Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steph (17+5) on July 29, 2008 at 6:28pm

I had to look it up, but it makes so much sense. It was Steve Bartman's seat at Wrigley Field:

The seat that on October 14, 2003, the Cubs were just 5 outs from winning the National League playoffs and going to the World Series before Steve Bartman interfered with the ball ....

Which led, of course, to the Cubs missing the Series. Again.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Craig (17) on July 29, 2008 at 10:53pm

Good work, Steph! Google or not, you won since I didn't say you couldn't look it up!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tim on July 30, 2008 at 7:32am

Poor guy, he's trying to go for a foul ball and instead has an entire city (except for the south side) blast him forever.

I personally think Alou wouldn't have made the catch even if Bartman ran out of the way.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Craig (17) on July 30, 2008 at 8:04am

I concur! My heart goes out to Buckner, Bartman, Norwood and good ol' Ray Finkle! Fans just need to understand a game is made up of more than one play.

With that being said...I still believe it is the curse of the Billy Goat! :)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ken Lee (30/43) on July 29, 2008 at 6:44pm

Yeah, knew that one immediately... the Bartman seat no doubts. Showed it to my wife back in May when we were at Wrigley for a couple games :)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steph (17+5) on July 29, 2008 at 7:11pm

I think Ken Lee should get the win, then. After all, he didn't have to look it up!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Craig (17) on July 29, 2008 at 11:07pm

Do you know if you can still sit in that seat? I am such a history/conspiracy buff that I would love to buy that ticket and watch a game in that view! I read somewhere that the actual Bartman seat was removed and a new one is there today.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ken Lee (30/43) on July 30, 2008 at 8:30am

That seat is there, though I dont believe, based on markings, thats its the actual same exact seat. When I was at Wrigley for 3 games in August 2006, there was a ton of stickers and other markings, like maybe made by people with keys, on the seat. Now, it shows no signs. So either it was replaced, or cleaned up and repainted. Not sure on that though.

As a part of baseball history, it was very cool to see. I also do not believe that Alou would have caught the ball and know that there was plenty of chances blown after that to stop that Marlin rally, but the Cubs were unable to. So, to me, to blame Bartman is just using him as the escape goat. You have to vilify someone and he was the one in this case.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jack (6) on August 3, 2008 at 11:24am

I also agree. Alou wouldn't have caught the ball. Poor Bartman! I wonder if he will ever be able to go to another Major League Baseball game again in his life. What a bummer that would be- I really feel for him.

The seat above is a replacement.

This is a really good article. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=bartman

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sven (27) on August 19, 2008 at 3:32pm

You guys must be kidding me?!?! Hell yeah Alou was going to catch that!!!! I know you want to give Bartman a break, but damn, he literally took an out away from the Cubs. Bartman didn't deserve the consequences, but Alou would have caught that ball. There is absolutely NO doubt about it.

Either way though, the real goat was Gonzalez. He booted the doubleplay ball immediately after. Or Prior, who ended up walking Castillo. Or current Cubbie Derek Lee, who doubled in the tying runs off Prior. Or Farnsworth, who gave up a 3-run triple to Mike Mordecai later in the inning. Or Kerry Wood, who f'd up game 7. Or let's face it, the Marlins were just a way better team than the Cubs.

• ▶ Reply