George Brett and the Pine Tar Game

On July 24, 1983, Kansas City Royals third baseman George Brett hit a two-run home run off Yankees closer Goose Gossage in the top of the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium, giving the Royals a 5-4 lead. Before Brett could finish celebrating in the dugout, Yankees manager Billy Martin approached home plate umpire Tim McClelland and asked him to examine Brett's bat. McClelland measured the pine tar on the handle and determined it extended more than 18 inches from the knob, violating Rule 1.10(c). He called Brett out, nullifying the home run and ending the game as a 4-3 Yankees victory.

Brett erupted from the dugout in a rage that became one of the most replayed moments in baseball history. He charged at McClelland, eyes wild, veins bulging in his neck, and had to be restrained by teammates and coaches. The Royals filed an immediate protest with the American League office.

Four days later, AL president Lee MacPhail upheld the protest, ruling that while the pine tar exceeded the legal limit, it did not give Brett a competitive advantage. The rule was meant to prevent damage to baseballs, not to punish a batter for how he prepared his bat. MacPhail ordered the game resumed from the point of Brett's home run.

The resumption took place on August 18 at Yankee Stadium, with the Royals leading 5-4 in the top of the ninth. The Yankees tried a series of creative protests, including appealing that Brett had missed first base and the runner ahead of him had missed home. The umpiring crew, armed with affidavits from the original umpires confirming both runners had touched every base, dismissed the appeals. The game concluded quickly with Kansas City winning 5-4.

Martin had known about the pine tar for weeks. He later admitted he had been saving the challenge for a moment when it would hurt the Royals most. The scheme worked in the short term but backfired when MacPhail reversed the ruling. The Pine Tar Game became the most famous rules dispute in baseball history and a permanent fixture of the rivalry between the Yankees and Royals.