Steve Bartman Incident

October 14, 2003 - It was game 6 of the National League Championship Series and the Chicago Cubs were one victory away from going to the World Series! They were ahead 3 to 2 in the eighth inning.

Luis Castillo of the Marlins hit a popup that was going to be a foul ball. Outfielder Moises Alou was tracking it and timed his jump to make what would be an impressive catch. Then disaster struck. A lifelong Cubs fan named Steve Bartman reached out and deflected the ball.

Moises Alou threw his glove to the ground and claimed fan interference. The umpire ruled it wasn't interference because the ball had crossed the plane into the stands.

Whatever the case, the Cubs proceeded to fall apart. The Marlins would score 8 straight runs to win the game 8 to 3. The next night they slammed the door on the Cubs with a 9 to 6 victory that sent them to the World Series - which they won against the Yankees!

Poor Steve Bartman received most of the blame as Cubs fans unloaded their frustration on him. He was pelted with beers and trash as he left Wrigley Field on the night of the incident. He received death threats and required around the clock police protection.

Most level-headed observers of the infamous game will admit that the Bartman incident was just one of the factors that doomed the Cubs. The clip below reveals the monumental meltdown as it happened: