George Brett is a former Major League Baseball player for the Kansas City Royals. A third baseman, he is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Brett had injuries on-and-off between 1981 and 1984, during which occurred the most notable event in his career, the notorious “Pine Tar Incident” that took place in an American League game played between the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees on July 24, 1983.
The Royal were trailing 4-3 with two outs in the top of the ninth and U.L. Washington on first base. Brett connected off Yankee reliever Rich “Goose” Gossage for a two-run home run and a 5-4 lead. As Brett crossed the plate, New York manager Billy Martin approached the home plate umpire and requested that Brett’s bat be examined.
The umpire crew inspected the bat and determined that the amount of pine tar on the bat’s handle exceeded the allowed rule. The umpire signaled that Brett’s home run was nullified and the game over. An enraged Brett stormed out of the dugout to confront the umpire and had to be physically restrained by the Kansas City manager and his teammates. The Royals protested the game and their protest was upheld. The game was finished at a later date which the Royals held on to win.
