July 24
PINE-TARRED BAT DAY
On this day in 1983, Kansas City Royals slugger George Brett slammed a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Royals a 5-4 lead over New York. Or did he?
Seconds after Brett crossed home plate, New York Yankees Manager Billy Martin came out of the dugout to protest that the pine tar on Brett’s bat was more than 18 inches up the bat handle. The umpires measured Brett’s bat, using home plate as a measuring rod, and came to the conclusion that Martin was correct -- and called Brett out -- erasing the Royals lead. Or did they?
The president of the American League, Lee McPhail, later reversed the umpires’ decision on the pine tar and ruled that the game was suspended -- with the Royals leading, 5-4. The game was completed 3 1/2 weeks later, on August 18, 1983, in Yankee Stadium. The outcome of the game? It only took 12 minutes to play the remainder of the contest with the Royals tarring the Yankees 5-4.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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