In 2006, MLB pitcher Kenny Rogers found himself at the center of a pine tar controversy. During the Detroit Tigers win over the St.Louis Cardinals, TV cameras and umpires noticed a dark smudge on Roger’s pitching hand. Rogers maintains it was dirt, others thought it was pine tar, a substance which is though to give a pitch more rotation, leading to an unfair advantage.
Rogers pitched a scoreless eight innings during the game which was a continuation of his 23 inning postseason streak. Prior to the start of the second inning, umpires met to discuss the alleged dirt on Rogers hand and decided the smudge in question wasn’t an issue but that it needed to be cleaned off. Despite their impressive performance, the Cardinals went on to cinch the World Series.
Rogers played two more seasons with the Detroit Tigers and finished his career with 14 perfect games and for All-Stars, and one championship ring with the New York Yankees in 1996.
