Do Baseball players really put pine tar on their bats?

Answer 1

Of course, just ask George Brett!!!!!!

Answer 2

Yes. As Mick said, just ask George Brett. 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 (at the suggestion of his third baseman Graig Nettles) came out of the dugout and used home plate to measure the amount of pine tar on Brett's bat, citing 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.

"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, signalled Brett out.

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

George Brett (baseball)
Look at this!...He is out, and having to be forcibly restrained from hitting plate umpire Tim McClelland. And the Yankees have won the ball game 4 to 3!

George Brett (baseball)

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.

The game was replayed, 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 had touched all the bases. 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.

Answer 3

Yes
Use of pine tar in baseball
An additional, minor use of pine tar is as the sticky substance baseball players use on their bats to improve grip. Pine tar is applied liberally to Major League Baseball bats every season in the United States of America. Because of its texture, pine tar improves a batter's grip on the bat and prevents the bat from slipping out of their hands during hard swings.

Rule 1.10(c) of the 2002 Official Rules of Major League Baseball states that batters may apply pine tar only from the handle of the bat extending up for 18 inches.

Pine tar is also sometimes used by pitchers in baseball to improve grip on the ball in cold weather, although it is questionable whether it gives a pitcher any competitive advantage. However, the application of any foreign substance to a ball is expressly prohibited by 8.02 of the MLB Official Rules[1], and, if caught, results in an automatic ten-game

Answer 4

Definitely. And some really push the legal limits nowadays. It gives the hitter an edge in terms of grip. Even pitchers use pine tar to get more movement on the ball. It is an old trick but was brought to everyone's attention especially when Rogers used it in the World Series. That wasn't dirt. Believe me. I used to pitch. Some players even have pine tar all over their helmets (V. Guerrero). Haha.

Answer 5

YES, BASEBALL PLAYERS DO PUT PINE TAR ON THEIR BAT HANDLES. THE REASON THEY DO THIS IS SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY LOOSEN THEIR GRIP SLIGHTLY ON THE BAT. GRIPPING THE BAT TOO TIGHTLY, IN MOST CASES, CAUSES THE ELBOWS TO DROP, THUS CAUSING THE BAT TO DROP, WHICH ALTERS THE SWING. THIS ALTERATION IN THE SWING CAN CAUSE THE BATTER TO HIT THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE BALL, THUS CAUSING A POP-UP, OR CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE THE BAT TO SWING COMPLETELY BELOW THE BALL. THE PINE TAR ON THEIR HELMETS IS THERE FROM THEM ADJUSTING THEM WITH THE PINE TAR STUCK TO THEIR BATTING GLOVES.

Answer 6

Duh of course, and I'm a girl. Have you ever watched the ANGELS. This one player ( I forgot his name ) has pine tar all over his helmet. It looks like he's been playing for years. I think he should buy a new helmet. Unless he thinks it's good luck than he should keep it on.

Answer 7

Yes to help them get a better grip on the bat &
Kenny Rogers likes to use it on his hand but it
is considered illegal.

Answer 8

Watch them in the on deck circle. You will see them put it on the bat handle. It comes in different forms. You can find it in a bottle or a stick.

Answer 9

Yes - it helps them keep a grip on it. They also load down their helmets. take a look at the helmet at a ML game. That;s why you can barely see the logo. It helps in the field as well.

Answer 10

all the time

Answer 11

Yes.