The Steve Bartman incident was a controversial play that occurred during a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Florida Marlins on October 14, 2003, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, during Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2003 postseason. The play involved a spectator attempting to catch a fly ball and potentially affecting the outcome of the game.
The incident occurred in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS), with Chicago leading 3–0 in the eighth inning and holding a three-games-to-two lead in the best-of-seven series. Marlins batter Luis Castillo hit a fly ball into foul territory in left field. Cubs outfielder Moisés Alou attempted to make the catch near the wall, but Cubs fan Steve Bartman deflected it; the umpire judged the play not to be fan interference. If Alou had caught the ball, it would have been the second out in the inning, and the Cubs would have been just four outs away from winning their first National League pennant since 1945.
However, following the ruling of no interference, the Cubs' defense collapsed. On the very next pitch, Mark Prior threw a wild pitch to walk Castillo and allow Juan Pierre to reach third base. After a run-scoring single to cut the Cubs' lead to 3–1, Cubs shortstop Alex Gonzalez mishandled a ground ball that could have resulted in an inning-ending double play. The Cubs ultimately allowed eight runs in the inning and lost the game 8–3. They also lost in Game 7 at Wrigley Field the following day and were eliminated by the Marlins.
In the moments following the play, Cubs fans shouted insults and threw debris at Bartman. For his safety, security was forced to escort him from the ballpark. Minutes after the game, his name and personal information were published online, necessitating police protection at his home. He faced further harassment from fans and the media after the Cubs' loss in the series, as he was scapegoated for the continuation of the team's then 95-year championship drought. Bartman apologized for the incident and stated his desire to move past it and return to a quiet life. Many Cubs players came to his defense, emphasizing that their performance was to blame for their loss. To recompense Bartman for his treatment, the Cubs sent him a championship ring after the team's victory in the 2016 World Series 13 years later.
Incident
The incident occurred on October 14, 2003, at Wrigley Field, during Game 6 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS), which matched the Chicago Cubs against the Florida Marlins. At the time of the incident, Cubs pitcher Mark Prior had allowed only three hits and no runs entering the eighth inning. The Cubs led the game 3–0 and the best-of-seven series three games to two. They were five outs away from reaching the World Series for the first time since ; the Cubs had not been baseball's champions since . Luis Castillo was at bat for the Marlins with one out and a full count, with teammate Juan Pierre on second base.
Cubs fan Steve Bartman was sitting in the front row along the left field corner wall behind the on-field bullpen when a pop foul off the bat of Castillo drifted toward his seat. Cubs left fielder Moisés Alou approached the wall, jumped, and reached for the ball. Bartman was one of several fans who attempted to catch the ball. As Bartman attempted to catch the ball, his hand slapped the ball, deflecting it away from Alou's glove. Alou slammed his glove down in frustration and shouted at several fans. The Cubs, in particular Alou and Prior, argued for fan interference, but umpire Mike Everitt ruled there was no interference because the ball had broken the plane of the wall separating the field of play from the stands and entered the stands.
Cubs manager Dusty Baker did not see the play as it happened, because the curvature of the Cubs dugout blocked his view.
In the Marlins' dugout after the Bartman play, pitcher Mark Redman, who was scheduled to start Game 7 if the Marlins won, told his teammates, "Let's make that guy famous."
Everitt's ruling has been heavily scrutinized over the years. For example, the authors of Mad Ball: The Bartman Play argue that photographs show Bartman's arms extending into the playing field and that Castillo should have been called out due to fan interference.
On Fox, Thom Brennaman was commentating, saying "Again in the air, down the left field line. Alou... reaching into the stands... and couldn't get it and he's livid with a fan!"