Steve Bartman Throws Out First Pitch Opening Day at Wrigley Field

In 2003, the Chicago Cubs made it to the National League Championship Series against the Florida Marlins. They had one more win to go to make the World Series. In a must win game for the Cubs, it was late in the game and the Cubs were only a few outs away from that goal. A foul ball was hit off the bat of Luis Castillo. It went in the air foul, but in play until it reached the stands and Steve did what any fan would do in that situation, and was one of a handful of fans that did that same, and reached for that foul ball. But the Cubs left fielder, Moises Alou reached out to attempt to make the play in FOUL TERRITORY, and made contact with Bartman and the ball went foul. Alou went nuts and then the best deeming a fan could ever feel turned into the worst nightmare and person could go through. Fans throw beer and other items at Steve until he was taken by security for his safety.

He never did anything wrong and the City of Chicago condemned him because they never made it to the World Series that year and that's the way it is from 1908 and being that close Kama he became the scapegoat and was treated terribly, receiving death threats and all undeserving. This should have been done a long time ago because this poor man did nothing wrong and deserves to be forgiven buy those people that made him out to be a bad man for doing what any friend would do and his situation at that fateful night in 2003. He should be forgiven and throw out the first pitch at Opening Day 2017 at Wrigley Field if he is willing to do so did the Chicago Cubs offer that to him. I hope, and I doubt that I will be the only one to start a petition for this, but I am starting a petition to make this hopefully happen.

I am nothing more than a fan of baseball, the Mets to be perfectly honest, and when Kris Bryant made that final play for the 3rd out and the Cubs years of waiting, 108, was no more, I cried because I felt the absolute emotion and relief that not only the players both current and past, fans, and Harry Caray looking down screaming "Cubs win Cubs win" from the heavens. And right after that Steve Bartman popped into my mind. And that's when I said to myself but this is something that needs to happen. If the Boston Red Sox fans could forgive Bill Buckner 4 letting that ground ball go through his legs during Game 6 of the 1986 World Series to allow Ray Knight to score the winning run comma and then the Mets going on to win game 7. He was the scapegoat even though he was one of the best 1st baseman to play the game both at the plate and most importantly in the field. I watched when he threw out the first pitch after they won and remember the emotion I felt while watching him to tear up while watching as the relief was finally taken off of his shoulders and he could breathe freely for the first time in 18 years.

This petition is for the Chicago Cubs to ask if Steve Bartman would do the honor of throwing out the first pitch when the Cubs open the season in 2017 at Wrigley Field. I hope this can happen as it would be a relief for a lot of people but most importantly Steve Bartman who deserves it even though he never did anything wrong to begin with. Thank you for reading and if you agree please sign this petition. Congratulations to the Chicago Cubs of 2016 for being the champions of baseball.