Who can forget what happened on Oct. 14, 2003? The ’03 Cubs never will

When it comes to Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS between the Chicago Cubs and Florida Marlins, Paul Bako used to reflect on the what-ifs. “I used to think about this a lot,” Bako said. “For a while, I wondered what we could have done differently.” But what haunted Bako about that game was different from what troubled others. The infamous eighth inning of that game at Wrigley Field. You don’t question why Mark Prior didn’t throw a better breaking ball to Pudge Rodriguez, or why Derrek Lee’s pitch wasn’t more precise. Instead, you think about Luis Castillo’s foul ball to left-field and Miguel Cabrera’s grounder that tripped up Alex Gonzalez. You think about all the things that went wrong and how much it hurt the Cubs. Those were the events that were out of Bako’s control. It was the individual pitches that he thought about for years. “When you reach a certain level,” he said, “only a select few people in the stadium really know those tiny details. And those are the differences that determine the outcome of a game.” A couple of pitches, a couple of inches, the spin of a groundball to shortstop. It’s the little things that added up to a significant result. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, one of the most famous and haunting playoff games in history. It’s a crucial moment in the Cubs’ history, alongside other significant games. It changed lives, not just for the players involved, but for one unwilling participant as well. The 2003 season was special for the Cubs, and the disappointment of Game 6 brought about a significant shift in the organization. Although the Cubs still had a Game 7 to salvage the series, Game 6 is what everyone remembers. It’s the moment when everything fell apart. The missed foul ball and Moises Alou’s reaction, the stunned looks on Prior’s and Bartman’s faces. The lively stadium suddenly became solemn. The feeling of hopelessness in the air. No one who witnessed it will ever forget. Cubs fan Steve Bartman interferes with outfielder Moises Alou on a foul ball hit by Luis Castillo in the eighth inning during Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS at Wrigley Field. (Elsa / Getty Images) Where were you when it happened? Were you at the ballpark, at a bar, or in your living room? Kerry Wood was daydreaming about starting the World Series opener in the home dugout, thinking about facing the New York Yankees’ lineup. Alfonso Soriano, Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Hideki Matsui… and then reality hit him. “And I’m like, oh shit,” he said. “I have Game 7, not Game 1.” Twenty years ago, Chicago was ready to witness the Cubs overcome decades of failures, to experience the catharsis of a victorious stadium and fanbase. In Wrigleyville, the bars were packed and charging admission fees. The streets outside the stadium were crowded with thousands of fans eagerly waiting for the game. They couldn’t watch or hear the game, but they wanted to be a part of the celebration. “I’ve said it a thousand times: I’ve never been in any venue that was like Game 6 that night,” former Fox broadcaster Thom Brennaman said. “The crowd in the stadium. Thousands in the streets outside the stadium.” “Chicago was crazy even when you’re not in the playoffs,” third baseman Aramis Ramírez said. “So when you’re in the playoffs, you can only imagine how it is.” The Cubs returned home from Miami with a 3-2 lead, with Mark Prior and Kerry Wood set to start the next two games. However, in Game 5 in Florida, young Marlins starter Josh Beckett saved his team’s season with a complete-game shutout. No one realized that was the turning point. “When you come home with Mark Prior, up 3-2, you think you’re going to win it,” then-general manager Jim Hendry said. Game 6 is remembered for two plays the Cubs didn’t make: Castillo’s foul ball that resulted in Steve Bartman’s interference, and Cabrera’s grounder that slipped past Gonzalez’s grasp. Those plays were the historical counterparts to Leon Durham’s fielding error in 1984. “Alex Gonzalez may not have been the greatest shortstop when it came to range, but I can tell you this: if he got his hands on it, it was an out,” said Eric Karros, who entered the game as a pinch hitter and played first base in the eighth inning. “So when that happened, you’re kind of like, you gotta be shitting me.” “We’re not here to blame him,” Hendry said. “But if we made that play, we’d be going to the bottom of the eighth inning with a 3-0 lead.” Talking to the players, it’s interesting how they all believe that people forget about the error because of the attention on the Bartman incident. However, in Chicago, most people remember Gonzalez’s error as the crucial play. “It really emphasizes the importance of every out,” Prior said. “And sometimes, that gets lost in the regular season. Because of the heightened scrutiny and focus in the playoffs, every little thing gets magnified. One error, one bloop, and one single can make a huge difference. It could turn out to be a 2-1 game. Playoff baseball is unique.” We also know that Dusty Baker and pitching coach Larry Rothschild missed an opportunity to slow down the game after Bartman’s interference or Gonzalez’s error. It’s easy to say now, but many people were saying it at the time too. Someone should have gone to the mound to talk to Prior. There’s a reason why pitching coaches take their time walking to the mound. Everyone needs a moment to breathe. “Dusty has proven to be a great manager, but even the best managers make a mistake from time to time,” longtime Cubs broadcaster Steve Stone said. “It wasn’t all on Dusty. Larry Rothschild could have gone out there too.” But would Alou have caught the ball? How much did the incident with Bartman cost the Cubs? “The Bartman thing happened, and to be honest, it had zero effect in our dugout,” Marlins outfielder Todd Hollandsworth said. “We didn’t have replays like we do now to watch it in the dugout. If you didn’t see it as it happened, you didn’t see it.” “You never know,” Ramírez said. “We were leading 3-0. (Prior) ended up walking…”

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David Rodriguez

David Rodriguez brings the excitement of Major League Baseball to readers. With a deep appreciation for America’s pastime, he covers the latest MLB news, scores, and player achievements, keeping fans up to date with their favorite teams and players.