Inside Pitch (through July 31)

WHAT HAPPENED:
Two outs, one on, top of the ninth, Yankee Stadium, July 24. Kansas City's George Brett hits a two-run homer off Goose Gossage to put the Royals ahead 5-4. Yankee Manager Billy Martin objects to excessive pine tar on Brett's bat. Umpires confer. Brett called out for using an "illegal, bat." Game over. New York wins 4-3.

WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED:

Pick it up after the home run. Martin charges out of the dugout. Confronts Home Plate Umpire Tim McClelland.

"That's not a home run," rages Billy.

"And just why not?" asks McClelland.

"He has too much pine tar on his bat," Martin says indignantly.

"Hey, guys," McClelland yells to the other umps. "Come on over here. You're going to love this."

"Listen to me," screams Martin. "Our guy, Thurman Munson, lost a hit and we got jobbed out of a run back in '75 because he had too much pine tar on his stick. Rule 1.10 specifically states pine tar can't be more than 18 inches from the handle, and 6.06(a) says a batter is out because of an illegally batted ball."

"Nice try, Billy, but you're wrong," says McClelland. "If the Yankees had appealed the Munson incident in '75, you would have won your case. Almost the same thing happened later that season when Kansas City's John Mayberry hit two home runs against California and K.C. won 8-7. California protested he had pine tar beyond 18 inches. American League President Lee MacPhail—you remember him, don't ya, Billy?—denied the protest, ruling, 'Pine tar is not to be considered in the same vein as a doctored or filled bat under rule 6.06(d).' Billy, pine tar is prohibited only because it might mess up the ball—and that's an advantage for the pitcher."

"Furthermore," interjects Crew Chief Joe Brinkman, who has been looking on in amusement, "American League Regulation 4.23 says, 'The use of pine tar in itself shall not be considered doctoring the bat. The 18 inch rule will not be cause for ejection or suspension.' Billy, it couldn't be clearer than that, could it?"