Tuesday night, the Chicago Cubs will play against the Indians in Cleveland for a chance at the 2016 World Series title. It will be the Cubs’ first World Series appearance since 1945.
After a long World Series drought, Cubs fans everywhere let go a sigh of relief. The team hasn’t been a part of the World Series for over 70 years but they have come close.
In 2003, the Chicago Cubs were in the National League Championship Series but ended up losing after a controversial play due to one of the most famous fans in baseball: Steve Bartman. Bartman interfered with a foul ball in the eighth inning of 2003 NLCS Game 6 that potentially prevented Moises Alou from making a catch.
Since then, Steve Bartman has held the blame of the entire Cubs fan base and has been famously portrayed as a villain. He was threatened, harassed, and hated by an entire city and a nation-wide fan base. Bartman was even forced into hiding and has not been heard from since.
Now, the team is heading to the World Series and Bartman may be off the hook. Many people, including Cubs fans, have forgiven Bartman on Twitter. Some have even hoped he is enjoying Chicago’s success.
#twitter is Great. On the night #Cubs get to the #WorldSeries, we trend, pay homage to #bartman and lift the weight of #chicago off him.
— SH, MD (@ShabbirHossain) October 23, 2016
#Bartman, you're off the hook #Cubs are going to the #WorldSeries!!!
— Bill Mefford (@billmefford) October 23, 2016
Well maybe Steve Bartman can come out of hiding now. Always felt bad for that guy. I prolly would of done the same thing. #justsayin #cubs
— Jonathan Fowler (@MrPotatoHead42) October 23, 2016
the Cubs should have Bartman throw out the first pitch in Game 3 to exercise that final demon. Tuesday can't come soon enough!! #GoCubsGo
— James (@realnumber1bud) October 23, 2016
I hope Steve Bartman is smiling right now.
— Barry Jantz (@barryjantz) October 23, 2016
It was never Steve Bartman's fault, but I hope he's sitting somewhere tonight, with people who love him, feeling a measure of absolution.
— Chris Jones (@EnswellJones) October 23, 2016
Wherever he is, I hope Steve Bartman enjoyed this. It was never his fault.
— Jon Solomon (@JonSolomonAspen) October 23, 2016
Dear @Cubs, please have Steve Bartman throw out one of the ceremonial first pitches during World Series. Thx!
— Victor Rojas (@VictorRojas) October 23, 2016
Wherever Steve Bartman is, hopefully he is watching the Cubs on Tuesday night. With people finally getting over the Bartman blunder, maybe now he can resurface and enjoy Cubs games in public once again. After all, this would be their first World Series in over 70 years and a chance to win it for the first time in over 100 years.
Win or lose, the Chicago Cubs have come a long way. They just have one last demon to exercise, and it’s been around for 108 years.