George Brett, Billy Martin, and a Seven Minute Video of the Pine Tar Incident

On July 24, 1983 at Yankee Stadium, George Brett slammed what appeared to be a go-ahead homer with two outs in the top of the ninth. The Yankees had been ahead 4-3, and with two outs Royals shortstop U L Washington singled to center. Brett was hot, coming up to face Rich Gossage with two hits already in the contest. The first pitch he hit deep down the left field line, but foul. The second pitch cleared the right field fence by a healthy margin. Home run. Royals up 5-4.

But then the Yankees ask the umpires to examine the bat. And there's pine tar going far up the barrel, which is illegal. When Brett is ruled out, the game is over, and Brett comes storming out of the dugout, seemingly determined to strangle home plate umpire Tim McClelland, who's in the middle of his first full major league season. Talk about trial by fire. Brett's restrained by another ump and then his teammates, but it's not easy.

"We noticed the pine tar on his bat in Kansas City," Yanks manager Billy Martin said after the game, referring to an earlier visit the Bombers had made to Kansas City. "You don't call him on it if he makes an out. After he hit the home run, I went out and said he's using an illegal bat. It's a terrible rule, but if it had happened to me I would have accepted it," Martin said. "It turned out to be a lovely Sunday afternoon."

Said Gossage: "I can sympathize with George, ''but not that much."

The Royals challenged the call and protested the game. Four days later, A.L. President Lee MacPhail, the American League president, did something he had never done before in his 10 years in office: he upheld a protest. The game would resume nearly a month later, with the Royals leading 5-4 and up at bat with two outs in the top of the ninth.

Brett's reaction? "I'm happy," he said, "but I hope it doesn't mean anything in the standings." No worries, George. The Royals finished second in the A.L. West, 20 games behind the White Sox. The Yankees finished third in the A.L. East, 7 games behind the Orioles. The game was finished on August 18, with the Royals holding on to their lead for a 5-4 win.