Baseball and scandals seem to go together like salt and pepper. But somehow, they still keep coming up with fresh ways to shock us. With the case of the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal from the 2017 postseason still fresh, it’s a good time to look at some of the biggest controversies in the sport’s history.
Where do we start? With the rampant cocaine abuse and banned substance violations? Or all those fixed games back in the day? We’ve got everything from teams colluding to individuals making ridiculous choices. But almost every one is worth discussing. Check out the list below.
25. The Pine Tar Incident
Hitters often use pine tar to improve their grips. The MLB has restrictions on the amount you can apply because it gives an advantage, especially in cold weather. In 1983, the Kansas City Royals’ George Brett hit a two-run home run to give his team a lead. But Yankees manager Billy Martin noticed a large amount of pine tar on Brett’s bat.
The umpires nullified his home run and called him out. Finally, the game ended with a Yankees win. But it wasn’t over because the Royals put in a successful protest. The game restarted from the point of Brett’s home run. Of course, the Royals went on to win.