George Brett reminds Royals players of intensity of past playoffs against Yankees

AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — George Brett watches the Kansas City Royals prepare to face the New York Yankees and remembers the combustible clashes of the 1970s. The Hall of Famer tells players: “This isn’t a series, this is war,” tossing in a profanity for emphasis. Brett slid late into Graig Nettles in 1977’s Game 5 of the best-of-five AL Championship Series, catching the third baseman on the face with an arm. Nettles kicked Brett in the teeth. Brett threw a punch as benches and bullpens emptied. Six years later, Yankee Stadium was the site of the infamous Pine Tar Game, when Brett’s ninth-inning homer was disallowed and later restored by the AL president.