Steve Bartman
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Steve Bartman (born 1977) is a resident of the Chicago area, employee of Hewitt Associates, and a University of Notre Dame alumnus who gained notoriety on the evening of October 14, 2003, for possibly preventing a play on a foul pop-up in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Florida Marlins at Wrigley Field.
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[edit] Foul ball incident
At the time of the incident, Mark Prior was pitching a three-hit shutout for the Cubs in the eighth inning. Luis Castillo was batting, with one out and Juan Pierre standing on second base. The Cubs were leading 3-0, led the series three games to two, and were five outs away from the World Series for the first time since 1945, and possibly winning it for the first time since 1908. Coincidentally enough, Game 6 was played on the 95th anniversary of the clinching game of the Cubs last championship.
Bartman, a lifelong Cubs fan, 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 fly off the bat of Castillo drifted toward his seat. Cubs left fielder Moises Alou was in position to attempt a catch, but Bartman, who was watching the ball and not the fielder, blocked the ball from Alou's glove. Alou slammed his glove down in frustration, and the Cubs argued for an interference call. Video replays showed that Alou probably would have had an opportunity to make the catch if Bartman had not reached for the ball, but also supported umpire Mike Everitt's call of no fan interference. The ball appeared to be over the seats when the incident occurred; the rules of baseball clearly specify that fan interference cannot be called on any ball hit into the stands. Only if a spectator reaches into the field of play and interferes is the fielding team entitled to legal relief, although that very thing happened in New York in 1996 with Jeffrey Maier and no action was ultimately taken. The umpire in the Jeffrey Maier game later admitted there was fan interference, but contends that the ball probably would not have been caught anyway.
[edit] Aftermath
[edit] For the Chicago Cubs and Florida Marlins
Following this incident, the Marlins scored eight unanswered runs. The incident seemed to break the Cubs' concentration, as evidenced by what happened afterward:
- 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 nailed a single to drive in the first run of the inning, making the score 3-1.
- Miguel Cabrera hit a ground ball to Alex Gonzalez, who booted the ball. Had Gonzalez fielded the ball properly, the Cubs could have ended the half-inning with a double play.
- Derrek Lee doubled to tie the game and chase Prior. Relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth issued an intentional walk but then gave up a sacrifice fly to give Florida a 4-3 lead. Another intentional walk loaded the bases, followed by a bases-clearing double from Mike Mordecai which made the score 7-3. Pierre singled to put Florida ahead 8-3. Finally Luis Castillo, whose foul popup had created the controversy, popped up to second. The Marlins sent twelve batters to the plate in the eighth inning and scored eight runs. Florida won the game 8-3.
- The next night, Florida overcame a 5-3 run deficit to win 9-6, and won the pennant. The Marlins would go on to win the 2003 World Series, beating the New York Yankees four games to two.
[edit] For Steve Bartman
Bartman had to be led away from the park under escort for his own safety. Many other fans attempted to throw garbage at him, and Bartman had to shield himself with his jacket. It is said that some Cubs fans blamed Bartman for the Cubs losing this game and, ultimately, their chance at reaching the World Series (which the Marlins went on to win) for the first time since 1945.
Some in the news media were more considerate than the fans were. Surveys done in the days following the incident showed that online news sources were almost unanimous in their call to forgive Bartman and urged fans to consider that one play could not account for eight runs in one inning.
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 (Hewitt Associates) 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.
The Cubs issued the following press release:
| The Chicago Cubs would like to thank our fans for their tremendous outpouring of support this year. We are very grateful.
We would also like to remind everyone that games are decided by what happens on the playing field — not in the stands. It is inaccurate and unfair to suggest that an individual fan is responsible for the events that transpired in Game 6. He did what every fan who comes to the ballpark tries to do — catch a foul ball in the stands. That's one of the things that makes baseball the special sport that it is. This was an exciting season and we're looking forward to working towards an extended run of October baseball at Wrigley Field. |
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 three straight losses.) Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich went as far as telling the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper that "[Bartman] better join the witness protection program." Florida governor Jeb Bush offered Bartman asylum in Florida after the Marlins ended up winning the series.
In the days following the incident, Bartman received offers to do movies or talk shows because of his sudden celebrity. But he declined all such offers, although 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 donated the gifts already 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.
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." As of July 2005, Bartman still lives and works in the Chicago area.
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.
In 2005, the remains of the ball were creatively 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.
[edit] Scapegoat factor
Bartman became a scapegoat for the Cubs' failure to advance to the World Series. Part of the intrigue of sports is the tendency among some fans and writers to ascribe supernatural characteristics to teams. Teams that seem to win frequently, such as the New York Yankees, or the University of Notre Dame, are said to have a "mystique" or "aura" about them. Teams that seem to fall short frequently, such as the Cubs, the Boston Red Sox (until 2004) or the Chicago White Sox (until 2005), are said to be "cursed" or "jinxed." In specific cases, disappointed fans may look for a scapegoat, be it (in the case of the Red Sox) Bill Buckner or team owner Harry Frazee, who sold Babe Ruth, (in the case of the White Sox) the 1919 Black Sox or in the case of the Cubs, Bartman or an actual goat.
This presumed phenomenon seems to take on mythological or even religious overtones, specifically the idea that external forces are involved in a team's success or failure. Some fans and writers embrace this theory. Others argue that winning is largely a product of investment in talent, combined with appropriate leadership.
[edit] Steve Bartman in popular culture
- The direct-to-DVD Family Guy movie, Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story, lampooned the incident. In the movie, Stewie urged Bartman to go after the foul ball, saying "it's a foul ball, what harm could it do?".
- An episode of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody called "Big Hair & Baseball" on Disney Channel was based entirely on the incident.
- Bartman was featured on Late Night with Conan O'Brien where O'Brien took a trip through Chicago and beat up an actor portraying Bartman with a baseball bat.
- Humor publication The Onion included the following in a sidebar on steroids in baseball: "2003: During a pivotal NLCS playoff game, steroids-crazed Cubs fan Steve Bartman runs onto the field of play and crushes a bases-loaded double for the opposing team, giving the Marlins the lead and ruining the Cubs World Series hopes."[citation needed]
- Popular Chicago comedy house Second City spoofed Bartman in a sketch where an actor playing him prevents a group of firemen from catching a baby being dropped from a burning building.
- Bartman was mentioned in episode two of the third season of Entourage. In the episode, Ari Gold says, "Baby, it wasn't the Cubs fault when that douchebag grabbed the foul ball either, but they don't get a World Series ring. There are no asterisks in this life, only scoreboards." Jeremy Piven, who plays Ari Gold, is a Chicago native and an avid Cubs fan.
- On an episode of According to Jim, which is based in Chicago, the lead character Jim has to hide Bartman in their home after the incident during the opening sequence. Jim uses this to make up new names for Bartman, all of which poked fun at Bartman "ruining" the game.
- Steve Bartman's outfit was one of the most popular costumes in the Chicago area for Halloween in 2003. Following years have declined only a little in popularity, but is still very popular.
- Jay Leno was asking questions of the audience, to make wishes come true, when one says he once dropped a ball in a high school championship game, and wishes for a second chance. Jay has a major league ballplayer throw him a ball. Down in the first row jumps a man in a Cubs cap, who hops in the way and then drops the ball. Jay calls out "Stop that Bartman!".
- In the episode "Nightmare on Al's Street" during season one of Married... with Children, Peggy mentions a fan interference call that kept the Cubs out of the World Series as reason for Al not being allowed into Wrigley Field. While not a reference to Steve Bartman because the episode aired in 1987, it is eerily similar.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- BBC article
- Wayne Drehs, ESPN.com "E ticket," July 9-10, 2005 Foul Play: On the Trail of the Most Reclusive Man in Sports.
- Box score and play-by-play of the "Bartman Game"
