BOSTON -- Red Sox fans were reacting with concern and dismay Friday to the news that the team's pitching ace will be undergoing shoulder surgery next week that may end his season and major league career forever.

Schilling, 41, told a Boston sports radio host Friday morning that he's scheduled to have shoulder surgery next Monday. His physician, Dr. Craig Morgan, said the operation would take place in Delaware.

On WEEI radio's "Dennis & Callahan Show," Schilling said, "We're still nailing down exactly what kind of surgery it's going to be."

When asked if he thought it would end his season, Schilling said yes.

"My season is over, and there is a pretty decent chance I have thrown my last pitch forever," he said.

The star pitcher hasn't pitched all season.

"It got to a point where we had to make some decisions, and I'm going to have shoulder surgery on Monday of next week and then we're going to just kinda go from there," Schilling said on the air.

"If you use a scale of 1-10 and 10 is pitching in the big leagues, I'm at about 3 right now," Schilling said.

Red Sox manager Theo Epstein said the team hoped for the best for the ailing All Star.

"I think we always knew that this was a possibility. Something was wrong with his shoulder. We don't know how it happened. It happened over the off-season," Red Sox manager Theo Epstein said. "The most appropriate treatment was what our doctors recommended, you know ... the conservative route, strengthen it, see if he can get back on the mound and pitch effectively."

Fans at Fenway Park were upset.

"That's too bad. That's too bad. I really like Curt Schilling, and I was hoping he could come back by September and really help us. He's a great guy. I hope it isn't the end of his career," one fan said.

On Schilling's personal blog, 38 Pitches, he talked about the upcoming surgery.

"The result of that surgery could be waking up and being told 'It’s been a nice run big man, but you’re done' or 'It wasn’t THAT bad, but it’s going to take serious time and effort to ever pitch again,'" Schilling writes.

The pitcher goes on to say, "The first one was what made this decision much easier because if I do not have surgery my career is over today, right now. That’s probably the case anyway, but I’d rather find out and know, than I would ponder. Even if the 2nd option happens it’s not clear cut. Coming back from this surgery at 31 would be an enormous challenge, at 41 more so. BUT, if that is an option at least I’ll be able to make that decision with all the cards on the table, and it will end on terms I choose. I won’t come back throwing 85 with so-so crap. If there is not an option to come back and be good, I won’t."

The Red Sox confirmed in January that Schilling, who led the team to its first World Series championship in more than 85 years, had a shoulder injury. After seeking an outside opinion, the team and Schilling agreed to try a program of rehabilitation and therapy, which they said they hoped might have the pitcher throwing again by the All-Star Break.

"He battled through some tough times, you know. Especially, obviously, in the World Series and he threw his heart on the line. That is what it takes, and he showed a lot to these guys in this organization," pitcher Mike Timlin said.

The Red Sox are deep in starting pitching even without Schilling and have the second-best record in the majors, trailing only the Chicago Cubs.

Josh Beckett is the ace, Daisuke Matsuzaka is 8-0 with a 2.53 ERA, and youngsters Jon Lester and Justin Masterson are having solid seasons. Bartolo Colon, the AL Cy Young award winner in 2005, is 4-2 after signing a minor league contract during spring training, and Tim Wakefield is 4-4 with the second most innings pitched on the staff.

The Red Sox also have Clay Buchholz, who began the season with Boston but is now at Triple-A Pawtucket. He pitched a no-hitter in his second major league start last Sept. 1.

Schilling ended last season, his 20th, with 3,116 strikeouts, 14th most in baseball history. And he's been dominant in the postseason with an 11-2 record, the best of any pitcher with at least 10 decisions.

In 2004, his first season with the Red Sox after being traded from Arizona, Schilling became a sports icon in Boston when he won Game 6 of the ALCS and Game 2 of the World Series after a surgical procedure to suture a loose tendon in his right ankle. His bloodstained right sock became a part of baseball history.

Schilling said he was not hurt when he signed a one-year, $8 million contract with Boston in November but knew in spring training he might never pitch in a game again.

He has a career record of 216-146 with a 3.46 ERA, and was co-MVP of the 2001 World Series with Randy Johnson for Arizona.

Schilling spent part of last season on the disabled list with what the team said was tendinitis in his right shoulder and went 9-8 with a 3.47 ERA in 24 starts. Then came the postseason and he was outstanding again.

In four starts, he went 3-0, including a 2-1 win over Colorado in the second game of Boston's sweep of the World Series.