Cubs Fans Start GoFundMe Account To Send Bartman To NL Wild-Card Game
By Ross Kelly--
(CBS Local Sports) Most Cubs fans have publicly absolved Steve Bartman of blame in the years following his incident in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, and now they are truly putting their money where there mouths are. One fan has started a GoFundMe account titled "Get Bartman to Cubs wildcard Game" in order to raise money to send the beleaguered Cubs' fan to wild-card game against the Pirates.
The amount the fan is looking for is $5,000, and that would cover all his expenses -- including tickets, a hotel room, flights and spending money. Through Friday afternoon, $1,888 has been contributed by 159 people. The Cubs currently trail the Pirates by two games entering play Friday and would need to at least finish with an even record with them in order to host the game. Otherwise, it will be played in Pittsburgh next Wednesday.
The account also includes this note at the bottom:
If he cannot be found by time of the big game all the proceeds raised will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association.
And that's a big if, because Bartman has shunned all media and has never returned to Wrigley Field since the incident. According to an article published by the New York Times in 2013, Bartman still lives and works in Chicago and remains a Cubs fan but has even turned down financial opportunities worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Chances are he would appreciate the gesture from the fans but would likely decline the invitation through a spokesman, only to show up and sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" from his infamous seat in left field.
Oh, we can dream...
Ross Kelly is an Associated Producer for CBS Local Sports. He can be reached at ross.kelly@cbs.com.