It was 25 years ago today when the infamous Pine Tar Incident took place at Yankee Stadium. I remember it well. I watched the game live on television and I remember thinking “that’s one angry ballplayer” when George Brett came running out of the dugout to face umpire Tim McClelland.
The Royals appealed the ruling that pine tar was too far up the bat handle. The AL president Lee McPhail upheld the appeal the next day and the rest of of game was finished on August 18th. The Royals won the game 5-4 thanks in part to Brett’s ninth-inning two-run homer that almost didn’t count.
Here’s a treat… take a listen to broadcaster Phil Rizzuto’s call of George Brett’s homerun.