What It Is
Reference to the infamous fan interference incident involving Steve Bartman during Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS between the Chicago Cubs and Florida Marlins. A Cubs fan deflected a catchable foul ball, and the Cubs subsequently collapsed, losing the game and the series.
Why It Matters
The incident became symbolic of the “Curse of the Billy Goat” that had plagued the Cubs since 1945. Bartman became a scapegoat for the team’s failure, facing death threats and requiring police protection. The moment remained a cultural touchstone until the Cubs finally won the World Series in 2016.
Impact
The Cubs blew a 3-0 lead in Game 6 and lost Game 7 the next day. Bartman went into hiding for years. When the Cubs won in 2016, they gave him a championship ring in 2017 as an act of closure. The ball was destroyed in a 2004 ceremony to symbolically “break the curse.”