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⚾ George Brett: Pine Tar Game
Chaos breaks out in 9th
July 24, 1983 – The Pine Tar Game: Chaos in the Bronx
Baseball has seen its share of controversies, but few were as wild—or as unforgettable—as what happened at Yankee Stadium on July 24, 1983.
With the Kansas City Royals trailing the New York Yankees 4-3 in the top of the ninth, George Brett stepped to the plate with U.L. Washington on first and two outs. Facing legendary closer Goose Gossage, Brett launched a go-ahead home run deep into the right-field seats. Royals 5, Yankees 4—until chaos erupted.
Yankees manager Billy Martin, prodded by coach Don Zimmer, challenged the legality of Brett’s bat, claiming it violated Rule 1.10(c), which states that pine tar may not extend more than 18 inches from the handle. Umpire Tim McClelland agreed: Brett’s Marv Throneberry model bat had pine tar nearly 24 inches up. After a consultation with the umpiring crew, McClelland signaled Brett out—erasing the home run.
That’s when Brett famously charged out of the dugout in a fury, needing to be restrained by teammates. Amid the confusion, Royals pitcher Gaylord Perry tried to sneak the bat out of the stadium, only to be stopped and ejected himself. The Royals immediately filed an official protest.
Weeks later, American League President Lee MacPhail sided with Kansas City. While Brett’s bat did break the rule, MacPhail argued the rule’s intent was to protect baseballs from being stained—not to nullify plays. He reinstated the home run and ordered the game to be resumed from that point.
On August 18, the teams reconvened to finish the final four outs. In a strange twist, Yankees pitcher Ron Guidry played center field and left-handed Don Mattingly played second base—the last lefty to do so in MLB history. The Yankees even tried to appeal that Brett hadn’t touched all the bases, but umpires had notarized proof he had.
The Royals held on to win 5-4, and the Pine Tar Game became legend—a testament to baseball’s rules, their interpretations, and the passion that fuels the game.
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July 24, 1979 -- At Fenway Park Boston Red Sox first baseman Carl Yastrzemski becomes the 18th major leaguer and seventh in the American League to hit 400 home runs. Yaz blast comes in the bottom of the 7th with 2 outs in a 3-3 tie, after Jim Rice had reached on a fielders choice, and he deposits the first pitch from Mike Morgan into the right field stands. The Sox tack on two more runs and win 7-3.
"I knew it was gone but then the right fielder kept backing up and I thought it's not gone I'm in trouble," Captain Carl admitted.
"I'm glad it's over. I thought I had number 400 Sunday when I went to leftfleld. I went to dinner with my wife and children and I don't know how many people came up and told me that I had missed by about 10 inches from the top of the wall. I really thought I had it (400) then, But it didn't go out, so I figured maybe I should go to right if I got the pitch. I wasn't looking for a home run even though I wanted to get No 400 here for the Boston fans, but the kid had got me to fly out on a fastball earlier, and he was pitching a good game. "
"Then I got the same pitch and hit it out. It was a great thrill. I hit it out here for our fans, and it helped us win the game.
TRIVIA
Who was the first post-expansion player to collect more RBI than the number of games he played that season (minimum 100 RBI)?
Hint: #1 He is in a very select group of players who have 3,000 hits, 300 home runs and who retired with a .300+ batting average.
Hint: #2 His Hall of Fame vote fell just nine votes short of unanimity.
July 24, 1988 In a tribute held at Shea Stadium, Tom Seaver (41) becomes only the third Met to have his uniform number retired. In addition to managers Casey Stengel (37) and Gil Hodges (14), the future Hall of Fame right-hander, who compiled a 198-124 record (.615) during a dozen seasons with the Amazins, becomes the third person and first player to be honored by the franchise in this manner.
July 24, 1978, Cincinnati Red's Third baseman, Pete Rose extends his hitting streak to 37 games with two hits against the New York Mets, tying Tommy Holmes’ modern-day major league record. Rose collects two singles in a 5-3 win, Rose singled and scored the go-ahead run to make the score 3-2 in the 7th inning off Mets pitcher Pat Zachry, causing him to kick at the dugout steps. Zachry a National League All-Star and having his best season breaks his foot and will miss the rest of the season. Zachry was also a former teammate of Rose's, Zachary, was on the 1976 Cincinnati Red's Championship team and won the Rookie of The Year Award that season. He was part of the Tom Seaver trade in 1977 bringing him to the Mets, which may have lead to some of his frustrations.
After the Mets tied the game 3-3, Rose lead off the 9th inning with his second single of the game and again scored the go-ahead home run on Mike Lum's home run off Skip Lockwood. The Reds would win the game 5-3 after Manny Sarmiento had a 1-2-3 bottom of the 9th.
July 24, 1970, the Pittsburgh Pirates hold “Roberto Clemente Night” at Three Rivers Stadium, which opened only eight days earlier. After receiving over 100 gifts, Clemente collects two hits and makes two sliding catches but he leaves after suffering a cut left knee making a sliding catch on the gravel warning track. Dock Ellis goes all the way allowing four hits as the Pirates trounce the Astros, 11 - 0 help the Pirates to an 11-0 rout.
More than 43,000 fans packed Three Rivers Stadium to honor the legendary Pirates outfielder. The event raised $4,000, which Clemente donated to Children’s Hospital.
Later, he told an interviewer, “In a way, I was born twice. I was born in 1934 and again in 1955 when I came to Pittsburgh. I am thankful to say that I lived two lives.”
July 24, 1968, Hoyt Wilhelm of the Chicago White Sox appears in the 907th game of his career, breaking Cy Young’s record for most appearances. The future Hall of Famer pitches a scoreless inning of relief and picks up a no-decision in Chicago’s 1-0 loss to the Oakland A’s. he 45 year-old knuckleballer, who will retire in 1972 after pitching in 1,070 games, will finish his 21-year major league career with a 143-122 (.540) won-loss record and 228 saves, hurling for the Giants, Cardinals, Indians, Orioles, White Sox, Angels, Braves, Cubs, and Dodgers.
July 24, 1958 After yesterday's Kansas City spitting episode, Boston's Ted Williams, for the second time in less than two years, is fined for his transgression, though in this instance by the league rather than his own GM, and for the relatively painless sum of $250 rather than the somewhat draconian $5000 extracted from the "Splinter" on August 7, 1956. Upon being informed of the league's decision, Teddy delivers this heartfelt apology: "I'm sorry I did it. I was so mad at the park that I lost my temper and afterward I was sorry about it. I'm principally sorry about losing the $250."
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July 24, 1951 -- "That was the finest catch I have ever seen, and the finest I ever expect to see" - Pirates GM Branch Rickey, commenting on a catch made by Willie Mays at Forbes Field. At cavernous Forbes Field, Giants' outfielder Willie Mays, unable to reach across his body to make a catch with his glove of Rocky Nelson's sinking 457-foot blast to deep center, sticks out his bare right hand and grabs the ball on a full gallop to make the incredible final out of the inning.
Venerable Branch Rickey, Pittsburgh's general manager, sends a note to the New York dugout during the game to tell the 20 year-old rookie, "That was the finest catch I have ever seen, and the finest I ever expect to see."
July 24, 1950, at least six Hall of Famers (the largest in attendance since the original induction in 1939) attend the induction ceremony in Cooperstown. Two sluggers, each with more than 500 homers: Jimmie Foxx and Mel Ott, are inducted.
July 24, 1948, a fiery bus crash near St. Paul, Minnesota kills five members of Duluth’s minor league team in the Northern League. The accident, which involves a collision between the team bus and a truck, also leaves 13 others injured. The injured include Mel McGaha, future National League manager, and Elmer Schoendienst, brother of the Cardinal infielder, Red Schoendienst.
July 24, 1934 -- New York Yankee CF Earle Combs crashed into the wall at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis and suffered a fractured skull. New York calls up George Selkirk but learns he broke his arm the same day playing for Newark.
July 24, 1911, a team of American League All-Stars plays the Cleveland Naps in a benefit game for the family of Addie Joss. The Naps’ pitcher died on April 14 from a rare form of meningitis. The game raises over $12,600 for Joss’ family. The All-Stars win, 5 - 3. Joe Wood and Walter Johnson pitch for the All-Stars, while Cy Young twirls for the Naps.
July 24 feature nearly 15 broadcasts from 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Join below to listen!
Quote of the day:
George Brett on the 1983 pine tar incident, "If not for that, then I'd only be known for hemorrhoids. So maybe it wasn't so bad of a thing."
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