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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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** RETRANSMITTED TO ADD DATE OF BASEBALL AUCTION ** FILE ** Chicago Cubs left fielder Moises Alou's arm is seen reaching into the stands, at right, unsuccessfully for a foul ball against the Florida Marlins,  as fan Steve Bartman deflects the ball, at top, in the eighth inning during Game 6 of the National League championship series in this Oct. 14, 2003 file photo, at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The baseball in the infamous

Baseball

Bartman still keeps silent

Steve Bartman refused yet another offer to cash in on his infamy following his interference with a foul ball in the Chicago Cubs’ 2003 playoff loss to the Florida Marlins.

Bartman’s friend Frank Murtha said the infamous fan won’t accept an offer of $25,000 to attend the National Sports Collectors Convention and autograph a photograph of him tipping a foul ball. The ball seemed destined for Cubs outfielder Moises Alou’s glove during the critical game.

Bartman was vilified by Cubs fans, who thought he helped prevent the team from reaching the World Series for the first time since 1945. Alou has since said he wouldn’t have caught the ball.

Bartman has declined all offers to appear or make money off his brush with fame.

Baseball

Stobbs dies

Chuck Stobbs, best known for throwing a pitch that might have traveled farther than any other baseball in big-league history, has died.

Stobbs, 79, died July 11 at his home in Sarasota, Fla. He had throat cancer.

On April 17, 1953, in his very first game with the Washington Senators, he gave up a titanic blast to Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees that soared out of Griffith Stadium and into baseball lore as the longest home run ever hit.

Mantle’s 565-foot shot was regarded as the first “tape-measure” home run, and no player has hit a home run that far in the 55 years since.

Swimming

Hardy banned

Jessica Hardy, the American recordholder in the 100-meter breaststroke, tested positive for the banned stimulant clenbuterol at the U.S. Olympic trials, nbcolympics.com. quoted her attorney, Howard Jacobs, as confirming.

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