updated 1:57 p.m. ET Nov. 1, 2004

WILMINGTON, Ohio - Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling made a surprise appearance Monday morning with President Bush, limping to the stage to give Bush a strong endorsement.

Schilling won Game 2 of the World Series and Game 6 of the American League championship series with his ankle stitched to protect a torn sheath around a tendon. He was expected to undergo surgery this week, and had canceled an appearance with Bush on Friday.

Monday morning, he wore a protective boot over the ankle as he and his wife made their way to the stage inside an airplane hangar.

The ace pitcher said Bush was a commander in chief who will ensure troops “have everything they need to get the job done, a leader who believes in their mission and honors their service, a leader who has the courage and the character to stay on the offense against terrorism until the war is won.”

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Bush stood next to him, and they embraced afterward.

“On Tuesday, we need you to get out and vote. We need you to get your friends and neighbors out to vote — tell them you’re voting for President Bush and get them on board, too,” Schilling said. “I know everybody wants to be on a winning team, and there’s plenty of room on this bandwagon.”

In Burgettstown, Pa., just west of Pittsburgh, Schilling hobbled on stage with his wife, Shonda, and said he was proud to be a member of the championship team. Then he added: “I’m proud to be on a team with a more important mission — the team that’s going to get George Bush re-elected.”

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