But most teams allow facial hair, and in 2013 the Wall Street Journal reported that 58% of 912 major league ballplayers it checked had some type of mustache or beard. Probably not, but its funny that even former Yankees who have been put in positions of authority at other clubs dont force their players to adhere to a similar rule. I talked to [general manager Gene Michael] about moving me earlier in the year. Yankees 4, Nationals 2: Walk-off Wednesday, The Yankees Top 10 Prospects: No. Yes, the Yankees and their notorious no-beard policy have taken many variations of facial hair away from the fans over the last few years, and we cannot afford to lose another brilliant beard or spectacular 'stache. Why Can't the Yankees Have Beards? - abusedbytheyankees.com The debate around the policy continues to this day, with fans and players weighing in on both sides. But Im trying to instill [a] certain sense of order and discipline in the ball club because I think discipline is important in an athlete. "We're incredibly excited to add two players that we feel like are really going to help us," Yankees manager Aaron. Most Surprising NYY Seasons: 2019 Mike Tauchman. In 1976, Steinbrenner gave an interview with the Times where he clarified his position. Those policies shaving and letting the jersey speak for itself I definitely do think it takes away from our individualism as players and as people, he said. Having a beard would go against the teams image and make them look less polished and professional. The "Yankees 16" is a new addition to the MLB. Finally, its worth noting that some Yankees players do have facial hair just not beards. Theres no real clear answer anywhere, but the best guess is that its just tradition. [13] The strict grooming requirements of the baseball club have led to several instances in which a player known for his long hair or beard on his former team becomes clean-cut upon signing with the Yankees. Aroldis Chapman is a Cuban-born professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Yankees have a long-standing tradition of being clean-shaven, but some players are bucking the trend. The future is bright and bearded. Don't draft projects when half the roster comes from the G league. Not only has the rule been looked at distastefully by the media and some in pinstripes, but also players on other teams and in free agency. [31], Former Yankees players have also voiced their opposition towards the policy after leaving the team. This isnt the military. The story behind the Yankees facial hair policy, Yankees 3, Tigers 5: Michael King is back, baby. I know its something that theyre into and theyre doing for themselves, but I dont think it really helps our image., Some opponents have given the hairy Yankees players nicknames. They wouldnt improve their roster over this policy? He has also played for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Gambling problem? Why can't Yankees have beards? The Origin Of The New York Yankees' Bizarre Ban On Beards And Long Hair Does Hal Steinbrenner want to be the guy who gives the order if, say, Aaron Judge or any Yankee decides to carry his offseason beard into spring training? 7 Hal McRae; 1976 Topps; Some will argue that when sideburns meld into the mustache they become something altogether different; regardless, Hals hirsute hammers were Hall-of-Fame-worthy; #Royals pic.twitter.com/nOGdheURHp, The 1970s was an era of incredible facial hair in baseball, perhaps best embodied by Rollie Fingers, whose handlebar mustache was a thing of beauty. Legend has it that in the early days of professional baseball, the visiting team had no access to laundry facilities and thus the players were not able to clean their uniforms. In the 1970s, the Yankees began to relax their policy a bit, allowing players to grow mustaches. Yankees: Matt Carpenter mustache loved by MLB fans - For The Win 26 Beard Statistics and Facts You Probably Didn't Know - Modern Gentlemen But Steinbrenner didnt want that hippie-ish nonsense infecting the Yankees. For these reasons, many players choose to shave their beards off during the season so that they can perform at their best. 3. Beards, bunnies and Airbnb: What it's REALLY like to get traded Subsequently, can Yankee players have facial hair? Another reason is that facial hair can be uncomfortable to wear during the hot summer months, when the Yankees play the majority of their games. [6][7] The 1972 World Series, in which the Athletics faced the clean-cut Cincinnati Reds, was deemed a match between "the Hairs and the Squares". I loved him, but for what I wanted, he didnt fit with me. Here's why: 1. . Reds owner Marge Schott ultimately reversed the policy on February 16, 1999, in a bid to retain outfielder Greg Vaughn, who lobbied to retain the goatee he had grown with the San Diego Padres. And thats just a ridiculous thing for a front office to take into account when it comes to evaluating players: How attached is he to his beard? The Yankees are the lone big-league team to have a policy that bans beards. The most Yankees manager Aaron Boone could really do is bench a player and frame it as a managerial . Its something theyve done since the late George Steinbrenner instituted the policy in 1973, and the rule persisted as some long-held tribute to Steinbrenner despite changes throughout the organization. Another reason why Yankees players might not have beards is because of the teams clean-cut image. 15, Thurman Munson; No. Soon, the mandate came down, leading to a policy that continues to this day: 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. Growing up, Ive always had a love for the sport. If you put numbers on the jerseys but no names, fans had to buy a scorecard to figure out which player was which. Why do so many baseball players have beards? MettaWorldPanda wrote: I know the jury still out but getting zero production from our 1st round pick has also been a huge fail. The Yankees dont allow facial hair, but they allow mustaches.. Finally, its worth noting that having a beard can actually be somewhat of a disadvantage when it comes to playing baseball. We all know what it is. This site with its different articles allows you to have the best useful travel tips and inspiration from destinations around the world. But Judge can make it happen himself. On one level, you could understand the owners viewpoint. All-Star outfielder Andrew McCutchen joined New York in 2018, dutifully shaving off his beard, but he ripped the policy in 2020 after leaving the club. Are clean shaven men still looked at as more professional in 2020 than someone with a beard? Why Do Ball Players Chew Sunflower Seeds? This changed in 1972, when members of the Oakland Athletics, led by Reggie Jackson, formed The Mustache Gang. New York Islanders Understanding Lou Lamoriello's Rules - Eyes On Isles I think it makes us look a little unprofessional, Gray said. Boston Red Sox pitcher David Price told reporters, I dont have a problem with it. Do the new york yankees have a no facial hair policy? As #Movember comes to a close, we remember the #StacheSquad! The Yankees have never worn players names on . The Yankees' no-beard policy dates back to the late 19th century, when the team was founded by John J. McGraw and Frank Farrell. Well, it is the third version of the facility, it is more mall than ballpark and it is a few football fields from the original. Mr. Burke does this every day for us. Michael Burke had been part of the group that had purchased the Yankees along with Steinbrenner. [36] Despite admitting that some players preferred to keep their facial hair during the MLB season, then-manager Joe Girardi said in 2017 that "I haven't really had anyone come into my office and say, 'We need to change this. Although he did not sport the Afro while on the field, Gamble's Yankees trading card still portrayed the hairstyle, as did the image projected on the scoreboard at Yankee Stadium, and fans would often wear wigs styled after his former hairstyle. The debate around the Yankees no-beard policy continues to this day, with fans and players weighing in on both sides. He looked noticeably different when he reported to the Yankees: how it started how its going pic.twitter.com/uVL2OhbI5A, Its taken as a given that if the Yankees pick you up, whether through a trade, the draft or in free agency, youre trimming your facial hair. In 1991, Don Mattingly, one of the most beloved of the Yankees during the 1980s who was by then in the twilight of his career, was benched because his hair was too long, provoking his ire. You want them to be able to represent themselves and their families and the organization. Beards have been linked with laziness, uncleanliness, and general slovenliness none of which are qualities thatYankees players want to project. Steinbrenner later added, He looks like a Yankee, he sounds like a Yankee and he is a Yankee.. Do the new york yankees allow facial hair? Most teams did not formally adopt any grooming or personal appearance policies until the 1970s, as earlier social customs meant that players were generally clean-shaven. Another reason Yankees players may avoid growing facial hair is because of the negative associations that come with it. [28] Pitcher David Price, meanwhile, told reporters that he would not want to sign with the Yankees due to their appearance policy. (In fact, he ended his career in 1986 rather than agreeing to shave it off to be a member of the Cincinnati Reds, which didnt allow facial hair.) No mutton chops. Steinbrenner responded to this critique by pointing at a nearby swimming pool and saying, "If you can walk on water, you can wear your hair any way you want. Everybody liked him. Since 1976, the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB) have maintained a strict appearance policy, specifying that players' hair must not touch their collars and that they may have mustaches but no other facial hair. . On one hand, some argue that the policy should remain in place to preserve the teams traditional look.