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Quick thoughts after Hal Steinbrenner alters the facial hair policy
🕑 Added 2025-02-21 15:20:45 +0000 UTC
Devin Williams can grow his beard back now.
Welcome to the 21st century, Yankees. Friday morning Hal Steinbrenner announced he is altering the team’s antiquated facial hair policy, and will allow “well-groomed beards” moving forward. It sounds like the “no hair below the collar” rule remains. The announcement comes two days after everyone shaved for Spring Training picture day.
Here is Hal’s statement:
“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. 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.”
“No way. Crazy,” a bearded Gleyber Torres told Jason Beck in Tigers camp. “It’s kind of surprising to me, but I think it’s fine. Because I know many guys there want to get some beards.”
George Steinbrenner purchased the team in 1973 and implemented the facial hair policy in 1976. His military background is often cited as the reason for it, which I’m sure contributed, but it also wasn’t a secret George did it because he didn’t want his players to wear their hair in the style of the era (long hair, afros, etc.). The facial hair policy stuck even as hairstyles changed.
Several players have spoken out against the facial hair policy after leaving the Yankees (Cameron Maybin, Andrew McCutchen, etc.), and players on the team privately gripe. CC Sabathia pushed the envelope more than any player in recent memory and frequently pitched with a 5 o’clock shadow, though no one ever challenged the policy and outright refused to shave. That would have been something.
I first wrote about the Yankees ditching their facial hair policy back in 2017. You could talk yourself into it being a competitive disadvantage if players felt uncomfortable with their appearance and free agents steered clear of the Yankees because they didn't want to shave (like Brian Wilson). Mostly though, I just don’t think grown ass men should be told how to wear their hair by their employer, especially when we’re talking about a kid’s game played in oversized pajamas.
There is a wide range of possibilities between clean shaven and caveman beards. Well-groomed beards, which the vast majority around baseball are, are a good middle ground. Good move by the Yankees. An overdue one, really. Now don’t let this distract you from the fact Hal cut payroll the year after going to the World Series and the Yankees don’t have a third baseman.
Comments
Milton Mankoff
Exactly. If the cultural significance was unchanged he’d be less likely to change the policy, though losing free agents migh have made it happen anyway.
Joe R
I can't help but think it's not entirely a coincidence that this is coming a month after a very conservative VP with a full beard took office. I don't think it's an explicitly political move, but any remaining association of beard = countercultural is clearly long dead.
Kevin Parlato
Bit before your time. You can drink some herbal tea to calm your hostility.
mitch forman
Happy with new hair policy. Don’t care about Sinatra. Question: does Yanks’ lack of interest in Chafin even on a MiLB contract indicate that there’s something wrong with his medicals?
Milton Mankoff
The primary motive was not losing free agents with stupid policy, but since beards are no longer associated with 1970s critics of conservative politics and lifestyle choices Hal can be ok with them even if he’s got the same political values as George. Is that hard to understand?
Kevin Parlato
I remember when George made the change, and I'm glad that it's over with. That said, pro athletes have really gone overboard with their fashion "statements". They can't make up their minds if they want to look like models, pimps, or gang members. Maybe they need a "good taste" czar to get them to reign it in a little. I mean, Verdugo was put-off because he couldn't wear more than three chains. Perhaps that's why he couldn't hit last year, the momentum from all that gold had change ruining his swing ;)
KingThong
I’ve always liked the grooming policy. It’s an emblem of Yankees exceptionalism and pride, even a hint of arrogance. It says to other teams: “We’re different than you. We’re *better* than you.” It radiates a sense of pride and belonging to something special. That said, a well groomed beard is perfectly fine. I just don’t want the team looking like Lynyrd Skynyrd roadies circa 1975.
kyle
What the fuck are you on about
Milton Mankoff
Steinbrenner was politically conservative and long hair when he made the rule was likely related to that. His son is probably no different, but beards now might be more indicative of right-wing politics if it’s a person with rural or small town roots. So, maybe the motive for the change still has a political component, and it’s the same as before.
JimBearNJ
I’m fine if as long as it’s well groomed. Some player like Joba when they left looked like they were playing bass for ZZ Top or auditioning for Duck dynasty
Peter S
Haha, thanks for the explanation
Dan G
About time
Dan G
I think it was hair below the lip. So you could have a ridiculous mustache and sideburns but god forbid (gasp!) chin hair!
Gary D.
When I saw this news, I immediately posted on BlueSky about how this doesn’t change the fact that Hal lowered payroll from 2024 and they still have no third baseman. Great minds! (More realistically, Mike is well-ingrained into my brain.)
Alex SAMUEL
I don’t think that would have changed the mind of Japanese players to come to Bronx.
Michael Axisa
I couldn't tell you the dumbest, but it feels like this isn't close to the top of the list. There's been a lot of dumb shit over the years.
MikeD
He can have it back in two weeks.
Christopher Law
Love the last sentence Mike 🫡
The Original Drew
He's always been clean shaven throughout most of his career.
JohnLag
I have mixed feelings. I worked in a grocery store in BERKELEY California in the mid 90's and we couldn't have beards and had to wear ties. It was a unionized store no less (shout out local 870). I like the idea of athletes looking clean-cut. Those Red Sox teams in the 2000's looked like they belonged at a hippy jam fest. I also liked how it set the Yankees apart from the rest of MLB. It certainly won't stop me from following but I'll miss the old rule. I hope the keep the neat part strict. And in closing after 5 years in grocery, when I quit I damn well did grow a goatee...
Peter S
I like the hair policy, but this is the right move to update it. Well groomed beards are great. Well groomed hair of all kinds are great, whether it's long hair, facial hair, dreadlocks, afros, etc. I DO like the hair policy though. In my mind, it evokes the blue-blood, New England, even puritan history of New York. They're called the Yankees afterall. A term dating back to the colonies and full of history from the Revolutionary War, Civil War and World War 2. And seriously it's gotta be the BEST team name on the planet, right? They embody east coast establishment. They are (um, were) the richest team. One of the oldest. They act like they're better than everyone else. Have the most championships. That's all part of why everyone else dislikes the Yankees and I love that they lean into that character.
hbcobra
If they were going to get rid of this policy, they should have done it before people starting reporting to camp. Williams must be annoyed that he had to shave his beard for nothing.
Peter S
Does the rule say anything about the length or grooming of your regular hair? I've always heard it as "no facial hair except a well groomed mustache"
MikeD
Being of a certain age, I remember when George instituted the rule. It actually was much more of an issue back then because the '70s was a very "hairy time." Long hair, crazy mustaches, beards, was the thing. There was a play, a movie, a song called Hair. And, of course, you had players like Munson and others who wanted to rebel against George and grow it all out. What was the George quote when a player came to him saying Jesus had long hair and a beard, why can't we? George swirled his chair around, pointed out the window to the pool, saying if you can walk across the water, I'll let you grow a beard. In the 70s, hair was a radical statement. Today? A beard is as milquetoast as can be. I had long hair, a beard and a mustache once upon a time. They all slowly got clipped, the last being the mustache when I realized the only people wearing them were porn stars and cops. I was neither. The Vice President of the United States has a beard, probably the first by a President or VP in 100 years. That's how mainstream it is, which also means the winds of change will view it as establishment and beards will soon go away. My X feed was crammed with stories about the Yankees policy change. In the end, it's a reminder the Yankees are the still the king of the hill living rent free in the minds of all across the sport.
Will
(Hal as the Principal Skinner meme) “Have we failed to win a World Series because of lack of hitter development, inability to sign top free agents, refusal to increase payroll, poor fundamentals, or entering every season with a huge obvious gap in the lineup?” “No, it’s the facial hair policy that’s wrong.”
MikeD
Didn't he show up in Mets camp the other day clean shaven?
kyle
Siri bring up a list of Hungarian mlb FAs
Pat Cremo
Happy for Devin Williams. Looks better with the beard.
Matt B
Reminder that the facial hair policy was briefly altered in 1995, following the acquisition of Jack McDowell, to allow for goatees. (Is there a more 1995 sentence than that?) Half the roster grew goatees, the team started 15-24, and the policy went back into effect. https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/03/sports/baseball-the-hair-goes-and-so-does-offense-for-slumping-yanks.html
Gene Garfield
Can we now trade for a hairy third baseman?
The Original Drew
The silliest things I’ve seen about this is that this is a direct result of Soto leaving. Soto left because the Mets offered him the most money. Not because he can’t grow a beard, one that he’s ever grown in his entire MLB career, btw. Could is be a signal to potential free agents that the Yankees have a lax and more welcoming atmosphere? Maybe. Most likely it’s just finally caught up with Hal that this policy was old and outdated and it saw that Devin Williams looked great in beard.
Jingling Baby
As a former long hair, I am not a fan. They should let them grow their hair long, have long sideburns, have handle bar staches but no beards.
Zack
Long overdue. Mike, would love to know if this is the dumbest “quick thoughts on” news item you’ve had to write about for RAB.
