By Darren Lippe
When George Brett, 3rd baseman for the Kansas City Royals, was flirting with batting
.400 during the summer of 1980, the most unique Presidential campaign was kicked off.
George Brett started the 1980 season slowly, batting .259 in April & slightly better in May. He was from El Segundo, California & didn’t do well trying to hit in the cool spring in Kansas City. At the end of May, though, he hit a hot streak that would run through June, July & August. His hot streak coincided with the blistering summer heat, with the Astroturf at Royals Stadium (now Kaufman Stadium) reached 145 degrees during games. The turf was so hot, that the Royals players would soak their feet in buckets of ice water between innings.
As Brett’s hot streak continued, his batting average climbed upward. He began to flirt with the mystical .400 batting average, not achieved since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941. George Brett became big news in 1980. Newspapers across the United States ran daily “George Brett Watch” updates. Even the American hostages held in Iran were given updates of Brett’s chase of the elusive .400 batting average. The comic strip, Berry’s World, depicted the small boy complaining to his parents, “What proof do you have that George Brett eats Brussell sprouts?” Johnny Carson told George Brett jokes during his monologue. The great evangelist Billy Graham reminded his congregation to stay humble, because even George Brett sometimes goes 0-3. He was featured in magazines like Time, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, Boys Life, & The New Yorker.
Brett became a political football with both President Jimmy Carter & his challenger, Ronald Reagan, invoking Brett’s name. A New York Times editorial hoped Brett would hit .400, to salvage American pride during the tumultuous year. During the hot summer, a “campaign” began to have George Brett run for President. More than $21,000 worth of Brett bumper stickers was sold, with the money going to a baseball field & scholarship in Brett’s name at Kansas City, Kansas Community College.
Brett’s batting average would reach .401 on August 17, 1980. While Brett would ultimately fall 5 hits short of the magical .400 average, the summer of 1980 will be fondly remembered for his dramatic chase, his .380 batting average, his MVP season, & his leading the Royals to a victory over the New York Yankees in the American League Championship series. The Royals would lose the 1980 World Series to the Philadelphia Phillies 4 games to 2.
Brett would help the Royals win their 2nd American League pennant in 1985 & their 1st World Series Championship over the St. Louis Cardinals. Brett was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 & the iconic bumper sticker is part of their collection.
