Yanks amend longstanding facial hair policy, to allow 'well-groomed beards'
Bryan Hoch
@BryanHochTAMPA, Fla. -- This Yankees team is about to look different than any other in a generation.
Managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner announced on Friday that the organization has amended its long-standing facial grooming policy, which had dated to the 1970s. Yankees players, coaches and other uniformed personnel are now permitted to sport ¡°well-groomed beards¡± moving forward.
No longer must new acquisitions shave facial hair upon arrival. Devin Williams was one recent example; after being acquired from the Brewers in December, the right-handed closer said he hadn¡¯t been clean-shaven for about six years and hoped to keep his beard ¡°as long as I can.¡±
Steinbrenner said his consideration of what he described as an ¡°outdated¡± and ¡°somewhat unreasonable¡± policy long pre-dated the Williams trade; Steinbrenner said he¡¯d been contemplating a change for years.
¡°In recent weeks I have spoken to a large number of former and current Yankees -- spanning several eras -- to elicit their perspectives on our longstanding facial hair and grooming policy, and I appreciate their earnest and varied feedback,¡± he said. ¡°These most recent conversations are an extension of ongoing internal dialogue that dates back several years.
¡°Ultimately the final decision rests with me, and after great consideration, we will be amending our expectations to allow our players and uniformed personnel to have well-groomed beards moving forward. It is the appropriate time to move beyond the familiar comfort of our former policy.¡±
Steinbrenner said he spoke with several players earlier this week, including team captain Aaron Judge, right-hander Gerrit Cole and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton. All were in favor of updating the policy.
¡°It¡¯s appropriate. It makes sense,¡± Cole said. ¡°It still embodies our look and neatness, but allows for some individual freedom and a few less razor burns.¡±
There will be ¡°parameters¡± to maintain a look that is ¡°clean and disciplined,¡± as Steinbrenner said; for example, the long beard sported by the Phillies¡¯ Brandon Marsh wouldn¡¯t pass muster. In detailing the changes to Yankees personnel on Friday, general manager Brian Cashman said: ¡°We¡¯re not trying to look like Duck Dynasty.¡±
One driving factor, which Steinbrenner acknowledged was ¡°hypothetical in nature,¡± is that the Yankees fear they could miss out on a future free agent because of the policy.
Said manager Aaron Boone: ¡°We never want to miss out on one player. If we miss out on one player because of that [policy], that¡¯s too many.¡±
Because of that, Steinbrenner said he believes his father, the late George M. Steinbrenner, would have approved.
¡°Winning was the most important thing to my father,¡± Steinbrenner said. ¡°If somebody came and told him that they were very sure this could affect us getting the players we want to get ¡ I think he might be a little more apt to do the change than people think, because it was about winning.¡±
The grooming policy dated to George M. Steinbrenner¡¯s purchase of the team. As the legend goes, its roots grew in 1973, when Steinbrenner observed his team on the first-base line for Opening Day against Cleveland. Steinbrenner was not yet ¡°The Boss,¡± so new in the role that he could not identify the players by their faces.
Instead, he focused upon their hair -- unkempt mustaches, mutton chops and shaggy locks. He scowled, scribbling uniform numbers on a scrap of paper urgently dispatched to manager Ralph Houk. Tell these men to get a haircut, Steinbrenner commanded.
Sparky Lyle, Thurman Munson, Bobby Murcer, Fritz Peterson and Roy White all made Steinbrenner¡¯s list that day. Though waves of rebellion occurred over the years (Munson¡¯s 1976 Topps baseball card shows the catcher sporting a full beard, and Goose Gossage¡¯s distinctive mustache stemmed from an order to shave), the appearance policy was largely abided.
¡°All players, coaches and male executives are forbidden to display any facial hair other than mustaches [except for religious reasons], and scalp hair may not be grown below the collar,¡± read a passage in the team¡¯s player manual. ¡°Long sideburns and mutton chops are not specifically banned.¡±
The policy was strongly influenced by Steinbrenner¡¯s military background; he attended Culver Military Academy in Indiana and served as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force.
¡°I have nothing against long hair per se,¡± Steinbrenner told The New York Times in 1978, ¡°but I¡¯m trying to instill a certain sense of order and discipline in the ballclub, because I think discipline is important in an athlete. The players can joke about it, as long as they do it.¡±
From Don Mattingly to Jason Giambi to Johnny Damon to CC Sabathia, the policy remained intact ¨C though it did present a persistent issue to tackle and enforce.
¡°We brought CC here,¡± Cashman said, ¡°and it was a hesitant thing because of the facial hair situation, because he¡¯d like to have that. That¡¯s something when you come here, you have to make the choice.
¡°I actually had a non-roster invite discussion this spring where the agent was like, ¡®He¡¯s just got to decide if he wants to shave or not.¡¯ So it¡¯s a real thing.¡±
When Cole signed with the Yankees ahead of the 2020 season, he had his beard zipped off at a New York hotel ahead of an introductory press conference, exhibiting no qualms about the appointment. Cole said he hasn¡¯t decided if he will restore the old look.
¡°Being a Yankee fan, I wanted to emulate everything the Yankees did,¡± Cole said. ¡°So it was kind of cool that I was able to shave and be a part of that legacy. And then it¡¯s really cool at the same time that we¡¯re transitioning to a different legacy moving forward. It¡¯s cool to be part of both.¡±