# Catching Hell - The Story of Steve Bartman

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-hell-the-story-of-steve-bartman/658778>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [May 20, 2013, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-hell-the-story-of-steve-bartman/658778 "2013-05-20T01:29:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-hell-the-story-of-steve-bartman/658778/21 "2013-10-05T01:01:10Z")

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> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#):
>
> We’re approaching the tenth anniversary of the Bartman Incident, so brace yourselves for a flood of flashbacks. Comcast Sports will be airing [a show on the 2003 Cubs](http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2013/10/03/comcast-sportsnet-to-air-an-unprecedented-90-minute-documentary-on-the-glory-and-heartbreak-of-the-unforgettable-2003-chicago-cubs-season/) on October 15.

Bonus points if they show the Law & Order ep!

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-hell-the-story-of-steve-bartman/658778/22 "2013-10-05T03:11:18Z")

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> [@Stink Fish Pot](#):
>
> What? You are just getting around to this thread? I posted it in May! Jesus, I forgot all about it.

It got bumped yesterday. I hope that’s alright.

> [@](#):
>
> I said then and I say now, NO ONE deserved what happened to Bartman, no one. I did say, though, that he was his own enemy for sitting there with his headphones on, looking out at the field, and never once even turning to his “friends” who where there with him and saying “what the hell is going on?”

You said he didn’t deserve it, but you suggested he brought on the abuse (or made it worse) by not standing up for himself. I think that’s crazy. If he’d stood up and started shouting at the people who were throwing stuff at him someone would’ve broken his face. That’s what I had in mind when I said ‘textbook,’ I suppose, because it’s a way to bash people who get bullied. And then you got angry at Bartman because he didn’t handle things the way you think he should’ve.

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**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-hell-the-story-of-steve-bartman/658778/23 "2013-10-05T22:43:21Z")

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IIRC Cubs manager Dusty Baker and his team threw Bartman under the bus after the game. Baker should have taken some blame himself for sitting frozen on the bench and not calming the young Prior (Leo Durocher made a similar mistake in the 1941 Mickey Owen game. Lots of Cubs players messed up, especially the shortstop. Plenty of media joined in too, ignoring that everyone in that section reached for the ball.  
I would hope if I was in the situation, I would keep my hands down (like one Yankees fan did on Todd Zeile’s double in game 1 of the 2000 world series.). But who knows…and remember the umpire could have ruled an out if he thought it was catchable.

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