Steve Bartman - Definition and Overview

Steve Bartman (born 1977) is a Chicago resident and alumnus of the University of Notre Dame who gained notoriety on the evening of October 14, 2003 for interfering with a foul pop-up in Game 6 of the NLCS baseball playoffs between the Chicago Cubs and the Florida Marlins at Wrigley Field.

Bartman, a Cubs fan, was sitting in the front row on the left field wall when a pop fly drifted toward his seat with one out in the eighth inning. Cubs left fielder Moises Alou was in position to attempt a catch, but Bartman claims he had not noticed and blocked the ball from Alou's glove. Video replays showed that, although Alou would have had an opportunity to make the catch if Bartman had not reached for the ball, the ball was clearly over the stands, thus fan interference could not be called.

Immediately following his action, the Marlins scored eight unanswered runs. Many Cub fans blamed Bartman for the Cubs losing this game and, ultimately, their chance at clinching their first World Series berth since 1945.

Some in the news media were more considerate. 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, though considering the importance of the play it may have done just that.

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.

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.

In the days following the incident, Bartman was offered and given goods and services given out of sympathy for the negative press he received to those by Marlins fans or Florida residents as a sort of "thank you". He also received offers to do movies or talk shows because of his sudden celebrity. But, he declined all such offers, and 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 is afflicted with the disease. 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."

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. The ball was given a final meal of steak and lobster.