Steve Bartman wasn't the only one who saw a foul ball coming his way in the eighth inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series last October and reached out in hopes of catching it. Other fans did, too.
But we don't remember their names.
We don't even know the full name of Jim, the Chicago lawyer who ended up with the ball. He remained anonymous -- while selling it to the owners of Harry Caray's restaurant, where it will be destroyed tonight.
But we remember Bartman.
The ball happened to hit his hands, infuriating left fielder Moises Alou and starting a chain of events that would change Bartman's life. Thanks to the emotional reaction of the Cubs, the repeated replays of the play and the fact people knew his name, Bartman had to deal with the perception he is the reason the Cubs did not go to the World Series.
It doesn't help that Florida Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo, who hit the foul ball, continues to credit the play as a big reason for the Marlins' victory.
"'I think that play was the key for us," Castillo said Wednesday at spring training in Jupiter, Fla. "The Marlins should do something. I could give him some tickets if he wants to watch our first game. I want to say, 'Thank you.'"
Bartman probably was feeling content sitting in the stands at Wrigley Field as the Cubs entered the eighth inning up 3-0. After getting the first out, they were five outs from their first World Series since 1945. Alou felt he had an opportunity to get the second out when Castillo hit a foul ball toward the stands. Alou tried to make a play, but Bartman deflected the ball.
A bad break, for sure. But Alou didn't just go back to left field. Instead, he drew further attention to the play by shouting at Bartman over what he thought was fan interference. Pitcher Mark Prior also reacted with rage, screaming, "Fan!" and pointing toward the stands. TV viewers watched as the play was shown again and again.
When the game resumed, a flustered Prior walked Castillo on a wild pitch that put runners on first and third, and Marlins catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez hit a single that scored the Marlins' first run. The Cubs still were up 3-1 when the Marlins' Miguel Cabrera hit a double-play grounder to shortstop Alex Gonzalez. But Gonzalez committed an error that left the bases loaded instead of getting the Cubs out of the inning.
The Marlins' Derrek Lee hit a double that tied the game and prompted Cubs manager Dusty Baker to replace Prior with Kyle Farnsworth. Farnsworth intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases, then Jeff Conine hit a sacrifice fly that gave the Marlins the lead. Farnsworth and Mike Remlinger gave up another four runs before the Cubs left the field down 8-3.
A lot happened in that inning, but what we remember is Bartman. He not only deflected the ball, he deflected attention away from Prior, Gonzalez and the Cubs' failure in Game 7. The roles of Prior and Gonzalez were duly noted the day after Game 6, but Bartman fit in so well with the Cubs' history of being cursed that he became the story.
Baker and Alou tried to defuse that story line in the locker room. But Alou also couldn't helpbut assure fans he would have caught that ball if not for Bartman. And Baker lamented: "The only words I have is that maybe he was a Marlins fan. If you are for your team, you have to give your players every chance to catch that ball."
The back-page headline in the Sun-Times the next day was "Curses! Fan's obstruction opens door as Cubs collapse in 8-run eighth." Later that day, the Sun-Times published Bartman's name and place of employment in a story on its Web site. That gave sports fans a name to go with the face.
Bartman responded with a statement, asking for understanding. But the incident became fodder for the late-night shows. Two months later, Baker said he wanted Bartman to be in the parade after the Cubs win a World Series -- to "exonerate him for life."
http://www.suntimes.com
But we don't remember their names.
We don't even know the full name of Jim, the Chicago lawyer who ended up with the ball. He remained anonymous -- while selling it to the owners of Harry Caray's restaurant, where it will be destroyed tonight.
But we remember Bartman.
The ball happened to hit his hands, infuriating left fielder Moises Alou and starting a chain of events that would change Bartman's life. Thanks to the emotional reaction of the Cubs, the repeated replays of the play and the fact people knew his name, Bartman had to deal with the perception he is the reason the Cubs did not go to the World Series.
It doesn't help that Florida Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo, who hit the foul ball, continues to credit the play as a big reason for the Marlins' victory.
"'I think that play was the key for us," Castillo said Wednesday at spring training in Jupiter, Fla. "The Marlins should do something. I could give him some tickets if he wants to watch our first game. I want to say, 'Thank you.'"
Bartman probably was feeling content sitting in the stands at Wrigley Field as the Cubs entered the eighth inning up 3-0. After getting the first out, they were five outs from their first World Series since 1945. Alou felt he had an opportunity to get the second out when Castillo hit a foul ball toward the stands. Alou tried to make a play, but Bartman deflected the ball.
A bad break, for sure. But Alou didn't just go back to left field. Instead, he drew further attention to the play by shouting at Bartman over what he thought was fan interference. Pitcher Mark Prior also reacted with rage, screaming, "Fan!" and pointing toward the stands. TV viewers watched as the play was shown again and again.
When the game resumed, a flustered Prior walked Castillo on a wild pitch that put runners on first and third, and Marlins catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez hit a single that scored the Marlins' first run. The Cubs still were up 3-1 when the Marlins' Miguel Cabrera hit a double-play grounder to shortstop Alex Gonzalez. But Gonzalez committed an error that left the bases loaded instead of getting the Cubs out of the inning.
The Marlins' Derrek Lee hit a double that tied the game and prompted Cubs manager Dusty Baker to replace Prior with Kyle Farnsworth. Farnsworth intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases, then Jeff Conine hit a sacrifice fly that gave the Marlins the lead. Farnsworth and Mike Remlinger gave up another four runs before the Cubs left the field down 8-3.
A lot happened in that inning, but what we remember is Bartman. He not only deflected the ball, he deflected attention away from Prior, Gonzalez and the Cubs' failure in Game 7. The roles of Prior and Gonzalez were duly noted the day after Game 6, but Bartman fit in so well with the Cubs' history of being cursed that he became the story.
Baker and Alou tried to defuse that story line in the locker room. But Alou also couldn't helpbut assure fans he would have caught that ball if not for Bartman. And Baker lamented: "The only words I have is that maybe he was a Marlins fan. If you are for your team, you have to give your players every chance to catch that ball."
The back-page headline in the Sun-Times the next day was "Curses! Fan's obstruction opens door as Cubs collapse in 8-run eighth." Later that day, the Sun-Times published Bartman's name and place of employment in a story on its Web site. That gave sports fans a name to go with the face.
Bartman responded with a statement, asking for understanding. But the incident became fodder for the late-night shows. Two months later, Baker said he wanted Bartman to be in the parade after the Cubs win a World Series -- to "exonerate him for life."
http://www.suntimes.com
