Monday is the 10-year anniversary of Game 6 between the Cubs and Florida Marlins better known as the "Bartman Game."
Ten years ago, the dream began unraveling for the Chicago Cubs and their fans. The Cubs were 5 outs away from the World Series when the name "Steve Bartman" became a symbol for Cubs' futility. And 10 years later, Steve Bartman still remains a mystery.
Five outs away. That would be five outs away from the Cubs first World Series in 58 years when it all collapsed.
"I knew when that play happened, when Bartman reached out and Moises Alou looked up, I knew, like many fans, we were done," said Lester Munson, ESPN senior writer.
Ten years after Cubs fan Steve Bartman interfered with a ball in play against the Florida Marlins that left fielder Moises Alou may or may have not caught, the Chicago Cubs have never recovered. And either has sports writer and Cubs fan Lester Munson, who still blames Bartman.
"I know it's a good thing to forgive people I'm working on it, but it has only been 10 years and I'm working on ways to forgive Bartman," said Munson.
Steve Bartman has never been seen in public since security escorted him out of Wrigley Field as fans yelled obscenities and threw stuff at him. Despite various offers worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, Bartman has rejected all and chosen to stay out of the public eye. he was nowhere to be found when Harry Caray Restaurant Group owner Grant Deporter bought the infamous Bartman ball for $113,000 and then held a big event to blow it up.
October 14, 2003, will always be known in sports history as the "Bartman Game" even though shortstop Alex Gonzalez misplayed a ground ball that would have ended the 8th inning. There was also a Game 7 with Kerry Wood at the mound. The Florida Marlins went on to win the World Series that a year, a year baseball fans will remember for one headphone-wearing fan.
"The next day, the next game we could have won didn't, changed mojo, can't blame him for it," said Bob Paul, Cubs fan.
"It's sad something like that is still remembered. Crazy, sports. We are crazy," said Joel Diaz, Marlins fan.
The Cubs have not won a post-season game since.
