Steven D. Bartman (born 1977) ^{[1] [2]} is a resident of the Chicago area, who gained notoriety on the evening of October 14, 2003, for attempting a catch of a foul pop-up in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Florida Marlins at Wrigley Field. Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The following are the events of the year 2003 that happened world-wide throughout the sport of baseball. ... The 2003 National League Championship Series was a Major League Baseball playoff series played from October 7 to October 15 to determine the champion of the National League, between the Central Division champion Chicago Cubs and the wild-card qualifying Florida Marlins. ... Major league affiliations National League (1876–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 10, 14, 23, 26, 42 Name Chicago Cubs (1902–present) Chicago Orphans (1898-1901) Chicago Colts (1890-1897) Chicago White Stockings (1870-1871, 1874-1889) (a. ... Major league affiliations National League (1993–present) East Division (1993–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 42 Name Florida Marlins (1993–present) Other nicknames The Fish Ballpark Dolphin Stadium (1993–present) a. ... For the former ballpark in Los Angeles, see Wrigley Field (Los Angeles). ...

Foul ball incident

At the time of the incident, Mark Prior was pitching a three-hit shutout for the Chicago Cubs in the eighth inning. Luis Castillo was batting, with one out and Juan Pierre standing on second base. The Chicago Cubs were leading 3-0, led the series three games to two, and were five outs away from reaching the World Series for the first time since 1945 and attempting to win it for the first time since 1908. Coincidentally, Game 6 was played on the 95th anniversary of the clinching game of the Cubs' last championship. Mark William Prior (born September 7, 1980 in San Diego, California, USA) is a right-handed starting pitcher for the Iowa Cubs, the Class AAA affiliate of Major League Baseballs Chicago Cubs. ... Luis Antonio Castillo (born September 12, 1975 in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Minnesota Twins. ... Juan DVaughn Pierre (born August 14, 1977 in Mobile, Alabama), is a professional baseball center fielder who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers. ... For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ... The 1945 World Series matched the American League Detroit Tigers against the National League Chicago Cubs. ... The 1908 World Series matched the defending champion Chicago Cubs against the Detroit Tigers in a rematch of the 1907 Series. ...

Bartman was sitting in a box seat (aisle 4, row 8, seat 113) in the front row along the left field corner wall behind the bullpen when a pop foul off the bat of Castillo drifted toward his seat. Cubs left fielder Moises Alou ran over to attempt a catch, but Bartman, who was watching the ball and not the fielder, got to the ball first. Alou slammed his glove down in frustration and was seen shouting in Bartman's direction, and the Cubs argued for an interference call. Video replays showed that Alou may have had an opportunity to make the catch if Bartman had not reached out for the ball but there's no possible way of knowing this for sure. To be fair however, the fans surrounding Bartman were also trying to reach for and catch the ball. Umpire Mike Everitt's call of no fan interference was correct; it appears that the ball was entering the stands when the incident occurred. The rules of baseball specify that fan interference cannot be called on a ball hit into the stands, only when a spectator reaches into the field of play and interferes. Moisés Rojas Alou (born July 3, 1966 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an All-Star outfielder in Major League Baseball. ... Alex Rodriguez commits interference, 2004 In baseball, interference is an infraction where a person illegally changes the course of play from what is expected. ... The Spectator is a British conservative political magazine, established 1828, published weekly. ...

The aftermath

For the Chicago Cubs and Florida Marlins

Following this incident, the Marlins scored eight runs, six of them unearned: ^[3]

• Castillo, given new life, drew a walk. Ball four was a wild pitch from Cubs starter Mark Prior, which allowed Pierre to advance to third base.
• Ivan Rodriguez singled to drive in the first run of the inning, making the score 3-1.
• Miguel Cabrera hit a ground ball to Alex S. Gonzalez, who booted(misfielded) the ball. Had Gonzalez fielded the ball properly, the Cubs could have ended the half-inning with a double play. Instead all runners were safe and the bases were loaded.
• Derrek Lee doubled, tying the score and chasing Prior from the game.
• Relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth issued an intentional walk, then gave up a sacrifice fly to give Florida a 4-3 lead. Another intentional walk again loaded the bases.
• A bases-clearing double from Mike Mordecai broke the game open, making the score 7-3.
• Pierre singled to put Florida ahead 8-3.
• Finally Luis Castillo, whose foul popup initiated the controversy, popped out to second to end the inning. In total, the Marlins had sent twelve batters to the plate and scored eight runs. Florida won the game 8-3.

The next night, Florida overcame Kerry Wood and a 5-3 deficit to win 9-6, and win the pennant. The Marlins would go on to win the 2003 World Series, beating the New York Yankees four games to two. Rashad Eldridge of the Oklahoma Redhawks walks to first base after drawing a base on balls. ... In baseball, a wild pitch (WP) is charged to a pitcher when a pitch is too high, too low, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to field capably, thereby allowing one or more runners to advance or to score. ... Mark William Prior (born September 7, 1980 in San Diego, California, USA) is a right-handed starting pitcher for the Iowa Cubs, the Class AAA affiliate of Major League Baseballs Chicago Cubs. ... The position of the third baseman A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in the sport of baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base, the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in a counterclockwise succession in order to score a run. ... Iván Rodríguez Torres (born November 30, 1971 in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico), nicknamed Pudge or I-Rod, is a professional baseball player. ... For the Mexican painter, see Miguel Cabrera (painter). ... Alexander Scott Gonzalez (born April 8, 1973 in Miami, Florida) is a shortstop and third baseman who is no longer an active Major League baseball player. ... // A breaking pitch, usually a slider or cut fastball that, due to its lateral motion, passes through a small part of the strike zone on the outside edge of the plate after appearing it would miss the plate entirely. ... After stepping on second base, the fielder throws to first to complete a double play In baseball, a double play (denoted on statistics sheets by DP) for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. ... Derrek Leon Lee (born September 6, 1975 in Sacramento, California) is a first baseman in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Chicago Cubs and has since 2004. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Kyle Lynn Farnsworth (born April 14, 1976 in Wichita, Kansas) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the New York Yankees. ... In baseball, a batted ball is considered a sacrifice fly (denoted by SF) if the following four criteria are met: There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit. ... Mike Mordecai has twice appeared on teams that won the World Series. ... Kerry Lee Wood (born June 16, 1977 in Irving, Texas) is an American baseball player. ... Dates October 18, 2003–October 25, 2003 MVP Josh Beckett (Florida) Television network FOX Announcers Joe Buck and Tim McCarver Umpires Randy Marsh, Tim Welke, Larry Young, Ed Rapuano, Jeff Kellogg, Gary Darling The 2003 World Series marked the 99th baseball World Series event. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as...

For Bartman

Bartman had to be led away from the park under escort for his own safety, due to Cubs fans shouting profanities towards him, as well as others throwing debris onto the field and towards the exit tunnel from the field. News footage of the game showed him surrounded by security as passers-by pelted him with drinks and other debris. The game was delayed for approximately 6 minutes.

The stigma encountered by this loss by the Chicago Cubs in their end of season run had many Cubs fans blaming Bartman for the Cubs' series loss, as well their failed bid to reach the World Series for the first time since 1945. Dates October 18, 2003–October 25, 2003 MVP Josh Beckett (Florida) Television network FOX Announcers Joe Buck and Tim McCarver Umpires Randy Marsh, Tim Welke, Larry Young, Ed Rapuano, Jeff Kellogg, Gary Darling The 2003 World Series marked the 99th baseball World Series event. ... The 1945 World Series matched the American League Detroit Tigers against the National League Chicago Cubs. ...

According to The Wall Street Journal, Bartman's name, as well as personal information about him, appeared on Major League Baseball's online message boards minutes after the game ended. The next day, the Chicago Sun-Times also released his name, as well as his address and place of business in an online article. The editor justified this by saying Bartman's information was already "out there." Bartman was hounded by reporters; he had his phone disconnected and did not go to work. In his defense, childhood neighbors said he was a great guy, a lifelong Cubs fan, and a Little League coach for the town of Niles. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) is an international daily newspaper published by Dow Jones & Company in New York City, New York, USA, with Asian and European editions, and a worldwide daily circulation of more than 2 million as of 2006, with 931,000 paying online subscribers. ... The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago. ... Little League Baseball - Logo Little League pitcher in Winesburg, Ohio Little League, Wayne, Michigan Little League Baseball is the name of a non-profit organization in the United States which organizes local childrens leagues of baseball and softball throughout the USA and the rest of the world. ... Niles is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ...

The Cubs issued the following press release:

Bartman gained instant national attention, most of it negative or derogatory. Many websites spoofing him were created, and late-night shows such as the David Letterman and Jay Leno shows made him the subject of many jokes. (Letterman did state, in Bartman's defense, that one play alone cannot account for two straight losses.) Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich went as far as telling the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper that "[Bartman] better join the witness protection program." Multiple editorial cartoons showed Bartman in hiding with Osama bin-Laden and Saddam Hussein. In the days following the incident, Bartman received offers to do movies or talk shows because of his sudden celebrity status. He declined all such offers. ESPN did air a live interview on SportsCenter with a person claiming to be Bartman, but it turned out to be a prank that fooled the network. Bartman was also offered asylum by Florida Governor Jeb Bush where Marlin fans viewed Bartman in a more favorable light. Bartman was also reportedly offered a job with the Florida Marlins, but Bartman rejected both offers. A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or several Web server(s), usually accessible via the Internet, cell phone or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML... David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947, in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.) is an award-winning American comedian, late night talk show host, television producer, philanthropist, and IRL IndyCar Series car owner. ... Jay Leno (April 28, 1950) is an Emmy-winning American comedian and writer who is best known as the host of NBC televisions long-running variety and talk program The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. ... This is a list of Governors of Illinois. ... Milorad Blagojevich, commonly known as Rod R. Blagojevich (pronounced IPA:  , born December 10, 1956) is an American politician from the state of Illinois. ... The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago. ... In the United States, the Witness Protection Program (also known as the Witness Security Program, or WITSEC) was established by the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970, which in turn sets out the manner in which the U.S. Attorney General may provide for the relocation and protection of a... Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was the fifth President of Iraq and Chairman of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council from 1979 until his overthrow by US forces in 2003. ... ESPN, formerly an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American cable television network dedicated to broadcasting and producing sports-related programming 24 hours a day. ... This article is about the American ESPN show. ... Thomas Cipriano, better known on The Howard Stern Show as Captain Janks, is known for prank calling live radio and television programs, especially during crises. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ... Florida became as United States territory by the terms of the Adams-Onís Treaty in 1821 and joined the Union as the twenty-seventh state on March 3, 1845. ... John Ellis Jeb Bush (born February 11, 1953), a Republican, is the forty-third and current Governor of Florida. ...

In a gracious act, Bartman donated the numerous gifts given to him to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in the name of Ron Santo, a former Cubs third baseman turned broadcaster who suffers from diabetes. Calling this his "final statement," it seems Bartman intends to return to obscurity. This article needs to be wikified. ... Ronald Edward Santo (born February 25, 1940 in Seattle, Washington) is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played almost his entire career with the Chicago Cubs. ...

Bartman said, "I look forward to, and expect to return to my normal life activities, including cheering our beloved Cubs toward many more exciting postseasons of play."

Destruction of the Bartman ball

The loose ball was snatched up by a Chicago lawyer and sold at an auction in December. Grant DePorter purchased it for $113,824.16 on behalf of Harry Caray's Restaurant Group. On February 26, 2004, it was publicly exploded in a procedure designed by Cubs fan and Academy Award winning special effects expert Michael Lantieri. Grant M. DePorter (born November 7, 1964) is a restaurateur from Chicago, USA, who came to worldwide prominence in 2004 after paying US$113,824. ... For the actor with a similar name, see Harry Carey. ... is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... Michael Lantieri is a special effects supervisor on films. ...

In 2005, the remains of the ball were used by the restaurant in a pasta sauce. While no part of the ball itself was in the sauce, the ball was boiled and the steam captured, distilled, and added to the final concoction. The following are the baseball events of the year 2005 throughout the world. ...

The Bartman seat

In the intervening years since the incident, the Bartman seat has become a tourist attraction at Wrigley Field. ^[4]

Scapegoat factor

Bartman became a scapegoat for the Cubs' failure to advance to the World Series, joining other alleged "curses" or "jinxes" of teams that frequently fall short of expectations, such as the "Curse of the Billy Goat", "Curse of the Bambino", "Curse of Muldoon", "Curse of Rocky Colavito", "Curse of Billy Penn", and "Curse of the Black Sox". The Chicago Cubs "Curse of the Billy Goat", still exists to this day as the Cubs were swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2007 playoffs. The "Curse of the Bambino" of the Boston Red Sox appears to have lost much of its force following their wins in the 2004 and 2007 World Series. Likewise, the "Curse of the Black Sox" ended with the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox. However, believers will state, that the "Curse of Rocky Colavito" continues, as the Cleveland Indians have still not won the World Series since 1948 (although they came close in 1997). The Scapegoat by William Holman Hunt, 1854. ... The Curse of the Billy Goat is an urban legend concerning various regular-season and postseason woes of the Chicago Cubs, a Major League Baseball team. ... Babe Ruth — The Bambino The Curse of the Bambino (1918-2004) was a superstition cited, often jokingly, as a reason for the failure of the Boston Red Sox baseball team to win the World Series in the 86 year period from 1918 until 2004. ... The Curse of Muldoon was a phenomenon that supposedly prevented the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League from finishing in first place, either in their division or, in the Original Six era of 1942 to 1967, in the single-division NHL. It may have been the first public example... The Curse of Rocky Colavito (curse supposedly began in 1960) is a phenomenon that supposedly prevented the Cleveland Indians baseball team from winning a World Series, or an American League pennant, or reaching postseason play, or even getting into a pennant race, following the 1960 trade of right fielder Rocky... The Curse of William Penn is an alleged curse, sometimes used to explain the failure of professional sports teams based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to win championships since the March 1987 addition of the One Liberty Place skyscraper, which exceeded the height of William Penns statue atop Philadelphia City Hall. ... The 1919 World Series was played between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. ... The Curse of the Billy Goat is an urban legend concerning various regular-season and postseason woes of the Chicago Cubs, a Major League Baseball team. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 3, 5, 14, 18, 19, 21, 42, 455 Name Cleveland Indians (1915–present) Cleveland Naps (1905-1914) Cleveland Bronchos (1902-1904) Cleveland Blues (1901) Other nicknames The Tribe, The Wahoos Ballpark Jacobs Field (1994–present...

See also

• Jeffrey Maier

Jeffrey (Jeff) Maier (born September 24, 1984) is an intern scout for the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team, but is best known for an incident involving him as a young fan: for deflecting a ball in play during Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship Series between the New York...

References

1. ^ BBC article
2. ^ Wayne Drehs, ESPN.com "E ticket," July 9-10, 2005 Foul Play: On the Trail of the Most Reclusive Man in Sports
3. ^ Box score and play-by-play of the "Bartman Game"
4. ^ [1]

Chicago Tribune article, October 7, 2007.

External links

• Aisle 4, Row 8, Seat 113 on the 3rd base of Wrigley Field, known as the "Bartman Seat"