mike Fiammetta