LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A legendary piece of baseball history is being showcased at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory.
George Brett's iconic "pine tar" bat is on display at the museum in downtown Louisville.
The bat became famous during a July 24, 1983 game between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees, when umpires overturned Brett's home run for having too much pine tar on his bat.
According to Louisville Slugger, Brett hit a two-run go-ahead during that home run against the Yankees. The Yankees' manager contested it, claiming Brett's bat had "excessive pine tar." Umpires then ruled the run "invalid."
The call "sparked a classic moment in baseball history" — Brett charging out of the dugout toward the umpires in protest of the ruling.
The bat is on loan from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.
The display runs through Dec. 5.
Louisville | Kentucky | Indiana | Eric Crawford
The museum will honor Brett next week, on Nov. 13, presenting him with its Living Legend Award.
"I'm incredibly honored to be named this year's Living Legend," Brett said in a news release. "Louisville Slugger bats were a part of my career from the very beginning, and it means a lot to be recognized by a place that's so deeply tied to baseball's history."
"One of the most beloved and accomplished players in Major League Baseball history," Brett spent his entire 21-season career on the Royals team, where he "remains one of the franchise's most revered figures."
According to stats provided by the Louisville Slugger Museum, throughout his storied career, Brett was a 13-time All Star, 3-time Batting Champion, the 1980 American League MVP, and recorded more than 3,000 hits by the end of his career. Brett was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 with 98.2% of the vote.
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