Ten years later, Cubs’ loss in 2003 NLCS is still not Steve Bartman’s fault

Ten years ago tonight, the Cubs were five outs away from their first World Series appearance since 1945. Chicago led the Marlins 3-0 in the top of the eighth inning of Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field, but the Cubs gave up eight runs in that inning to lose the game, and then blew an early 5-3 lead the next night to lose Game 7. In the 10 years since, they haven’t won a single postseason game, and they haven’t won a World Series title since 1908. For many, the flashpoint of Chicago’s 2003 collapse came on a foul ball hit by Florida second baseman Luis Castillo, which came down over the wall in shallow left field. Cubs left fielder Moises Alou leaped to catch it, but a fan in a black sweater, green turtleneck, Cubs cap, glasses and headphones — who didn’t notice Alou — also went for the ball. It bounced away from both of them, of course, and landed in the seats. Before that half-inning was over, Chicago trailed by five runs. When the Cubs lost the series the next night, the Windy City had someone to blame.