Photo © MLB via YouTube.
It is impossible to say Wrigley Field and fan interference without seeing a Cubs fan shriek in pain. Who can forget Steve Bartman’s interference, which indirectly resulted in Chicago blowing a 3-0 lead in the 2003 NLCS?
But this time, the fan interference was in the middle of June and featured a spectacular feat, as a man feeding his seven-month-old reached over the railing and grabbed the foul ball bare-handed.
The Cubs fan in question was Keith Hartley, who made the spectacular grab while somehow maintaining grip on his very small son Isaac. The play started when Chicago’s Jason Hammel fouled a pop-up down the first-base line. The new father was afraid the baseball was going to bounce off the railing and hit his son, so he reached over to grab the ball.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.
Unfortunately, he pretty much snagged it out of Adrian Gonzalez’s glove. Initially, it was ruled a foul ball, but, after Gonzalez asked for a review, it was deemed fan interference, which means an automatic out.
Now, Keith, who looked impressed with himself after the catch, could not believe the attention he was getting. “I saw Twitter,” he told ESPN. “My Twitter is going insane. A friend from work gave us these tickets as a gift, and I probably have 15 emails in the first ten, 15 minutes.”
In the end, the Cubs beat the Dodgers 1-0 in extra innings. But even after the game, the teams were still talking about the catch, with batter Jason Hammel jokingly calling it, “Best play of the night.”
The Buffalo Bills are re-signing fan favorite safety Damar Hamlin to a one-year contract, keeping…
Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm is suing his parents for $3 million, alleging financial mismanagement. According…
UConn men’s basketball upset Duke to advance to the Final Four. UConn won the game…
Hall of Famer Charles Barkley criticized President Donald Trump’s immigration policy during Elite Eight coverage…
In manager Terry Francona's first season in Cincinnati, the Reds made the postseason at 83-79.…
In 2025, the Athletics called Sacramento, California, home. This was because the A's are awaiting…