29 years ago today ... George Brett went BALLISTIC

The Pine Tar Incident happened 29 years ago today ...

http://suite101.com/article/george-brett-and-baseballs-great-pine-tar-incident-of-1983-a381869

One of my favorite memories of 1980s baseball. Just awesome with the perfect cast of characters.

 

The best part of that whole story is right before Brett was called out, he told Frank White, "If they call me out, I'm going to kill someone."

I also heard that Brett's sons used to watch that video repeatedly, laughing every time their dad charged out of the dugout.

 

I loved George Brett, easily my fave all-time non-Jays player, and the only picture the missus took of me at the baseball hall was me standing in front of the exhibit with the pine tar bat.

 

As a Graig Nettles fan, I love the fact that he was the one who spotted the pine tar going too far up the bat and mentioned it to Billy Martin who found just the right time to use it.

 

And Tim McClelland is still umping.

I believe they changed the rule so you have to protest before the at bat begins, correct?

 

"The pine tar goes on the ball, George."

 

If I ever get old and cranky enough that the Pine Tar Incident doesn't make me smile, just put me down.

 

Brett was my favorite player as a kid. I was in South Carolina with my grandparents and I don't remember if we were watching the game live or if they broke away from another game, but I remember being so pissed when it happened.

 

As much as I hated the Yankees ending up losing, I've got to admit, it may be the best rhubarb in baseball history.

And I still remember watching the last few outs of the game, which took place nearly two months later. Maybe 1,000 people showed up for about 10 minutes of action. And Guidry was put in the outfield.

 

George Brett would shit his pants if he realized how long ago that happened.

 

This is probably my first vivid memory of a baseball controversy. I first got hooked on the game during the Braves-Dodgers 1982 pennant race, but the 1983 season was the first one that I followed from start to finish.

Brett and Nettles had a long history of hating each other. They got into a fight in the first inning of Game 5 of the 1977 ALCS when Brett slid hard into third (and neither player was ejected).

And yeah, it's pretty amazing that McClelland is still behind the plate after all these years.

 

Forever immortalized by ... The Baseball Bunch!