STEVE BARTMAN
"There is a drive deep to left, looks like it's going foul, but Moses Alou might have a chance" that's what the radio announcers were saying on the ball that ruined the cubs chances at the 2003 World Series.
Steve Bartman grew up in Northbrook, Illinois. His home when he was a boy was located right next to Wrigley Field. His dad use to hit his friends and him ground balls to field. He attended Notre Dame College in Niles, Illinois. At the time that this occurred he was 26 years old. Outside of work he helped out as a part-time coach for the Renegades. He even played for the Renegades in 1992, when they went 47-10 and won the Palatine Championship. He was an enthusiastic cubs fan and he even traveled to Mesa, Arizona for Cubs spring training games.
At the time of the incident Mark prior was pitching for the cubs. The game was 3-0 Cubs in the eighth inning. The incident happened when Juan Pierre was on second and Luis Castillo at the plate. The Cubs were 5 outs away from winning the National League Championship since 1908. Bartman was sitting in the front row
along the left field bullpen when a foul ball was hit by Castillo. Cub's leftfielder Moises Alou went up to try and grab the ball at the same time as Bartman. Bartman knocked the ball away from Alou. Moises slammed his glove against his knee and yelled at Bartman for doing that. The Cubs argued an interference call the umpires would not reverse the call. The cubs went on to lose the game and then the whole series.
After this Steve Bartman had to be escorted by security to ensure his safety. At his home he received many death threats and other forms of hatred because of this. He was offered 25000 dollars to autograph a picture of him, but he turned the offer down. In an interview Bartman told the people that he was truly sorry and he got caught up in the moment. Five years later when Alou was talked to he said "the funny thing is that I wouldn't have caught the ball anyway".
As for the ball it was sold at an auction to Grant DePorter for $113,824.16 on behalf of Harry Carry's Restaurant. On February 26th 2004 it was donated to Michael Lantieri. In 2005 the remains of the ball were used to make a pizza after it was boiled. That is the story of Steve Bartman and the Chicago Cubs.
