George Howard Brett (born May 15, 1953 in Glen Dale, West Virginia) is a former Major League Baseball player for the Kansas City Royals. He is considered one of the greatest third basemen in Major League Baseball history. The position of the third baseman A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in the sport of baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base, the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in a counterclockwise succession in order to score a run. ... is the 135th day of the year (136th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... Major league affiliations American League (1969–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 10, 20, 42 Name Kansas City Royals (1969–present) Other nicknames The Boys in Blue Ballpark Kauffman Stadium (1973–present) a. ... is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Major league affiliations American League (1969–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 10, 20, 42 Name Kansas City Royals (1969–present) Other nicknames The Boys in Blue Ballpark Kauffman Stadium (1973–present) a. ... Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively. ... In Major League Baseball history, Ty Cobb had a record 4,191 hits by 1928; Pete Rose would surpass it 57 years later, and finish with 4,256 career hits. ... Mark McGwire swinging for the fences. ... Major league affiliations American League (1969–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 10, 20, 42 Name Kansas City Royals (1969–present) Other nicknames The Boys in Blue Ballpark Kauffman Stadium (1973–present) a. ... In the game of baseball, both amateur and professional, it is tradition to annually recognize the one player in the league who has contributed the most to the success of the players team. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 9 - Al Kaline and Duke Snider are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. ... In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series (ALCS), played in October, is a playoff round that determines the winner of the American League pennant. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 7 - Outfielder Lou Brock and knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. ... The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award is a award created by the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity to recognize the former Major League Baseball player Lou Gehrig. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 8 - Willie McCovey is the only player elected this year to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America, and becomes the 16th player elected in his first year of eligibility. ... The batting championship is awarded to the Major League Baseball player in each the American League and National League who has the highest batting average in a particular season. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 14 - Ted Turner completes the purchase of 100 percent of the Atlanta Braves. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 9 - Al Kaline and Duke Snider are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1990 throughout the world. ... The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the Midsummer Classic, is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by fan vote for the starting position players and by the respective managers (from the previous years World... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 14 - Ted Turner completes the purchase of 100 percent of the Atlanta Braves. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 12 - Former Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Willie Stargell is the only player elected this year to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. ... The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, is a semi-official museum operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of baseball-related... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, is a semi-official museum operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of baseball-related... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1999 throughout the world. ... is the 135th day of the year (136th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Glen Dale is a city located in Marshall County, West Virginia, along the Ohio River. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Major league affiliations American League (1969–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 10, 20, 42 Name Kansas City Royals (1969–present) Other nicknames The Boys in Blue Ballpark Kauffman Stadium (1973–present) a. ... The position of the third baseman Third base redirects here. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

Early life and baseball career

Brett was the youngest of four sons of a sports-minded family which included his oldest brother Ken, a major-league pitcher who had pitched in the World Series in 1967 at just barely 19 years old. (Brothers John & Bobby had brief careers in the minor leagues.) Although George was born in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, the Brett family moved to the Midwest and later to El Segundo, a suburb of Los Angeles, just south of LAX airport. George grew up here, hoping to follow in his three older brothers' footsteps. He graduated from El Segundo High School in 1971 and was drafted by the fledgling Kansas City Royals in the second round (29th overall) of the 1971 baseball draft. Interestingly, Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt was drafted with the next pick (30th) by the Phillies. Kenneth Alven (Kemer) Brett (September 18, 1948-November 18, 2003) was a Major League Baseball pitcher and the older brother of Hall of Famer George Brett. ... For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ... Northern panhandle The Northern Panhandle is a region in the U.S. state of West Virginia. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Area  Ranked 41st  - Total 24,244 sq mi (62,809 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 240 miles (385 km)  - % water 0. ... The El Segundo skyline, as seen from Sepulveda Boulevard (CA/SR-1) El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California on the Santa Monica Bay, incorporated on January 18, 1917. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Runway layout at LAX “LAX” redirects here. ... Major league affiliations American League (1969–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 10, 20, 42 Name Kansas City Royals (1969–present) Other nicknames The Boys in Blue Ballpark Kauffman Stadium (1973–present) a. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 31 - The new Special Veterans Committee selects seven men for enshrinement to the Hall of Fame: former players Dave Bancroft, Jake Beckley, Chick Hafey, Harry Hooper, Joe Kelley, Rube Marquard, and executive George Weiss. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Major league affiliations National League (1883–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 14, 20, 32, 36, 42 Name Philadelphia Phillies (1884–present) Philadelphia Quakers (1883-1889) (Also referred to as Blue Jays 1943-1945 despite formal name remaining Phillies) Other nicknames Phils, The Phightin Phils, The...

Brett began his professional baseball career as a shortstop, but had trouble going to his right defensively and was soon shifted to third base. As a third baseman, his powerful arm remained an asset, and he remained at that spot for well over 15 years. Brett's minor league stops were in Billings, Montana (1971) for Rookie League, San Jose, California (1972) for Single-A, and Omaha, Nebraska in 1973 for Triple-A with the Omaha Royals, batting .291, .274, and .284 respectively. The K.C. Royals promoted him to the major leagues on August 2, 1973, where he played in 13 games and was 5 for 40 (.125). The position of the shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. ... Motto: Star of the Big Sky Country Location in Montana Coordinates: County Yellowstone County Founded 1877 Incorporated 1882 Government  - Mayor Ronald Tussing Area  - City 106 km²  (41 sq mi)  - Water 0. ... Nickname: Location of San Jose within Santa Clara County, California. ... Nickname: Motto: (Latin) Courageously in every enterprise Location in Nebraska Coordinates: , Country United States State Nebraska County Douglas Founded 1854 Incorporated 1857 Government  - Mayor Michael Fahey (D)  - City Clerk Buster Brown  - City Council District 1: Jim Suttle District 2: Frank Brown District 3: Jim Vokal District 4: Garry Gernandt (Council... League Pacific Coast League Division American Conference Year founded 1969 Major League affiliation Kansas City Royals Home ballpark Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium Previous home ballparks {{{previous ballparks}}} City Omaha, Nebraska Current uniform colors blue, red Previous uniform colors blue, gold Logo design A red, capital O outlined in blue with a... Major league affiliations American League (1969–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 10, 20, 42 Name Kansas City Royals (1969–present) Other nicknames The Boys in Blue Ballpark Kauffman Stadium (1973–present) a. ... is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January-March January 3 - A group of investors, headed by shipbuilder George Steinbrenner, purchases the New York Yankees from CBS for $10 million. ...

Brett won the starting third base job in 1974, but struggled at the plate until he asked for help from Charley Lau, the Royals' hitting instructor. Spending the 1974 All-Star break working together, Lau taught Brett how to protect the entire plate and cover up some holes in his swing that experienced big-league pitchers were taking advantage of. Armed with this knowledge, Brett developed rapidly as a hitter, and finished the year with a .282 batting average in 113 games. A blonde haired, very skilled worker with a 70s look. ... Charles Richard Lau (born April 12, 1933, Romulus, Michigan - d. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 16 - The Baseball Writers Association of America elects former New York Yankees teammates Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford to the Hall of Fame. ...

Brett topped the .300 mark for the first time in 1975 with a .308 mark, then won his first batting title in 1976 with a .333 average. The four contenders for the batting title that year were Brett and Royals teammate Hal McRae, and Minnesota Twins teammates Rod Carew and Lyman Bostock. In dramatic fashion, Brett went 2 for 4 in the final game of the season against the Twins, beating out his three rivals, all playing in the same game. His lead over second-place McRae was less than .001. The title was marred by accusations of a racial angle as Twins left fielder Steve Brye let a fly ball drop in front of him. The ball bounced on the Royals Stadium AstroTurf over Brye's head to the wall, and Brett circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run. One batter later, McRae grounded out to assure Brett of the batting crown. This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January-June January 23 - Ralph Kiner is elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 14 - Ted Turner completes the purchase of 100 percent of the Atlanta Braves. ... Harold Abraham McRae (born July 10, 1945 in Avon Park, Florida) is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds (1968, 1970-72) and Kansas City Royals (1973-87). ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 3, 6, 14, 29, 34, 42 Name Minnesota Twins (1961–present) Washington Nationals/Senators (1901-1960) Other nicknames The Twinkies Ballpark Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 1982-present Metropolitan Stadium (1961-1981) Griffith Stadium (1903-1960... Rodney Cline Rod Carew (born October 1, 1945), is a former Major League Baseball player for the Minnesota Twins and California Angels from 1967 to 1985. ... Lyman Wesley Bostock Jr. ... Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium (formerly Royals Stadium) is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. ... Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2006-02-04, and may not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ...

Early career success

From May 8 through May 16, 1976, Brett had 3 base hits in 6 consecutive games, a Major League record. That year, the Royals won the first of three straight West Division titles, beginning a great rivalry with the New York Yankees — whom they faced in the American League Championship Series each of those three years. In the fifth and final game of the 1976 ALCS, Brett hit a three-run homer in the top of the eighth inning to tie the score at six — only to see the Yankees' Chris Chambliss launch a solo shot in the bottom of the ninth to give the Royals' rivals a 7-6 win. is the 128th day of the year (129th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... May 16 is the 136th day of the year (137th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as... The 1976 American League Championship Series was won by the New York Yankees, who defeated the Kansas City Royals 3-2. ... Chris Chambliss (born Carroll Christopher Chambliss on December 26, 1948 in Dayton, Ohio) was a Major League Baseball player from 1971-1988 for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves. ...

A year later, Brett emerged as a power hitter with 22 home runs helping the Royals to another American League Championship Series, 1977. In 1978 Brett batted .294 (the only time between 1976 and 1983 in which he did not bat at least .300) in helping the Royals win a third consecutive American League West title. However, Kansas City once again lost to the Yankees in the ALCS, but not before Brett hit three home runs off Catfish Hunter in Game Three, becoming only the second player (after Bob Robertson in Game Two of the 1971 National League Championship Series) to hit three home runs in an LCS game. In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series (ALCS), played in October, is a playoff round that determines the winner of the American League pennant. ... The 1977 American League Championship Series was a 5-game series played between October 5 and October 9, 1957, at Yankee Stadium (Games 1-2), and Royals Stadium (3-5). ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1978 throughout the world. ... The American League West Division is one of Major League Baseballs six divisions. ... The 1978 American League Championship Series was held between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals. ... James Augustus Catfish Hunter (April 8, 1946 – September 9, 1999), son of Abbott and Millie Hunter, was a prolific Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher between 1965 and 1979. ... Bob Robertson (born Robert Eugene Robertson on October 2, 1946 in Frostburg, Maryland) is a former Major League Baseball player. ... The 1971 National League Championship Series was a best-of-five series that pitted the Eastern Division Champion Pittsburgh Pirates against the Western Division Champion San Francisco Giants. ...

Brett followed that up with a successful 1979 season, in which he finished third in MVP voting. He became the sixth player in league history to have at least 20 doubles, triples and homers all in one season (42-20-23) and led the league in hits, doubles and triples while batting .329, with an on-base percentage of .376 and a slugging percentage of .563. The following are the baseball events of the year 1979 throughout the world. ... In baseball statistics, on base percentage (OBP) (sometimes referred to as on base average (OBA)) is a measure of how often a batter gets to first base for any reason other than a fielding error or a fielders choice. ... In baseball statistics, slugging average (SLG) is a measure of the power of a hitter. ...

1980

All these impressive statistics were just a prelude to 1980, when Brett won the American League MVP and batted .390, a modern record for a third baseman. Brett's batting average was at or above .400 as late in the season as September 19, and the country closely followed his quest to bat .400 for an entire season, a feat which has not been accomplished since Ted Williams in 1941. This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 9 - Al Kaline and Duke Snider are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. ... In the game of baseball, both amateur and professional, it is tradition to annually recognize the one player in the league who has contributed the most to the success of the players team. ... The position of the third baseman Third base redirects here. ... is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002), best known as Ted Williams, nicknamed The Kid, the Splendid Splinter, Teddy Ballgame and The Thumper, was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1941 throughout the world. ...

Brett's 1980 batting average of .390 is second only to Tony Gwynn's 1994 average of .394 for the highest single season batting average in the last 65 years (next at .388 are Rod Carew (1977) and Ted Williams (1957). Brett also recorded 118 RBI, while appearing in just 117 games. Anthony Keith Gwynn (born May 9, 1960 in Los Angeles, California) is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball, statistically one of the best and most consistent hitters in baseball history. ... The following are the events of the year 1994 that happened world-wide throughout the sport of baseball. ... Rodney Cline Rod Carew (born October 1, 1945), is a former Major League Baseball player for the Minnesota Twins and California Angels from 1967 to 1985. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1977 throughout the world. ... Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002), best known as Ted Williams, nicknamed The Kid, the Splendid Splinter, Teddy Ballgame and The Thumper, was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1957 throughout the world. ... In baseball statistics, a run batted in (RBI) is given to a batter for each run scored as the result of a batters plate appearance. ...

Brett started out slowly, hitting only .259 in April. In May, he hit .329 to get his season average to .301. In June, the 27 year-old third baseman hit .472 (17-36), raising the season's average to .337, but played his last game for a month on June 10, not returning to the line-up until after the All-Star Break on July 10. June 10 is the 161st day of the year (162nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

In July, after being off for a month, he played in 21 games and hit .494 (42-85), raising his season average to .390. Brett started a 30-game hitting streak on July 18, which lasted until he went 0-3 on August 19 (the following night he went 3-3). During these 30 games Brett hit .467 (57-122). His high mark for the season came a week later, when the batting average was at .407 on August 26, after he went 5-5 on a Tuesday night in Milwaukee. He batted .430 for the month of August (30 games), and his season average was at .403 with 5 weeks to go. For the three hot months of June, July, and August 1980, George Brett played in 60 American League games and hit .459 (111-242), most of it after a return from a month-long injury. For these 60 games he had 69 RBI's and 14 home runs. In baseball, a hitting streak refers to the consecutive number of official games in which a player gets at least one base hit. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Major league affiliations National League (1998–present) Central Division (1998–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 4, 19, 34, 42, 44 Name Milwaukee Brewers (1970–present) Seattle Pilots (1969) Ballpark Miller Park (2001–present) County Stadium (1970-2000) Sicks Stadium (Seattle) (1969) Major league titles World Series titles (0) None... American League The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ...

Brett missed another 10 days in early September and hit just .290 for the month. His average was at .400 as late as September 19, but he then had 4 for 27 slump, and the average dipped to .384 on September 27, with a week to play. For the final week, Brett went 10-19, which included going 2 for 4 in the final regular season game on October 4. His season average ended up at .390 (175 hits in 449 at-bats = .389755), and he averaged more than one RBI per game. Brett was the first major league player since 1950 (Walt Dropo and Ted Williams, both of Boston Red Sox) to have more than one RBI per game (90 or more RBI's). Brett led the league in both on-base percentage (.454) and slugging percentage (.664) on his way to capturing 17 of 28 possible first-pace votes in the MVP race. [1]. Since Al Simmons also batted .390 in 1931 for the Philadelphia Athletics, only higher averages subsequent to 1931 were by Ted Williams of the Red Sox (.406 in 1941) and Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres (.394 in strike-shortened 1994 season). October 4 is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... In baseball statistics, on base percentage (OBP) (sometimes referred to as on base average (OBA)) is a measure of how often a batter gets to first base for any reason other than a fielding error or a fielders choice. ... In baseball statistics, slugging average (SLG) is a measure of the power of a hitter. ... Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002), best known as Ted Williams, nicknamed The Kid, the Splendid Splinter, Teddy Ballgame and The Thumper, was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball. ... The Boston Red Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Boston, Massachusetts. ... Anthony Keith Gwynn (born May 9, 1960 in Los Angeles, California) is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball, statistically one of the best and most consistent hitters in baseball history. ... Major league affiliations National League (1969–present) West Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 6, 19, 31, 35, 42 Name San Diego Padres (1969–present) Other nicknames Pads, Friars Ballpark PETCO Park (2004–present) Qualcomm Stadium (1969-2003) a. ...

More importantly, the Royals won the American League West, and would face the Eastern champion Yankees in the ALCS. Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as... The 1980 American League Championship Series faced the 97-65 Kansas City Royals against the team that had defeated them three straight years in the ALCS from 1976-1978, the 103-59 New York Yankees. ...

1980 post-season

In the 1980 post-season, Brett led the Royals to their first American League pennant, sweeping the playoffs in three games from the rival Yankees who had beaten K.C. in the 1976, 1977 and 1978 playoffs. In Game 3, Brett hit a ball well into the third deck of Yankee Stadium off of Yankees closer Goose Gossage. Long-time ABC broadcaster Howard Cosell commented "...it looked like Gossage let up on that pitch that Brett hit out, and Brett made him pay for it." A few seconds later the ABC radar gun showed the pitch's speed at 98 mph, Gossage's fastest pitch of the game. The 1980 American League Championship Series faced the 97-65 Kansas City Royals against the team that had defeated them three straight years in the ALCS from 1976-1978, the 103-59 New York Yankees. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as... The 1976 American League Championship Series was won by the New York Yankees, who defeated the Kansas City Royals 3-2. ... The 1977 American League Championship Series was a 5-game series played between October 5 and October 9, 1957, at Yankee Stadium (Games 1-2), and Royals Stadium (3-5). ... The 1978 American League Championship Series was held between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals. ... This is about the stadium the New York Yankees currently play in. ... Richard Michael Goose Gossage (born July 5, 1951, in Colorado Springs, Colorado) is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. ... Howard William Cosell, born Howard William Cohen (March 25, 1918 – April 23, 1995) was an American sports journalist on American television. ... The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) operates television and radio networks in the United States and is also shown on basic cable in Canada. ...

George Brett then hit .375 in the 1980 World Series, but the Royals lost in six games to the Philadelphia Phillies. During the Series, Brett made headlines for reasons other than his play on the field. After leaving Game 2 in the 6th inning due to hemorrhoid pain, Brett had minor surgery the next day, and in Game 3 returned to hit a home run as his Royals wound up winning in 10 innings by the score of 4-3. (In 1981 he would miss two weeks of Spring training to have his hemorrhoids removed.^[1]) haha ... Major league affiliations National League (1883–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 14, 20, 32, 36, 42 Name Philadelphia Phillies (1884–present) Philadelphia Quakers (1883-1889) (Also referred to as Blue Jays 1943-1945 despite formal name remaining Phillies) Other nicknames Phils, The Phightin Phils, The... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

The Pine Tar Incident

The baseball bat used by George Brett in the Pine Tar Incident on July 24, 1983.

Brett had injuries on-and-off for the next four years, during which occurred the most notable event in his career, the notorious "Pine Tar Incident". On July 24, 1983, the Royals were playing the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. In the top of the ninth inning, Brett came up to bat against Goose Gossage, his old rival. Brett hit a two-run homer, to put the Royals up 5-4. After Brett rounded the bases, Yankees manager Billy Martin calmly walked out of the dugout and used home plate to measure the amount of pine tar, a legal substance used by hitters to improve their grip, on Brett's bat. Martin cited an obscure rule that stated the pine tar on a bat could extend no further than 18 inches. Brett's pine tar extended about 24 inches. Earlier in the season, the Yankees had noted Brett's habit of adding pine tar further than the allowed 18 inches, but waited until a crucial time to point it out to the umpires. (Martin flip-flopped from righteously invoking the rule about pine tar on the bat, to claiming that the rules have no better use than as toilet paper. Source: The Baseball Hall of Shame by Nash and Zullo.) Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 83 pixel Image in higher resolution (964 × 100 pixel, file size: 15 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)The baseball bat used by George Brett in the Pine Tar Incident on July 24, 1983. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 83 pixel Image in higher resolution (964 × 100 pixel, file size: 15 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)The baseball bat used by George Brett in the Pine Tar Incident on July 24, 1983. ... Four historically significant baseball bats showcased in the National Baseball Hall of Fames traveling exhibit Baseball As America. ... George Howard Brett (born May 15, 1953 in Glen Dale, West Virginia near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is a former American baseball player. ... is the 205th day of the year (206th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1983 throughout the world. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as... This is about the stadium the New York Yankees currently play in. ... Richard Michael Goose Gossage (born July 5, 1951, in Colorado Springs, Colorado) is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. ... Alfred Manuel Billy Martin (May 16, 1928 – December 25, 1989) was an American second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball who was best known as the manager of the New York Yankees five different times. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ...

"I've never seen this," said sportscaster and ex-Yankee Bobby Murcer on WPIX as he watched McClelland measure the bat across the plate. "I never have either," said Murcer's partner, Frank Messer. A few moments later, the home plate umpire, Tim McClelland, signaled Brett out. Bobby Ray Murcer (born May 20, 1946, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) was a professional baseball player for 17 seasons. ... WPIX, channel 11, is a television station in New York City. ... Wallace Frank Messer (1925 - 2001) was an American sportscaster, best known for his 18 seasons announcing New York Yankees baseball games. ... Timothy Reid McClelland (born December 12, 1951 in Jackson, Michigan) is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the American League from 1983 to 1999 and throughout both leagues since 2000. ...

The normally mild-mannered Brett charged out of the dugout, enraged, and was immediately ejected. An incredulous Messer:

Years later, Brett explained his outburst by saying "It was just such an extraordinary thing to hit a homer off [Gossage], the thought of losing it was too much". In the same interview he also humorously chided his teammate Hal McRae (who was on deck) for not removing the bat from home plate before Billy Martin could have it inspected. "If Hal had [taken the bat], then I'd only be known for hemorrhoids," Brett quipped [2]. Harold Abraham McRae (born July 10, 1945 in Avon Park, Florida) is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds (1968, 1970-72) and Kansas City Royals (1973-87). ...

The Royals protested the game, and their protest was upheld by AL president (and former Yankees chief executive) Lee MacPhail, who ruled that the bat was not "altered to improve the distance factor", and that the rules only provided for removal of the bat from the game, and not calling the batter out. When an umpire makes a decision that a manager feels is incorrect, the manager may decide to protest the decision. ... Leland Stanford MacPhail, Jr. ...

The game was continued later that season, starting after Brett's homer. Billy Martin had one last trick up his sleeve, appealing the play before, saying the umpires had no way of knowing Brett and the other runner had touched all the bases. Martin was stunned when the umpires produced affidavits saying he had. The game had virtually no effect on 1983's pennant race, but was in many ways the closing chapter on a heated rivalry. The video of the enraged Brett is replayed often on the anniversary date of July 24, and the Pine Tar Game has become part of baseball folklore. Brett's famous pine tar bat is now on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. is the 205th day of the year (206th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, located at 62 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, is a semi-official museum operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of baseball-related... Cooperstown is a village in Otsego County, New York and is the County Seat. ...

1985

In 1985, Brett had another brilliant season in which he helped propel the Royals to their second pennant. He batted .335 with 30 home runs and 112 RBI, finishing in the top 10 of the league in 10 different offensive categories. Defensively, he won his only Gold Glove. In the final week of the regular season, he went 9-for-20 at the plate with 7 runs, 5 homers, and 9 RBI in six crucial games, five of them victories, as they Royals closed a gap and won the division title at the end. He was MVP of the 1985 playoffs against the Toronto Blue Jays, with an incredible game 3. With KC down in games 2-0, Brett homered in his first two at bats against Doyle Alexander, and doubled to the same spot in right field in his third at bat, leading the Royals comeback. Brett then batted .370 in the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, as the Royals again rallied from a 3-1 deficit to become World Series Champions for the first and only time in Royals history. This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 7 - Outfielder Lou Brock and knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. ... In American baseball, the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to simply as the Gold Glove, is the award annually given to the Major League player judged to be the most superior individual fielding performance at each position (in each league), as voted by the managers and coaches in each... The 1985 American League Championship Series was played between the Kansas City Royals and the Toronto Blue Jays from October 8 to October 16, 1985. ... Major league affiliations American League (1977–present) East Division (1977–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 42 Name Toronto Blue Jays (1977–present) Other nicknames The Jays Ballpark Rogers Centre (1989–present) a. ... Doyle Lafayette Alexander (born September 4, 1950, Cordova, Alabama) was a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers. ... The 1985 World Series, popularly known as the Show-Me Series and the I-70 showdown Series, pitted the National League champion St. ... Major league affiliations National League (1892–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 2, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 42, 42, 45, 85 Name St. ...

George Brett and Bret Saberhagen embrace as the Kansas City Royals win their first ever World Championship (1985).

Image File history File links Royals_85. ... Image File history File links Royals_85. ...

Later career

In 1988, Brett moved across the diamond to first base in an effort to reduce his chances of injury and had another MVP-calibre season with a .306 average, 24 homers and 104 RBI. But after batting just .290 with 16 homers the next year, it looked like his career might be slowing down. He got off to a terrible start in 1990 and at one point even considered retirement. But his manager, former teammate John Wathan, encouraged him to stick it out. Finally, in July, the slump ended and Brett batted .386 for the rest of the season. In September, he caught Rickey Henderson for the league lead, and in a battle down to the last day of the season, captured his third batting title with a .329 mark. This made him the first player in history to win batting titles in three different decades. This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 12 - Former Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Willie Stargell is the only player elected this year to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1990 throughout the world. ... John Wathan (born October 4, 1949 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa) was a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager for the Kansas City Royals. ... Rickey Henley Henderson (born December 25, 1958) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who is baseballs all-time leader in stolen bases[1] and runs scored. ...

Brett played three more seasons for the Royals, mostly as their designated hitter, but occasionally filling in for injured teammates at first base. He passed the 3,000-hit mark in 1992 and retired after the 1993 season. In his final at-bat, he hit a single up the middle against Rangers closer Tom Henke and scored on a home run by teammate Gary Gaetti. This article or section needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1992 throughout the world. ... // This year in baseball Events January - Reggie Jackson is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America, receiving 94% of the vote. ... Thomas Anthony (Tom) Henke (born December 21, 1957 in Kansas City, Missouri) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. ... Gary Joseph Gaetti (born August 19, 1958 in Centralia, Illinois), nicknamed G-Man (Rat during his earlier days), is an American former third baseman in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins (1981-90), California Angels (1991-93), Kansas City Royals (1993-95), St. ...

The Kansas City Royals have retired Brett's number 5. Major league affiliations American League (1969–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 10, 20, 42 Name Kansas City Royals (1969–present) Other nicknames The Boys in Blue Ballpark Kauffman Stadium (1973–present) a. ...

He was voted the Hometown Hero for the Royals in a 2-month fan vote. This was revealed on the night of September 27, 2006 in an hour-long telecast on ESPN. He is one of the few players to receive over 400,000 votes.^[2] Hometown Heroes was a program sponsored by DHL. On September 27, 2006, Major League Baseball announced a list of players, one from each team, voted by MLB fans: † player spent his entire career with one team The Official Hometown Heroes Panel Orestes Destrade (ESPN and XM Satellite Radio broadcaster) Steve... is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... ESPN, formerly an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American cable television network dedicated to broadcasting sports-related programming 24 hours a day. ...

Legacy

His 3,154 career hits are the most by any third baseman in major league history, and 15th all-time. Baseball historian Bill James regards him as the second-best third baseman of all time, trailing only his contemporary, Mike Schmidt. Brett was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999, with what was then the fourth-highest voting percentage in baseball history (98.2%), trailing only Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, and Ty Cobb. In 2007, Cal Ripken Jr. passed Brett with 98.5% of the vote. His voting percentage was higher than all-time outfielders Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Stan Musial, Ted Williams, and Joe DiMaggio. That same year, he ranked Number 55 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Brett is one of four players in MLB history to accumulate 3000 hits, 300 home runs, and a career .300 batting average (the others are Stan Musial, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron). Most indicative of his hitting style, Brett is fifth on the career doubles list, with 665 (trailing Tris Speaker, Pete Rose, Stan Musial, and Ty Cobb). Combining his superior hitting skill with his great defensive ability and team focus (& humility), George Brett is arguably one of the most complete baseball players of all time. George William “Bill” James (born October 5, 1949 in Holton, Kansas) is a baseball writer, historian and statistician whose work has been widely influential. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1999 throughout the world. ... George Thomas Seaver (born November 17, 1944 in Fresno, California) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the major leagues in 1967 and retired in 1986. ... Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. ... Tyrus Raymond Ty Cobb (December 18, 1886 – July 17, 1961), nicknamed The Georgia Peach, was a Hall of Fame baseball player. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Cal Ripken, Jr. ... George Herman Ruth, Jr. ... Henry Louis Hank Aaron (born February 5, 1934 in Mobile, Alabama), nicknamed Hammer, Hammerin Hank”, or Bad Henry”, is a retired American baseball player whose Major League Baseball (MLB) career spanned the 1950s through the 1970s. ... Willie Howard Mays, Jr. ... Stanley Frank Musial, originally Stanisław Franciszek Musiał, (pronounced Myou-zee-ull, IPA: /mjuz. ... Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002), best known as Ted Williams, nicknamed The Kid, the Splendid Splinter, Teddy Ballgame and The Thumper, was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Sporting News (TSN) is an American-based sports newspaper. ... In 1998, The Sporting News compiled a list of Baseballs Greatest Players. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Stanley Frank Musial, originally Stanisław Franciszek Musiał, (pronounced Myou-zee-ull, IPA: /mjuz. ... Willie Howard Mays, Jr. ... Henry Louis Hank Aaron (born February 5, 1934 in Mobile, Alabama), nicknamed Hammer, Hammerin Hank”, or Bad Henry”, is a retired American baseball player whose Major League Baseball (MLB) career spanned the 1950s through the 1970s. ... Tristram E. Speaker (April 4, 1888 in Hubbard, Texas - December 8, 1958 in Lake Whitney, Texas), nicknamed “Spoke” (a play on his last name) and “Grey Eagle” (for his prematurely graying hair), was an American baseball player known as one of the best offensive and defensive center fielders in history. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Stanley Frank Musial, originally Stanisław Franciszek Musiał, (pronounced Myou-zee-ull, IPA: /mjuz. ... Tyrus Raymond Ty Cobb (December 18, 1886 – July 17, 1961), nicknamed The Georgia Peach, was a Hall of Fame baseball player. ...

Post baseball activities

Following the end of his baseball career, Brett became a vice president of the Royals and has worked as a part-time coach, as a special instructor in spring training, filling in as the batting coach, and as a minor league instructor dispatched to help prospects develop. In 1998, an investor group headed by Brett and his older brother, Bobby, made an unsuccessful bid to purchase the Kansas City Royals. He also runs a baseball equipment company, Brett Bros., with Bobby and, until his death, Ken Brett. He has also leant his name to a restaurant on the Country Club Plaza. A Grapefruit League game at the LA Dodgers camp in Vero Beach, Florida In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of exhibition games which precedes the regular season. ... This year in baseball 1995 - 1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 Events January-March January 5 - Don Sutton, a 324-game winner is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his fifth try. ... Kenneth Alven (Kemer) Brett (September 18, 1948-November 18, 2003) was a Major League Baseball pitcher and the older brother of Hall of Famer George Brett. ... Kansas Citys Country Club Plaza The Country Club Plaza (often referred to as the Plaza) is an upscale shopping district in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It was the first shopping center in the world designed to accommodate shoppers arriving by automobile. ...

In 1992, Brett married the former Leslie Davenport and they currently reside in the Kansas City suburb of Mission Hills, KS. The couple has three children: Jackson (named after his father), Dylan, and Robin (named for fellow Hall of Famer Robin Yount of the Milwaukee Brewers). Robin Rachel Yount (born September 16, 1955 in Danville, Illinois) is a former Major League Baseball player who spent his entire career with the Milwaukee Brewers (1974-1994). ... Major league affiliations National League (1998–present) Central Division (1998–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 4, 19, 34, 42, 44 Name Milwaukee Brewers (1970–present) Seattle Pilots (1969) Ballpark Miller Park (2001–present) County Stadium (1970-2000) Sicks Stadium (Seattle) (1969) Major league titles World Series titles (0) None...

See also

• Top 500 home run hitters of all time
• List of major league players with 2,000 hits
• List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
• List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
• 3000 hit club
• 3000-300 club
• Hitting for the cycle
• List of Major League Baseball batting champions
• Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game

In the sport of baseball, a home run is the act of hitting the ball in such a manner, whether out of the park or in (see inside the park home run), that allows the batter to safely reach home and score in one play. ... Below is the list of Major League Baseball players who have reached the 2,000 hit milestone. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with List of Major League Baseball all-time leaders in doubles. ... Below is the list of 158 Major League Baseball players who have reached the 100 triple milestone. ... Below is the list of Major League Baseball players who have reached the 1,000 runs milestone. ... Below is the list of 250 Major League Baseball players who have reached the 1,000 RBI milestone. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The 3000-300 club is an informal name for the list of Major League Baseball players who have achieved 3000 hits and 300 home runs. ... Eric Davis hit for the cycle in 1989 In baseball, a player hits for the cycle when he hits a single, a double, a triple and a home run in the same game, though not necessarily in that order. ... The batting championship is awarded to the Major League Baseball player in each the American League and National League who has the highest batting average in a particular season. ... Listed below are the occurrences of Major League Baseball players who have hit three home runs in a single game. ...

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or The Baseball Cube
• George Brett: career statistics at Baseball-Almanac.com
• George Brett: 1980 game logs at Baseball-Almanac.com
• All-time career hits leaders #15 George Brett (3154)
• Baseball Hall of Fame - George Brett - inducted 1999
• mlb.com Article on Pine Tar game of July 24, 1983
• Sports Illustrated cover 21-Jun-1976 age 23
• Sports Illustrated cover 13-Apr-1981 age 27 w/ Mike Schmidt age 31 1980 MVP's
• Sports Illustrated cover 12-Mar-1984 age 30
• Sports Illustrated cover 20-Apr-1987 What They Make
• Sports Illustrated cover 05-Oct-1992 age 39
• All-time career doubles leaders #5 George Brett (665)
• Hall of Fame voting percentage #4 George Brett (98.2%)
• Hall of Fame induction speech transcript 25-July-1999
• Sporting News' Baseball's 25 Greatest Moments: George Brett and the Goose
• Pine Tar game of July 24, 1983: Baseball's Best from MLB.com
• Pine Tar game at 20 years from MLB.com
• Book Excerpt by Jeffrey Spivak of the Kansas City Star
• 'Gifted & Tenacious' Sports Illustrated 05-Jan-1999
• George Brett's line of baseball equipment at BrettBros.com
• George Brett's restaurant on the Kansas City Plaza at GeorgeBretts.com