About
Life-long Chicago Cubs fan who became an infamous figure in Cubs history when he attempted to catch a foul ball during the eighth inning of the 2003 NLCS. His attempts to catch the ball potentially interfered with Cubs outfielder Moises Alou, who would have recorded the second out of the inning had he caught the ball. Chicago went on to give up eight runs in the inning and lose the game 8-3.
Before Fame
Prior to the incident, Bartman was simply another die-hard Cubs fan hoping to see his team reach the World Series for the first time since 1908. Only a few minutes later, he'd drawn the ire of Wrigley Field and became a pariah amongst the Chicago faithful, many of whom blamed him for the ensuing loss.
Trivia
He was escorted out of the stadium by security and was even offered to be placed in witness protection by then-Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. ESPN featured the incident in the 30 for 30 film Catching Hell.
Family Life
The night after the game, his address and name were made public on the internet. Despite offers to make public appearances, often for large sums of money, in the following years, Bartman has insisted on remaining as anonymous as possible.
Associated With
The Cubs' loss in game 6 forced a game 7. Chicago started their ace Kerry Wood, but ultimately lost, sending the Florida Marlins to the World Series.
