Steve Bartman

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

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 multiple Cubs fans reached for the ball and Steve Bartman deflected it. The umpire judged the play not to be fan interference. (If the play was found to be fan interference, Castillo would have been called out.) 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. Alou showed displeasure at the ball not being catchable due to home fan interference, throwing his glove to the ground. Following the ruling of no interference, the Cubs' defense collapsed. On the very next pitch, Mark Prior threw a wild pitch that moved Juan Pierre to third base. Castillo then walked on a 3-2 pitch. After a run-scoring single by Ivan Rodriguez to cut the Cubs' lead to 3–1, Cubs shortstop Alex Gonzalez mishandled a ground ball by Miguel Cabrera 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 Game 7 at Wrigley Field the following day and were eliminated by the Marlins.

In Their Own Story

Fox commentator Thom Brennaman captured the moment live: "Alou... reaching into the stands... and couldn't get it and he's livid with a fan!" Bartman remained seated as cameras focused on him while replays aired. Without video screens at Wrigley, fans learned of his identity only through phone calls from home viewers watching TV. After Rodríguez scored, chants of "asshole" erupted around him. One fan dumped a cup of beer on Bartman as he was escorted by security toward the exit tunnel, pelted with debris and death threats. Minutes later, his name and personal details appeared on MLB message boards, prompting six police cars to guard his Northbrook home. Florida Governor Jeb Bush offered asylum; Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich suggested witness protection. Bartman issued a statement: "I had my eyes glued on the approaching ball... I did not even see Moisés Alou." He refused interviews, declined a $25,000 offer to autograph photos in 2008, turned down a six-figure Super Bowl commercial spot, and asked for gifts to be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In 2016, thirteen years later, the Cubs sent him a World Series ring.

Reader's Guide

In the moments following the play, Cubs fans shouted insults and threw debris at Bartman. For his safety, Wrigley 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, including four death threats, from fans and the media after the Cubs' loss in the series. 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 compensate Bartman for his treatment, the Cubs sent him a championship ring after the team's victory in the 2016 World Series 13 years later.

Did You Know?

• In 2011 ESPN released an original documentary on the incident called 'Catching Hell'.
• After the incident, Bartman declined interviews, endorsement deals, and requests for public appearances.