SCHILLING

Pitcher Curt Schilling announced yesterday morning on WEEI’s Dennis and Callahan show that he will not retire at the end of the 2007 season, but will pitch in 2008.

Schilling, who is not under contract with the Red Sox past 2007, says he hopes that he will be back at Fenway, but left open the possibility that he would pitch in another uniform. He did say he would not pitch for the Yankees.

Schilling had long said that 2007 would be his final season, leaving some to speculate on whether the loquacious pitcher would start a political career in 2008. He said yesterday, though, that he was encouraged by his injury-free 2006 season, and that his family was more than willing to see him remain in the sports limelight.

Majority owner John Henry said Schilling’s announcement was great news for the team.

“It was something that has been in the back of my mind for the last year,” Henry told The Associated Press in an e-mail. “He’s such a competitor you had to figure that if he is healthy, pitching well and still has that fire, it would make sense for him to continue. He’s still one of the elite pitchers in all of baseball.”

mmcdermo@projo.com