The Pine Tar Incident is one of Major League Baseball’s most memorable controversies, occurred on July 24, 1983, during a game between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The incident involved Royals third baseman George Brett and revolved around the application of pine tar, a sticky substance used by players to improve their grip on the bat. The event not only highlighted the tension between teams but also led to a significant rule clarification.
It also became part of baseball’s lore.
In the top of the ninth inning, with the Royals trailing 4-3, George Brett hit a dramatic two-run home run off Yankees pitcher Goose Gossage, giving Kansas City a 5-4 lead. However, Yankees manager Billy Martin suspected that Brett’s bat had excessive pine tar. According to MLB rules at the time, the pine tar on a bat handle could not extend more than 18 inches from the tip of the handle. Martin challenged the home run, and the umpires inspected Brett’s bat.
Upon measurement, the umpires determined that the pine tar extended too far up the bat, violating the rule. Home plate umpire Tim McClelland signaled Brett out, nullifying the home run and ending the game with a Yankees victory.
That’s when all hell broke loose. Brett, infuriated by the decision, stormed out of the dugout in a rage, leading to one of the most iconic images in baseball history—Brett being physically restrained as he charged at McClelland.
The Royals immediately filed a protest with the American League, arguing that the rule’s enforcement was overly technical and that the excessive pine tar did not provide any performance advantage. The league president, Lee MacPhail, upheld the protest, ruling that the home run should count and that the game should be resumed from the point of Brett’s home run. This decision was based on the reasoning that the intent of the rule was to prevent damage to baseballs, not to negate home runs in such a manner.
The game was resumed on August 18, 1983, with the Royals maintaining their lead. The completion of the game lasted just 12 minutes, with the Royals securing a 5-4 victory. The incident led to a rule change in MLB, clarifying that excessive pine tar on a bat would not result in an automatic out or nullification of a hit, but rather the bat would simply be removed from the game.
