Finally. Billy Martin, the mischievous manager of the New York Yankees, had waited for this moment for more than a year. He knew that George Brett, the Kansas City Royals' All-Star third baseman, was breaking an obscure rule. But Martin wasn't going to reveal his secret until it mattered, until it had an effect on a Yankees-Royals game.
That time finally came on July 23, 1983. The Yankees led, 4-3, in the 9th inning. Goose Gossage, the Yankees' dominant closer, was called in to protect the lead. The Yankees, locked in a first-place tie with Baltimore, needed this victory.
Two out and one on. Brett steps in against Gossage, a hard-throwing righty with a menacing persona and delivery. He unleashes one of his signature fastballs, and Brett connects, hammering a bomb over the right field wall. The dramatic two-run homer gives the Royals a 5-4 lead.
As the ball descends into the stands, Martin turns to Sammy Ellis, one of his coaches, and winks. As Brett happily rounds the bases, Martin pops out of dugout to protest the fact that Brett's bat is covered by more than 18 inches of pine tar, the most allowed by major league rules.
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