The George Brett pine tar incident was a famous baseball game that took place on July 24, 1983, between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals.
Here's a play-by-play of the incident:
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In the top of the ninth inning, George Brett of the Kansas City Royals hits a two-run home run off of Yankees pitcher Goose Gossage to give the Royals a 5-4 lead.
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Yankees manager Billy Martin comes out of the dugout and protests to the home plate umpire that Brett used too much pine tar on his bat. Martin claims that this gives Brett an unfair advantage and that the home run should not count.
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The umpires huddle and decide to disqualify Brett's home run, citing rule 1.10(c) of the Official Baseball Rules, which states that "the bat handle, for not more than 18 inches from the end, may be covered or treated with any material or substance to improve the grip."
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The umpires signal that Brett is out, and the Yankees are awarded the win. The Royals and their fans are furious, and Brett is ejected from the game.
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The Royals protest the game, and Major League Baseball ultimately rules in favor of the Royals, overturning the umpire's decision and ordering the game to be resumed from the point where Brett hit the home run. The game is completed on August 18, with the Royals winning 5-4.
The incident became one of the most famous in baseball history, and Brett's bat, which is now known as the "pine tar bat," is on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
