World Series

LEAVE STEVE BARTMAN ALONE ... so says Cubs GM Theo Epstein ... who says Cubs fans should back off Bartman for good -- unless he CHOOSES to come out of hiding.

Of course, Bartman is the guy who was blamed for blowing the Cubs playoff run in 2003 when he interfered with a foul ball. Fans demonized him and basically ran him out of town.

But now that the Cubbies are World Series Champs, what should become of Bartman?

We asked Theo, who says the guy is more than welcome back at Wrigley ... but the team isn't going to pressure him to come out and make an appearance.

LeBron James looked SO GOOD in the Cubs uniform he was forced to wear after losing a bet to Dwyane Wade ... he just got a job offer out of it ... from Cubs skipper Joe Maddon!

Of course, it was all part of the city pride bet LeBron (Cleveland) made with Wade (Chicago) back when the Indians played the Cubs in the Fall Classic.

LeBron paid off the bet last week ... when his Cavs came to the Windy City to play the Bulls.

... and Maddon LOVED it.

Wanna know what Jason Heyward told the Cubs during the 10th inning rain delay that got the team so fired up, they ripped off 2 RUNS and won the game???

It's just as awesome as you'd imagine -- so says Cubs pitcher Pedro Strop ... who says the pep talk was like something out of a Hollywood movie.

There was cussing. There was adrenaline. And it worked in a big way.

Albert Almora Jr.'s 2016 Checklist:

Score go-ahead run in the 10th inning of Game 7 of the World Series? Check.

Become a father? Check.

Watch his own father beat cancer? Check.

Marry smokin' hot Philadelphia 76ers dancer girlfriend? Check and mate (literally).

TMZ Sports spoke with the 22-year-old Chicago Cubs hero and his wife, Krystal, who told us how they celebrated the big victory Wednesday (hint: lots of celebrity cameos!)

The Chicago Cubs fan who was knocked out cold after Game 7 of the World Series was enough of a hothead recently to get arrested twice ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Alan Anderson was busted by Chicago cops Sept. 10th for the crimes of phone harassment and assault. Law enforcement sources say the alleged victim is Anderson's ex-girlfriend. According to docs, he allegedly called her 160 times and left a voicemail saying, "I am coming for you, I'm bringing brass knuckles for you."

He was arrested at a bar in Chicago. The case is being handled by the domestic violence unit in the prosecutor's office.

He was also busted in March for another misdemeanor case of harassing someone by phone.

Anderson did not want to discuss his arrests -- he has an upcoming court date -- but he did strongly deny he was talking smack with the Indians fan who knocked him out Wednesday night.

He admits he was celebrating loudly, but not in anyone's face, when the Indians fan approached and told him to shut up. He says they argued for a bit, and then the guy punched him out of nowhere. Anderson says he was calmly pleading his case when he got hit, and did not dare him to swing ... as witnesses have claimed.

As we told you, Cleveland PD is investigating.

8:55 AM PT -- TMZ Sports has learned the victim was 36-year-old Alan Anderson, and he was transported to a hospital in stable condition. He suffered a cut to his mouth and a head injury.

Anderson regained consciousness and told police and paramedics he'd been in an argument that got physical. He told police he did not want to file a report and even refused medical treatment, initially.

Here's the best part -- we asked Alan how he's doing this morning. His response -- "My head hurts." But he says he's gonna be fine ... "I survived an assault just like my Cubs survived being down 3-1."

Of course he added, "Go Cubs go!"

The biggest hit at the World Series came AFTER the game -- when an Indians fan KO'd a Cubs fan right outside the stadium ... and the whole thing was caught on video.

The two men had been arguing in the street outside Progressive Field in Cleveland when the Indians fan -- in a "Cleveland Against the World" shirt -- threw a haymaker right hook ... knocking the Cubs guy out cold.

The Chicago Cubs fan who was knocked out cold after the World Series was running his mouth to an Indians fan -- and even DARED the Cleveland guy to punch him ... so says the man who shot the video.

We spoke with Chris Vallimont ... who says he pulled out his phone and started to record after he saw the two men cussing at each other right outside Progressive Field.

"The Cubs fan said, 'You guys just blew a 3-1 lead, f**k you.'"

The Indians fan shot back, "Fight me, p****."

The Cubs fan replied, "Hit me now, I dare you."

The Indians fan accepted the challenge and blasted the Cubs fan in the face -- and then immediately fled from the scene while the Cubs fan laid on the ground unconscious ... so says Vallimont.

"He probably didn't move for about 12 minutes."

Cops and emergency personnel rushed to the scene and the Cubs fan was hospitalized.

The Indians fan has still not been identified -- but cops are investigating.

Check out LeBron James giving Cleveland his best "Buck up, kid" ... moments after the Indians' crushing loss to the Cubbies.

Unfortunately for Believeland, LBJ's video love note also includes a nice shout-out to Chicago, but it's definitely heartfelt.

Hey, at least he didn't remind the Indians and their fans about how the Cavaliers' season ended.

Bill Murray unleashed 108 years worth of elation in the Chicago Cubs locker room Wednesday night -- sprayin' champagne, chuggin' champagne and TURNIN' ALL THE WAY UP with the team.

Murray was literally clinking full champagne bottles with players like Dexter Fowler -- and telling all the Cubbies why last night was one of the most special moments in his life.

It's great footage -- and well-deserved.

Congrats!!!

And you gotta love the way Bill ended his night in the locker room -- he's an environmentally friendly reveler.

Truth bombs from Charlie Sheen after his Cleveland Indians lost Wednesday night -- "It was exciting for a while, but let's face it ... we f**king lost."

Sheen hit up Barley House in Cleveland to drink his World Series sorrows away with the rest of the Tribe fans ... and once he got a good buzz going, he picked up the house mic and addressed the fans.

"Sorry, we f**king lost."

You can tell he's disappointed -- and takes a shot at MLB for not letting him throw out the first pitch -- but that didn't stop him from raging into the early morning.

Can you imagine the party if they actually won?

The Chicago Cubs are World Series Champions!

Let that soak in ... most of your grandparents, and everyone on Earth younger than them, NEVER could.

No sign of the apocalypse, so far. However, 59-year-old actor Daniel Stern did tearfully recreate his Cubs celebration from "Rookie of the Year" -- in his underwear.

Close to apocalyptic, but mostly good fun. #CurseKiller

And if you've been living under a rock and don't know what the 'Billy Goat Curse' is -- ask Bill Murray. Or just Google it.

Got a feeling Bill's gonna be busy for a while.

Charlie Sheen had a golden ticket -- an invitation to get on the mound for Game 7 of the World Series -- but a fan says MLB rejected his request to bring the actor on the field..

The fan, Daniel Eleff, tells TMZ ... he won a Starwood Hotels contest and got 2 tickets to Wednesday's Cubs-Indians showdown. He'll also be throwing a ceremonial pitch. Daniel says he wanted to use the ol' "Get me Vaughn" from "Major League" ... and have Charlie run out on the field.

But watch what happened when MLB honchos got wind of that -- Daniel told us how quickly his plans changed. We reached out to MLB, but so far no word back.

If nothing else, Indians fans can rest assured ... Ricky will be in the stadium.

With the Indians as the odds-on LONGSHOT to win the World Series, Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor just got some brand new cleats made up ... with the word "BelieveLand" on the sides.

Seriously, according to SportsLine, the Indians only have a 6.4% shot to go the distance ... behind the Giants (9.0%), Rangers (11.9%) and Nationals (12.0%).

Shocker ... the Cubs are the faves (18.4%).

But back to the cleats, which Lindor had whipped up by Jorge Soto of Soto Customs -- he says the phenom wanted something "nice and clean" for his playoff debut.

To the victors, GO THE BELT!!!!

The Royals should probably clear some extra space in the trophy case, 'cause Vince McMahon is sending some hardware to K.C.

Vince's right-hand man, Triple H, tweeted out ... "Congrats to the 2015 @MLB World Series Champions the Kansas City @Royals! #HeadedYourWay #DontGetChampagneOnTheTitle."

There were no burned out cars in Kansas City this morning ... in fact, it's been a regular sleepy Monday with cops telling TMZ Sports the city was VERY well behaved after the World Series last night.

A rep for the KC Police Department tell us there were ZERO World Series-related arrests after the Royals won the crown ... a HUGE difference from the scene in San Francisco one year ago.

As we previously reported, SF was a war zone when the Giants won in 2014 -- with 40 total arrests, 9 police cars damaged, 3 officers injured and 2 people shot.

But Sgt. Darin Snapp tells us in K.C., "It was a great night."

"There were no fights, no damage, no arrests in relation to the celebration. Everyone had a good time. A successful night for the Royals and the community of Kansas City Missouri."

People have to STOP blaming KC Royals 3rd base coach Mike Jirschele for NOT sending Alex Gordon to score in the bottom of the 9th during Game 7 ... so says Royals legend Bret Saberhagen.

The 2-time Cy Young winner was at LAX and explained why Jirschele made the RIGHT CALL by telling Gordon to hold up when the Giants were still trying to track down a line drive shot he smacked to left field.

"For me, I like the call," Saberhagen explained ... saying all it could've taken was one ball in the dirt to change history.