Umpire Tim McClelland, famous for ‘Pine Tar Game’ involvement, retires

Tim McClelland, MLB’s second-longest tenured umpires and pehaps its most respected, has announced his retirement after 32 seasons of service. If you know the name though, it might not necessarily be for those aforementioned reasons. McClelland, who umpired over 4,200 games, including 94 in the postseason, happened to be directly or indirectly involved in several moments that will live forever in baseball lore, including one of its most infamous.

Of course, we’re referencing the infamous “Pine Tar Game” played at Yankee Stadium on July 24, 1983.

[Baseball is back! Check out Yahoo For Spring Training for great spring training pics.]

After George Brett of the Kansas City Royals hit a two-run homer to give them a 5-4 lead in the ninth inning, Yankees manager Billy Martin complained there was too much pine tar on Brett’s bat. McClelland, who was serving as the home plate umpire, investigated and called Brett out, which led to Brett’s memorable explosion out of the dugout to confront him. McClelland’s decision was later overturned after the Royals filed a protest, and the game was restarted from the point after Brett’s home run. Kansas City won the game 5-4.

That season also happened to be McClelland’s first as a full-time umpire. Clearly, it didn’t take the spotlight long to find him, but that moment establish McClelland as an umpire who was willing to take charge.

Another of those moment that involved McClelland but has kind of been forgotten about in recent years is the Sammy Sosa corked bat incident from June 4, 2003. This time McClelland’s investigation proved fruitful. Sosa was immediately called out and ejected from the game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Sosa later served a seven-game suspension as a result, even though it was discovered the rest of his bat supply was clean.

[Yahoo Sports Fantasy Baseball: Sign up and join a league today!]

McClelland’s other notable moment came during the 2007 National League tiebreaker game when he ruled Matt Holliday of the Colorado Rockies safe at home despite serious questions about whether Holliday ever touched the plate. San Diego Padres catcher Michael Barrett had the plate blocked, but was unable to corral the ball, which McClelland says allowed Holliday to get his hand in. To this day, it remains impossible to confirm McClelland’s call based on replays.

Of course, McClelland’s career wasn’t based around controversies exclusively. It’s just, when you’ve established a three-decade career in his line of work, those moments will find you. His just registered on a grander scale due to the circumstances and individuals involved.

Tim McClelland wasn’t right all of time. No umpire is.

His strike call may have been a little slow.

OK, maybe a lot slow.