Steve Bartman incident

41°56′55″N 87°39′22″W / 41.948672°N 87.655978°W / 41.948672; -87.655978 (Aisle 4, Row 8, Seat 113) The Steve Bartman incident was a controversial play that occurred during a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Florida Marlins on October 14, 2003, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, during Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2003 postseason.

The play involved a spectator attempting to catch a fly ball and potentially affecting the outcome of the game.

Marlins batter Luis Castillo hit a fly ball into foul territory in left field.

Bartman apologized for the incident and stated his desire to move past it and return to a quiet life.

To recompense Bartman for his treatment, the Cubs sent him a championship ring after the team's victory in the 2016 World Series 13 years later.

The incident occurred on October 14, 2003, at Wrigley Field, during Game 6 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS), which matched the Chicago Cubs against the Florida Marlins.

At the time of the incident, Cubs pitcher Mark Prior had allowed only three hits and no runs entering the eighth inning.

Luis Castillo was at bat for the Marlins with one out and a full count, with teammate Juan Pierre on second base.

[1] Cubs fan Steve Bartman was sitting in the front row along the left field corner wall behind the on-field bullpen when a pop foul off the bat of Castillo drifted toward his seat.

Bartman remained seated as Fox repeatedly alternated between broadcasting live shots of him with multiple instant replays of the foul ball.

The somber image of Bartman wearing a Cubs baseball cap, glasses, headset, and green turtleneck shirt became memorable.

After Rodriguez’s at bat ended with the Marlins scoring their first run, many Cubs fans began pointing at Bartman, repeatedly chanting "asshole".

Bartman's name, as well as personal information about him, appeared on Major League Baseball's online message boards minutes after the game ended.

He added "I had my eyes glued on the approaching ball the entire time and was so caught up in the moment that I did not even see Moisés Alou, much less that he may have had a play.

[12] Bartman was also compared to the black cat that ran across Shea Stadium near an on-deck Ron Santo during a September 9, 1969, regular season game between the Cubs and the New York Mets.

On Fox, coming off a commercial break after the Marlins had tied the game as Lowell was being intentionally walked, Thom Brennaman said of the incident, as well as the Marlins' subsequent rally: "It's safe to say that every Cubs fan has to be wondering right now, is the Curse of the Billy Goat alive and well?

This was an exciting season and we're looking forward to working towards an extended run of October baseball at Wrigley Field.Several Cubs players publicly absolved Bartman of blame.

[28] Baseball commissioner Bud Selig also came to Bartman's defense, telling an interviewer "[W]hile I understand that people felt so strongly and that their hearts were just breaking, to blame this young man, who is the most devoted Cub fan... it's just unfair.

"[11] Sun-Times sports columnist Jay Mariotti wrote "A fan in that situation should try his best to get out of the way, even if he isn't of the mind to see Alou approaching, as Bartman claims.

And the resulting verbal abuse and trash-hurling, followed by the Neanderthal threats and creepy reaction on the Internet, hasn't reflected well on Chicago's sports culture.

"[27] In a 2011 interview on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption, Cubs President Theo Epstein expressed a desire for the team to reach out to Bartman.

After winning the pennant, many Cubs fans petitioned for the team to allow Bartman to throw out a first pitch during the 2016 World Series.

Further, when calls were made for Bartman to be a part of the victory parade, or other similar ideas "The one thing that Steve and I did talk about was if the Cubs were to win, he did not want to be a distraction to the accomplishments of the players and the organization.

"[34][35] MLB.com and ESPN have both reported that Cubs owner Tom Ricketts had expressed interest in contacting Bartman for closure "at the right time".

[36][37] Later on, Cubs president Theo Epstein stated that Bartman is "welcome to come back" but at his own discretion and that he should be left alone.

[39][40] The Cubs said in a statement "We hope this provides closure on an unfortunate chapter of the story that has perpetuated throughout our quest to win a long-awaited World Series.

Bartman released a statement, saying: Although I do not consider myself worthy of such an honor, I am deeply moved and sincerely grateful to receive an official Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series Championship ring.

I humbly receive the ring not only as a symbol of one of the most historic achievements in sports, but as an important reminder for how we should treat each other in today’s society.

My hope is that we all can learn from my experience to view sports as entertainment and prevent harsh scapegoating, and to challenge the media and opportunistic profiteers to conduct business ethically by respecting personal privacy rights and not exploit any individual to advance their own self-interest or economic gain.