BOSTON — In a rare public appearance since bankruptcy forced the abrupt closure of his video game company 38 Studios, former Red Sox pitching ace Curt Schilling said the most “devastating part” of shutting down his company was laying off its entire work force.

“I had a family of 400 people that I was responsible for and I failed them,” said Schilling, speaking with reporters Friday at Fenway Park before being inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame.

“That was the devastating, challenging part — helping them all get back on their feet, and most of them have. There's still some situations to take care of. That was the devastating part, was to let them down,” said the retired World Series champion.

Asked by the Herald what's getting him through the days in the wake of losing $50 million of his own money in 38 Studios, Schilling said, “Faith. My faith in God.”

Schilling also shook his head and responded, “No,” when asked if he had any future business prospects lined up. He took a leave of absence from his ESPN baseball analyst gig in June.

38 Studios filed for bankruptcy in June in Rhode Island and Maryland, after falling behind on a $1.1 million loan payment to the Ocean State. Rhode Island lured the company to Providence from its original Maynard base with a guaranteed loan of $75 million.

Schilling told a reporter to “talk to (Gov. Lincoln Chafee)” when asked if Rhode Island would see its tax money again.

“I took a shot and tried to create something world changing and it didn't work out,” Schilling said. “I gave it everything I had, literally, and now I'm just trying to manage day by day and it's been challenging but my wife and my kids are healthy, and I'm OK.”

The retired ballplayer, best remembered for winning the “bloody sock” Game 6 of the 2004 American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees, also said he wasn't worried about how 38 Studios would affect his legacy.

“I can't worry about people who are never going to meet me and what they think about me,” he said. “I can't do it.”
Ira Kantor is a sports writer for the Boston Herald. Readers may e-mail him at ira.kantor@bostonherald.comDistributed by MCT Information Services