On July 24, 1983, the Royals and Yankees were squaring off at Yankee Stadium. In the top of the ninth with two outs, Royals third baseman George Brett hit a go ahead two run homer off of Goose Gossage to put them up 5-4.
As Brett rounded the bases, manager Billy Martin slowly and calmly walked toward home plate with his hands in his pockets. He went up to the umpires and pointed toward Brett’s bat, it appeared he wanted them to take a closer look at it. Martin argued that the pine tar on it violated MLB’s rule that stated: any foreign substance on a bat could extend no further than 18 inches from the knob. With no ruler available the umps used home plate, which is 17 inches across, to measure and it appeared the tar did indeed exceed the legal limit. After using the length of his arm to confirm, home plate umpire Tim McClelland signaled Brett out, ending the game and giving the Yankees the win.
“The sight of George coming out of the dugout is etched in my mind forever. That roar symbolizes the way he plays the game, the kind of fire he has.” -Don Mattingly
Brett came storming out of the dugout like someone had just smacked his mama. He charged straight toward McClelland and had to be physically restrained by the umpires and Royals coaches. Even though the game was over, Brett was immediately ejected along with Gaylord Perry, Rocky Colavito and manager Dick Howser. Perry, knowing the bat would be taken to the American League office for inspection, had grabbed it and given it to a batboy to keep it away from security. A swarm of men in suits along with umpires chased the batboy into the clubhouse and retrieved the smoking gun.
The Royals protested the game and American League president Lee MacPhail sided with Kansas City, stating that the bat should have been taken out of the game but the home run should have stood. Amid much controversy, the game was resumed on August 18 from the point of the home run with KC up 5-4. Closer Dan Quisenberry retired the Yankees in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the win.
