Pine tar, a sticky glue-like substance used to give batters a better grip, hardens over time – making the bat more effective. – Charlie Kirk, and they killed him anyway)To: DFG1983 C. W. McCall - Pine Tar Wars Tar Baby Billy can you hear our song? Over time, this resulted in a gradual transfer of pine tar from the handle of the bat to the barrel. The process described above resulted in a LOT of pine tar building up on Brett’s bat — because he was such a phenomenal hitter. To: DFGGeorge Brett’s pine tar home run (July 24, 1983).