Curt Schilling, on cusp of Baseball Hall of Fame announcement, defends pro-Trump mob

Schilling’s actions will be in front of mind this month as the debate over the Baseball Hall of Fame ratchets up.Jim Davis/Globe Staff

Curt Schilling took to social media to show support for those who took part in Wednesday’s riot at the US Capitol.

The former Red Sox ace sent out this tweet just before midnight on Wednesday evening after a pro-Donald Trump mob departed the Capitol:

“You cowards sat on your hands, did nothing while liberal trash looted rioted and burned for air Jordan’s and big screens, sit back, [shut up] and watch folks start a confrontation for [expletive] that matters like rights, democracy and the end of [government] corruption.”

Schilling’s actions will be in front of mind this month as the debate over the Baseball Hall of Fame ratchets up. The announcement of the 2021 class is quickly approaching, on Jan. 26, and Schilling is in his ninth year on the ballot. He received 70 percent of votes cast last year, falling 20 votes shy of induction.

The balloting for this year has already closed.

The longtime firebrand has frequently drawn critics for his thoughts on social issues, especially for disparaging Black Lives Matter protestors during the summer. He’s a heavy user of Twitter to get his message out, sharing popular conservative accounts and viral moments that often criticize Democratic politicians and policies. He’s well-known to be a conservative.

He’s amplified misinformation about the coronavirus and condemned the public health measures in place in Massachusetts. He’s also shared the same voter fraud conspiracies shared by Trump himself on social media.

The three-time World Series champion was a key part of the 2004 and 2007 Red Sox teams that would go on to win it all. He went 216-146 with a 3.46 ERA in the regular season in his 20-year career, and was 11-2 with a 2.23 ERA in the playoffs.

According to the Baseball Hall of Fame vote tracker, which has tracked just over 30 percent of the ballots so far, Schilling is sitting at 72.8 percent.