Pine Tar Incident - Protest and Reversal

Protest and Reversal

The Royals protested the game, and their protest was officially heard by American League President Lee MacPhail, who overruled McClelland's decision and restored Brett's home run.

At the time, MLB Rule 1.10(c) stated: "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. Any such material or substance, which extends past the 18-inch limitation, shall cause the bat to be removed from the game." At the time, such a hit was defined in the rules as an illegally batted ball, and the penalty for hitting "an illegally batted ball" was that the batter was to be declared out, under the explicit terms of the then-existing provisions of Rule 6.06.

However, in explaining his decision, MacPhail noted that the "spirit of the restriction" on pine tar on bats was based not on the fear of unfair advantage, but simple economics; any contact with pine tar would discolor the ball, render it unsuitable for play, and require that it be discarded and replaced -- thus increasing the home team's cost of supplying balls for a given game. MacPhail ruled that Brett had not violated the spirit of the rules nor deliberately "altered to improve the distance factor."

MacPhail also followed his own precedent, established after a protest in 1975 of the September 7 game played between the Royals and the Angels. In that game, the umpire crew had declined to negate one of John Mayberry's home runs for excessive pine tar use. MacPhail upheld the umpires' decision with the view that the intent of the rule was to prevent baseballs from being discolored in game play, and that any discoloration that may have occurred to a ball leaving the ballpark did not affect the game's competitive balance.

MacPhail thus ordered the July 24 game resumed with two outs in the top of the ninth inning with the Royals leading 5–4. He also ruled that Brett was to be ejected for his outburst against McClelland. Dick Howser was also ejected for arguing with the umpires and Gaylord Perry was ejected for giving the bat to the batboy so he could hide it in the clubhouse.