The Loveable Losers

Today, in 2003, one of the most infamous moments in the history of the Chicago Cubs, and maybe even Major League Baseball, occurred at Wrigley Field on the south side of Chicago. Today, in 2003, one of the most famous foul balls in history was hit. It was a big day in the windy city. The Cubs led the 2003 NLCS three games to two. If they won Game 6 in Chicago, they would advance to their first World Series since 1945. Going to the World Series would have given the Cubs a shot to win their first world championship since 1908. But then, it happened. In the eighth inning, with one man out, Florida Marlins 2nd baseman Luis Castillo popped a fly ball to left field. As the ball neared the fans on the left field line, Cubs left fielder Moises Alou jumbed for the ball. He was obstructed by a fan by the name Steve Bartman. Alou shouted at the umpires, wanting fan interference. He wouldn't get the call. At the time, Cubs pitcher Mark Prior had pitched a shutout, the Cubs leading 3-0, and had only allowed three hits. After the Bartman play, the Marlins struck for 8 runs on 5 hits to blow the game open to an 8-3 Marlins lead. Despite lapses by the Cubs fielders, including a bobbled double play ball by Cubs shortstop Alex Gonzalez, the fans blamed Bartman for the bad inning. Eventually, Bartman, who was being booed and had various items thrown at him, had to be escourted from Wrigley Field. The Marlins went on to claim the NL pennant in Game 7, and won the World Series. The Bartman play received a great amount of attention, from fans heckling Bartman, to police parking outside his house for protection, to even prankster posing as Bartman going on ESPN to dupe the station. Fans even today still blame Steve Bartman for a play that will likely transcend time. The Cubs have not won a postseason game since the Steve Bartman play. The ball Bartman is said to have interfered with was later blown up and served in a sauce at a local restaurant. It was just the latest of a series of unfortunate events to happen to a baseball club known as the loveable losers, a moniker devoted to the teams futility in contending for a championship. Sources: Photo-http://newsone.com/1552335/steve-bartman-catching-hell-30-for-30/ http://espn.go.com/espn/espnfilms/story/_/page/catchinghell/catching-hell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6NsWdRfgAk&feature=related http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200310140.shtml