Sox Deny Sock Hoax

Many past and current Red Sox rushed to the defense of Curt Schilling yesterday after Baltimore announcer Gary Thorne claimed the blood that famously turned the injured pitching ace's sock red in the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees was a hoax. Thorne said backup catcher Doug Mirabelli had told him it was a PR stunt.

Mirabelli retracted yesterday, saying he made the hoax remark to the announcer "in the context of sarcasm."  Sox president Larry Lucchino protested, "we remain steadfastly proud of the courageous efforts by a seriously injured Curt Schilling."  Former teammate Kevin Millar added, "Why are we even talking about this?" (More Curt Schilling stories.)