'Pine Tar Game' items headed to auction later this month

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nearly three decades ago, Royals star George Brett raced out of the visiting dugout at Yankee Stadium and got in the face of rookie umpire Tim McClelland, instantly transforming what had been a run-of-the-mill regular-season game in mid-July into an iconic moment in baseball history.

It became known as “The Pine Tar Game.” And now, baseball fans can own a piece of the history.

Later this month, a trove of artifacts connected to the seminal game between the Royals and New York Yankees will be sold by Heritage Auctions. The highlight will be the jersey worn by Brett and expected to fetch more than $100,000, but nearly every other significant piece from that game — except the bat, which is at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York — is on the auction block with the sale set to end the weekend of Feb. 22.

The game took place July 24, 1983, and the Royals were trailing 4-3 with two outs in the ninth inning. U.L. Washington was on first base when Brett connected off Goose Gossage and seemingly gave Kansas City the lead. That's when Yankees manager Billy Martin ambled out of the dugout, approached Tim McClelland and asked that Brett's bat be examined.

Brett was known for using plenty of pine tar to improve his grip, and McClelland decided the amount on his bat exceeded what was allowed by rule. He nullified the home run, called Brett out and that gave the Yankees the win.

That sent Brett into a rage, and he had to be physically restrained by Royals manager Dick Howser and several others. The team lodged a protest and American League president Lee MacPhail upheld it, ordering the game to be continued from the point of Brett's home run on Aug. 18. The Royals wound up holding on for the win.

“It’s just such a glorious freak out,” said Chris Ivy, director...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Pine-Tar-Game-items-headed-to-auction-later-15044986.php