It's July 24, 1983. The Royals are down 3-4 against the Yankees in the top of the ninth. George Brett cranks a two-run homer off his hated rival, Goose Gossage. It's the kind of trademark move that makes him our hometown hero. Afterward, when an umpire notes that Brett had too much pine tar on the handle of his bat and calls him out, Brett endears himself even more: He storms the field to kill the ump. Players clear the benches. Brett has to be restrained repeatedly for seven minutes until he is finally dragged away and ejected. The Pine Tar Incident resurfaced this past summer on the Internet, and the Royals trotted out the event to promote George Brett pine tar T-shirts, complete with tar-looking smears, to honor the icon's gung-ho moment. For fans, the promotion was a timely reminder of why we love the Royals: Whether they win or lose or cheat or whatever, they're still willing to kick a little ass.
