Foul Ball

Throughout a 7-4, 11-inning Toronto win in the opener of a three-game series in Kansas City, the Royals complained about Umpire Joe Brinkman's work behind the plate. After the game K.C. Outfielder Willie Wilson argued heatedly with Brinkman.

"I could write him up [in a report to the league office]," Brinkman said later that night, "but I'm not going to because he'll be going [be thrown out] every night when I see him, anyhow. Whenever he looks at me cross-eyed, or just looks at me. If he apologizes, I'll run him. I just don't care if the man ever plays a baseball game when I'm on the field ever, ever again."

Brinkman's comments were extraordinary for a man in a profession in which acting on a grudge could affect the outcome of a game. He showed considerably better judgment by not carrying out his threat in the rest of the series.