Poor George!

Tremendous KC Royal on a very short list of Royals to percolate above average. Hall of Famer is the only man to win a batting average crown in three distinct decades. 3000+ hits as a 3rd baseman--most in history. One of four players in history to retire with 3000 hits, 300 homers and a .300 batting avg. (Aaron, Mays, & Musial are the other three). A leader and role model for kids and dads. One stupid call and maniacal reaction accounts for the single thought 99% of us have when searching our hard drives for "George Brett." At least it's not Buckner's horrible glitch.

Yankee's Mgr Billy Martin (who else, right?) noted the high pine tar on Brett's bat three games before using it to erase a two-run Brett homer that put the Royals up a run in the top of the ninth. It played out in slow motion: Brett jacks the ball. Martin strides out to the plate, rule book in one hand - KC batboy holding Brett's bat in the other, to point out the RULE allowed pine tar no farther than 18 inches up the handle. Brett's grubby bat showed smeared pine tar well past 24 inches, almost to the "Louisville Slugger" trademark. The plate umpire read the rule, shrugged, looked into the dugout at Brett, and thumbed "you're out." The out ended the inning to make a win for the Yankees. Brett went CRAZY trying to dismember Martin and the umpires.

Somehow, MLB decided the rule did not apply, or better said, "was misapplied, even though the bat was illegal, its use did not violate the spirit of baseball's rules." The runs went back on the board, the last four outs were finished a few weeks later, and the Royals won. To understand the drama, you have to be from Missouri and remember how much we hated the damned Yankees for breaking the Royals' hearts in the playoffs four of five times they met in the 70's and 80's. That, and Billy Martin earned his reputation for being a prick.

The bat sits in the Hall of Fame with Brett's other cool things. Memorable incident? If you come from Missouri or call yourself a Yankees fan, probably.

He was forever remembered for his reaction or should I say explosion to this ruling by the umpire (the ruling was eventually over turned).