The 1983 New York Yankees season was the 81st season for the Yankees. The team finished in third place in the American League East with a record of 91âÂÂ71, finishing 7 games behind the Baltimore Orioles. New York was managed by Billy Martin. The Yankees played their home games at Yankee Stadium.
For the fourth straight spring training, the Yankees played an exhibition game at the Louisiana Superdome. On March 27, 1983, the Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2 to 1 behind six shutout innings from Doyle Alexander. Attendance was 15,129 for the game.
The Pine Tar Game refers to a controversial incident that took place in an American League baseball game played between the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees on July 24, 1983.
Playing at New York's Yankee Stadium, the Royals were trailing 4âÂÂ3 with two outs in the top of the ninth and U L Washington on first base. In the on deck circle, George Brett was heard remarking to a teammate, "Watch this baby fly" as he shook his bat. He then came to the plate and connected off Yankee reliever Rich "Goose" Gossage for a two-run home run and a 5âÂÂ4 lead. As Brett crossed the plate, New York manager Billy Martin approached home plate umpire Tim McClelland and requested that Brett's bat be examined. Earlier in the season, Martin and other members (most notably, third baseman Graig Nettles, who as a member of the Minnesota Twins, recalled a similar incident involving Thurman Munson) of the Yankees had noticed the amount of pine tar used by Brett, but Martin had chosen not to say anything until the home run.
With Brett watching from the dugout, McClelland and the rest of the umpiring crew inspected the bat. Measuring the bat against the width of home plate (which is 17 inches), they determined that the amount of pine tar on the bat's handle exceeded that allowed by Rule 1.10(b) of the Major League Baseball rule book, which read that "a bat may not be covered by such a substance more than 18 inches from the tip of the handle." McClelland then turned to the Royals dugout, where Brett was standing watching the discussion, and ruled him out. An irate Brett charged out of the dugout to argue his case and had to be held back by several of his teammates.
The call ended the game and gave the Yankees a 4-3 victory, but a protest by the Royals was successful. The home run was restored and the two teams returned to the field on August 18 for the final four outs of the contest, and Brett, manager Dick Howser, pitcher Gaylord Perry (who attempted to steal the bat), and coach Rocky Colavito were all ejected from the game (Brett for the illegal bat and the others for their actions in the aftermath). George Frazier struck out Hal McRae to end the top of the ninth, and Dan Quisenberry retired the Yankees in order in the bottom half to preserve the 5-4 victory. Mike Armstrong was given the win with Gossage taking the loss.
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Ron Guidry and Dave Winfield represented the Yankees at the 1983 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Gold Gloves were awarded to pitcher, Guidry and outfielder, Winfield.
Winfield also won the Silver Slugger Award.