FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Curt Schilling hadn't even thrown a pitch yet for the Red Sox when he filmed a Ford commercial stating that he was going to Boston to break an 86-year curse. In a sense, that was vintage Schilling, putting instant pressure on himself to back up those words.

Entering the 2004 season, that type of bravado was badly needed for a Red Sox team that hadn't won a World Series in, well, 86 years, and was coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Yankees in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

Schilling -- who officially retired from baseball on Monday -- not only won big games throughout his time in Boston, but he helped change the culture of the franchise.

"I don't know if we're standing where we're at, having won two world championships, without Curt," said Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek. "What he brought was his preparation as a winning commodity and a winning pitcher, somebody that strived for this organization to do well and to do work towards doing what this team and this organization hadn't done in 86 years."

While postseason success is now expected for a team that won the World Series twice in Schilling's four years, that wasn't the case when the big righty arrived via a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

"He made a profound impact while he was here," said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. "He helped us win two World Series and pitched some great seasons for us. He really, for the career that he had and the games that he pitched when it mattered the most, you could really argue that he deserves to be remembered as one of the all-time greats. He did some of his best work with us. [He had a] great career, and had a huge impact on this franchise."

Schilling was the type of competitor -- according to his former teammates who still remain -- who made those around him better.

"The guy had a focus on the game like nobody I've seen," said Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. "He wanted to be in the game every single second, you know? He would come to me and tell me things that as a veteran, you would be like, 'Wow, this guy is taking the game to another level.' I'm telling you, he was an amazing piece for this ballclub. That's the way I see it. I don't care what anybody says. He did things while he was playing."

Ortiz recalls many conversations with Schilling in which the hurler gave insight into the mind-set of a pitcher. Ortiz would take some of those lessons with him to the plate.

"Personally, he taught me a lot of things that helped me through the season," Ortiz said.

Having conquered the Yankees in the 2001 World Series along with D-backs teammate Randy Johnson, Schilling brought a swagger with him to Boston that benefited the Red Sox greatly. His intensity was contagious on the days leading up to his starts.

"The surlier, the better," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "The few times where he did speak, I remember thinking, 'He's not ready to pitch.' It didn't happen very often. But the surlier the better. The first time I talked to him [on a game day] was usually when I was going to take him out."

"He would dress up all black and [stuff] like he was Tony Montana [from the movie 'Scarface']. He'd get in and spread confidence to everybody around," said Ortiz. "That's what I remember of him. He used to come up to me sometimes and tell me, 'It's on, baby.' When I looked at his face, I would be like, 'It's on.' That kind of stuff puts you in the mood, man. I don't remember one day that he would go out there and give it up before the game even started. You could feel that in some people. You didn't get that from Curt, even when he was throwing 86 [mph]. You know what I'm saying? Like I said, the guy got it done."

The epitome of Schilling was what he went through to pitch Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees and Game 2 of the World Series against the Cardinals. The only way the righty could pitch was if he had his loose right ankle tendon sutured into the bone before both of those starts. Schilling signed off on the innovative procedure and the rest is history.

"The most memorable moment for me, for everybody, was probably coming back after the very crude surgery that he had on his ankle to pitch against the Yankees and help us get to the World Series," said Epstein.

Though Schilling earned 101 of his 216 career wins for the Phillies and pitched at his highest level for the D-backs, he will perhaps best be remembered for what he did for the Red Sox.

"I think it was the right time in his career," Francona said. "Boston was looking for that last piece. He was looking for a way to pitch on a championship team. It was a great fit. Obviously, it worked out well. The stage was perfect for him. He was looking not to back away and go somewhere where he could just pitch innings and get wins. He wanted to pitch where he had a chance to win a championship."

And the opportunity to do so in historic fashion was not lost on Schilling, who had to waive a no-trade clause to come to Boston.

"I think, in the end, we didn't need to really sell it," Epstein said. "The Red Sox appealed to him because he likes the big stage, he likes the history of the game and he likes to be the center of attention -- so it was a good fit."