Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling has declined an invitation to take part in the team's celebration of the 2004 championship at the upcoming home opener on April 9, according to a source. The decision comes amidst controversy related to Schilling's disclosure of former teammate Tim Wakefield's private cancer battle before his untimely death in September last year.

Schilling reportedly did not want his presence at the home opener to overshadow the important tribute to Wakefield's memory. The Red Sox had recently announced their plans to honor the late Tim and Stacy Wakefield, as well as commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 2004 championship team during their first home game against the Orioles.

There had been speculation whether Schilling would be invited to the ceremony following the backlash that arose from his public disclosure of the Wakefields' private medical battle on a podcast in September. The Red Sox, with the Wakefields' permission, later issued a statement expressing their intention to keep the health matters private.

Schilling's decision to reveal the Wakefields' private medical information garnered widespread criticism from former teammates and others. One tweet from Jason Varitek's wife, Catherine, expressed strong disapproval, stating, "(Expletive) you Curt Schilling, that wasn't your place!" However, there were no reports of any of his teammates threatening to boycott the ceremony if Schilling had chosen to attend.

Despite the controversy, the Red Sox are anticipating a significant turnout of players from the 2004 championship team to be present at the upcoming event. Schilling, who played for the Red Sox from 2004 to 2007, is no stranger to controversy in his post-playing days. His outspoken political positions have led to public backlash, and he was fired from his analyst position at ESPN in 2016 for "unacceptable" conduct related to sharing an anti-transgender post on Facebook.

In a surprising move in 2022, Schilling requested that the Baseball Writers Association of America remove his name from the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot in his final attempt at induction in January 2023. However, his request was declined, and he was not inducted the following year.

Despite declining the invitation to the 2004 championship celebration, Schilling has been actively participating in team festivities at Fenway Park since retiring, including the 2019 home opener where the 2018 championship team received their rings. He has also been honored with induction into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2012.

The news of Schilling's decision was first reported by Dan Shaughnessy of The Boston Globe. As the home opener approaches, the team remains focused on honoring Tim and Stacy Wakefield's memory and celebrating the remarkable achievements of the 2004 championship team.