Cubs fans launched an unsuccessful campaign to send Steve Bartman to the NL Wild Card game

Cubs fans tried to send Bartman to Wild Card game

By Mike Bertha

October 2, 2015

The 2015 Cubs have officially qualified for the postseason, earning the right to play the Pirates in the NL Wild Card Game presented by Budweiser on Wednesday night at 8 ET on TBS.

Cubs fans have been waiting 12 years to see their team win another postseason game, but those 12 years have probably felt longer for Steve Bartman -- the Cubs fan who famously tried to catch a foul ball that Luis Castillo sent down the left-field line in the eighth inning of Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS.

Moises Alou thought he would have been able to catch it had it not been for Bartman's attempt to get a souvenir. Mark Prior walked Castillo and the Marlins rallied and won, 8-3. The Marlins then won Game 7, advanced to the World Series and beat the Yankees in six games

All these years later, though, fans on the North Side are just excited to be back in the postseason, and they're using it as an opportunity to make amends. Keque Escobedo even started a GoFundMe page to raise $5,000 to pay for Bartman's travel and lodging expenses -- and his game ticket -- so that he can be in the stands when the Cubbies officially return to the postseason.

"Lifelong Cubs fan wants to make amends for 2003, let's 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 [the] time of the big game all the proceeds raised will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association."

Bartman certainly appreciated the effort, but he's opting to cheer on his Cubbies from outside the Friendly Confines:

"It's nice of these people to think of Steve, but he won't be taking advantage of the offer," Frank Murtha, a spokesman for Bartman, said. "Steve is glad the money will go to a good cause and will be cheering on the Cubs as always."