Article

Famous Foul Ball to Be Destroyed by Chicago Fan Fri December 19, 2003 12:36 PM ET CHICAGO (Reuters) - The infamous foul ball bobbled out of play by a Chicago Cubs fan during the National League playoffs has been sold for $106,600 to another Cubs fan who plans to destroy it. "We bought it because we didn't want some Marlins fan putting it on their mantle," said Beth Heller, marketing director for Harry Caray's Restaurant in Chicago. (Not that they're bitter about it. Heavens, no.) Grant DePorter, managing partner in the restaurant founded by and bearing the name of the late Hall of Fame Cubs broadcaster, was the high bidder in an online auction that began Dec. 1 and ended on Thursday evening. While DePorter does not believe in curses, he nonetheless plans to destroy the ball just to end the nightmare, Heller said. The event will take place Feb. 26 after Cubs fans have submitted suggestions for a proper method of execution. The Cubs were leading 3-0 and five outs away from their first trip to the World Series in 58 years when a Florida Marlins pop-up in the eighth inning of game six sealed their fate. Cubs outfielder Moises Alou said he had a chance at the ball but for a fan who tried to grab it, sending it into the seats and out of play. The Cubs collapsed, allowing eight Marlin runs in the inning and the win. Florida went on to take the deciding seventh game and later to win the World Series against the New York Yankees. Umpires ruled there was no fan interference, but the man who deflected the ball was showered with abuse and had to be escorted from the stands for his own safety. The lifelong Cubs fan, who became the butt of jokes and a torrent of scorn on the Internet, made a blanket apology saying he had no idea the ball was playable. The ball wound up in the hands of a 33-year-old lawyer, identified by the auction house only as "Jim," who was seated nearby. He decided to sell it. Heller said Feb. 26 has been chosen as the date the ball will meet its fate because the restaurant founded by Caray holds a worldwide toast to him on that day, which falls between his birthday and the day he died in 1998. © Reuters 2003. All Rights Reserved.

Heh.

You know I'm always saying it's everybody's own business what they do with their money, but...dayumn! [rolleyes]

"We bought it because we didn't want some Marlins fan putting it on their mantle," said Beth Heller, marketing director for Harry Caray's Restaurant in Chicago.

As a Marlins fan I don't give a hoot about having it on my mantle.  The episode had little, if nothing, to do with the Marlins winning the World Series.  The only ones still obsessed about it are Cubs fans who will use ANY excuse to explain why the Cubs always have and always will suck!

I'm no baseball fan but I watched the game in which that happened (I was on business and it was on in the hotel bar and I was bored).  It seemed to me that the critical play happened right after when the Cub's shortstop bobbled a ball that was hit right to him and couldn't get the ball to either baseman for what looked like an easy play.

And secondly (I'm on a roll here) the end result of the Marlins winning that game only pushed that series into a seventh game, and as I recall the Cubs could *still* have won that game and gone to the World Series if they hadn't screwed that pooch.

The better team won, the Cubs ought to just get over it.

-Gator

This is one of stupidest and childish things I have ever heard.

Must be nice to burn $106,000 over a stupid fucking game!

Take the baseball and shove it up that stupid Short Stops butt until it comes out his mouth.
HE blew it; not the fan.

You can buy publicity like that ... good move on the restaurant.