July 24, 1983: The Pine Tar Incident | George Brett's potentially game-winning home run is ruled an out due to an illegal bat

GEORGE BRETT - ‘THE INFAMOUS PINE TAR GAME’ On July 24, 1983, in Yankee Stadium, the Yankees led the Royals 4-3 with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. Down to their last out, George Brett came to bat with one runner on base. He belted a two-run home run off of Rich Gossage, giving the Royals a 5-4 lead. Yankee Manager Billy Martin charged the field demanding that Home Plate Umpire Tim McClelland inspect Brett’s bat for too much pine tar. McClelland measured the bat across the width of home plate and ruled that Brett had pine tar too far up on the bat in violation of Rule 1.10(b). As a result, McClelland called Brett out for using an illegal bat, resulting in the final out of the game and a Yankees victory. The Royals protested the game and later American League President Lee MacPhail reversed the ruling on the field, ordering that the home run should count and that the game should be resumed with two outs in the ninth and the Royals leading 5-4. On August 18, 1983, the final four outs of the game were played in Yankee Stadium, with the Royals holding on for a very unusual 5-4 win.