By BRIAN COSTELLO
Last updated: 12:56 pm
July 7, 2008
Posted: 3:44 am
July 6, 2008
As both New York baseball stadiums prepare to close, The Post looks back at the 25 most memorable moments in the history of Yankee Stadium. This week: No. 12.
JULY 24, 1983
It may have been the most bizarre chapter in Yankee Stadium history. George Brett homered to give the Royals a victory, then had that home run taken away, then had it reinstated and after two court hearings, three weeks and much bickering a 5-4 Royals victory was completed.
It began with Brett's two-out, two-run home run in the ninth inning off Goose Gossage. The shot put Kansas City up 5-4. As Brett rounded the bases, Yankees manager Billy Martin walked onto the field and told the umpires he believed Brett's bat was illegal because it had pine tar more than 18 inches from the bottom of the bat, an obscure baseball rule.
The umpires laid Brett's bat down across home plate, which is 17 inches, and ruled that Brett's bat did have pine tar beyond the legal limit. Home plate umpire Tim McLelland signed Brett out and the future Hall of Famer went nuts.
"I couldn't believe it," Brett said after the game.
He raced out of the dugout in a rage at McLelland. Crew chief Joe Brinkman intercepted him and restrained him.
Meanwhile, Royals pitcher Gaylord Perry tried to get rid of the evidence. He grabbed the bat and began passing it back through the dugout tunnel, but it was eventually grabbed by security.
The game was over and the Yankees won 4-3, for a little while at least.
Four days after the game, American League president Lee MacPhail overruled the umpire's decision, saying it was not the intention of the rule. The Yankees were livid. Owner George Steinbrenner ripped MacPhail and later would be fined for his comments.
The game was to be resumed on Aug. 18 with two out in the top of the ninth and the Royals up, 5-4. There were two court hearings on the day of the resumed game on whether it would be played. Eventually, an appellate judge said, "Play ball."
The resumed game took 9 minutes, 41 seconds and the Royals won 5-4. Martin protested that Brett had not touched all the bases but the umpires did not side with him this time. Ron Guidry played center field, replacing Jerry Mumphrey, who was traded before the game resumed. Don Mattingly, a lefty, played second base for Bert Campaneris, who was on the disabled list.
