The Cubs may have the best team in decades and it looks like the fans are doing anything they can to help break their 107-year-old streak without a World Series championship.
First, Kobayashi helped eat an entire goat to help reverse the Cub’s curse. Now, a man named Keque Escobedo has started a GoFundMe campaign to help send Steve Bartman to the Cubs’ first playoff game in seven years.
What does a guy named Steve Bartman have to do with the Cubs not winning a World Series since 1908?
In case you’re unfamiliar with who Bartman is, he’s the Cubs fan other fans blame for causing the team to choke (yet again) against the Marlins in the 2003 NLCS. Instead of a long-winded explanation, here is the infamous play below.
Moises Alou thought he had the foul ball. Bartman was reaching from the stands, trying to catch it. After being up 3-0 and just 5 outs away from their first pennant since the 40s, the Cubs collapsed after that play, allowing Florida to score 8 runs in the inning.
The Marlins won the World Series that year. Fans never forgave Bartman.
It’s actually inconceivable to understand the amount of pain and anguish the man has been through because of fellow ‘Cubs’ fans. Hell, there’s even an entire documentary about the incident.
Well, finally, Escobedo is one fan who wants to make it right.
Lifelong Cubs fan wants to make amends for 2003, lets make it happen. First we need to find him to get him to the big game. If anyone knows where he is at, tell him we are looking for him. The money would pay for his expenses including his ticket, hotel room, flights and a little spending money.
If he cannot be found by time of the big game all the proceeds raised will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association.
The key is actually finding Bartman. The man has disappeared since all the ridicule began on that chilly Chicago October night in ’03. It’s certainly possible he changed his name and fled the country!
Bartman, if you’re out there, I hope you’re well and still rooting for the Cubbies! They have a real shot this year.
You can add to the fund here. At the time of this writing there has been over $500 raised towards a $5,000 goal.
So far, by far, the best donation:
Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports.
Photo Credit: Getty
