The Yankees no-beard policy dates back to the late 19th century, when the team was founded by John J. McGraw and Frank Farrell. At least they cant be visible in short sleeves. The Yankee system isnt what it used to be and weve got to get it back to what it was., Naturally, some players rebelled. The New York Yankees are (or maybe were, don't know if it changed recently) one of them. By prohibiting players from having facial hair, the team has maintained its traditional clean-cut look, which many fans view as a part of its identity. So be it, Cole said shortly after joining the club. Major League Baseball has some of the most recognizable bears, mustaches, and other facial hair in its 117+ year history that fans have loved. I havent shaved in like 10 years, but you know what? Were not going to pretend were something we arent. While facial hair was common in the early era of Major League Baseball (MLB), it had fallen out of fashion by the early 20th century, and instances of players growing beards and mustaches during the baseball season became rare. 'As long as it's not full of food,' adds Julie. The New York Yankees got their man. It's something they've 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. The rule was that no male player, coach, or executive may wear any facial hair except for a mustache. In this article, well take a look at the history behind this rule, how it has evolved over the years, and the current debate around it. When George first came over to the Yankees in 1973, the Yankees were standing for the National Anthem, (with their caps removed) and he said that the players hair was too long for his standards. Under S4037, the . What Kind of Dirt Do You Use for a Baseball Field. Seriously. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Christians didn't depict Jesus with a beard until 500 CE, and early popes and bishops opposed beards. Beards can interfere with a players grip on the bat or their ability to wear a batting helmet properly. Thats not for me. The Yankees are the lone big-league team to have a policy that bans beards. The story goes that, at the Yankees first home game of the 1973 season, he noticed during the National Anthem when the players had their hats off that their hair was too long for his liking. Past practices and precedent matter and so, perhaps, an arbitrator would accept that a baseball organization has the right to control the hair length of an adult under its employ. I can rule out Brian Wilson, Brian Cashman said. This policy dates back to the late 19th century, when the team was founded by John J. McGraw and Frank Farrell. Teams are permitted to have reasonable team rules, and the Yankees have adhered to these grooming ground rules since George Steinbrenner established them shortly after purchasing the team in 1973. Rather than asking him to shave outright, Athletics owner Charlie Finley, knowing that Jackson valued his individuality, encouraged four of his players to grow their own facial hair in the hopes that Jackson would voluntarily shave. . The Yankees appearance policy was codified in 1976, when Steinbrenner and manager Billy Martin introduced the Neatness Counts policy, which specified, No beards. All pricing's in $CAD. This also is true for any player traded by the Yankees. Just because they're thrilled to dole out a whopping $324 million to Gerrit Cole over the next five years, though, doesn't mean the Yankees are comfortable with their new ace being himself. I am shocked they have not been challenged on this yet. When he told the team that he would not shave, they crossed him off the list. The New York Yankees have no intention of reversing their rule prohibiting players from wearing facial hair beyond mustaches. Where Can I Watch the Yankees Game Live Online. Some players have taken advantage of the rule . A new Major League Baseball season just got underway, filled with the promise and excitement of what might await us over the next six months. One reason is that they may fear being ridiculed by fans and the media. Is any fan really saying, Good for the Yankees for differentiating themselves? Even if there were such fans, should that allow the organization to dictate what their employees do with their hair? . "[19] One of the strongest moments of dissent came during the 1991 New York Yankees season, when Don Mattingly was fined and removed from the starting lineup for refusing to cut his hair. Why can't Yankees have beards? On the other hand, facial hair is not as common among soccer and basketball players since they have to run a lot which can get uncomfortable due to all the heat and sweat. If you have social media accounts and follow any Yankee, you will learn that their favorite offseason hobby is. The opposite scenario occurred the next year, when George Bamberger was put in charge of the Milwaukee Brewers and subsequently relaxed the appearance restrictions put into place by his predecessor, Alex Grammas. If this was an inspirational sports movie, wed be at the beginning, when the tough-but-fair leader instills strict measures on his players, turning them into champions. For me, when I was on the Pirates and me having my dreadlocks, Id be lying to you if I said if I got traded over to the Yankees and they said you gotta shave your hair for me, that would have been a very tough thing to do. They wouldnt improve their roster over this policy? Tyler Clippard grew out an ugly chin patch. Weve seen that realization play out preemptively in the free-agent market. Steinbrenner then introduced the strict . The Yankees have never worn players names on . I want to develop pride in the players as Yankees. After that point, individual managers began to tighten or relax their teams' grooming standards as they saw fit. Read next New York Yankees Beards Recommended Video Who Will the Yankees Play in the Playoffs? You want them to be able to represent themselves and their families and the organization. At the time, according to the book Steinbrenner: The Last Lion of Baseball, George created the . The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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If you put numbers on the jerseys but no names, fans had to buy a scorecard to figure out which player was which. George Steinbrenner has a policy and Im going to stick to it, he noted. As #Movember comes to a close, we remember the #StacheSquad! Hal Steinbrenner has important stuff on his agenda helping to get a new collective bargaining agreement for the sport and finding a shortstop for his team. How about the august stadium? Why don't the New York Yankees have names on their uniforms? 1. Tune in tomorrow for Chapter 13 of As the World Turns., Dirt Dogs: Charlie Hustle and Thurman Munson#Yankees #TheBronxZoo pic.twitter.com/3bW680IBUd, But future sagas with other players were inevitable. 17, Gene Michael; and No. [1]:568569 Before 1970, the last player known to have sported a mustache during the regular MLB season was Frenchy Bordagaray in 1936, whose manager, Casey Stengel of the Brooklyn Dodgers, subsequently ordered him to shave. [11]:48, The terms of the Yankees' appearance policy were codified in 1976, when Steinbrenner and manager Billy Martin introduced the "Neatness Counts" policy, which specified, "No beards. Second, most of the Yankees players are from Latin America where its not as common to have facial hair. But you want them to do that in a professional manner., Rougned Odor on having to shave his beard when joining the Yankees:"I feel weird. Damon changed uniforms and said goodbye to his lovable caveman appearance. I emailed Hal Steinbrenner, who did not reply, I assume because as a member of MLBs negotiating committee he was readying for Thursdays first formal talks between owners and players since the lockout began Dec. 2. Nothing says Major League Baseball like clean-shaven ballplayers in pinstripes. Appropriately, the 21 numbers that have been removed from circulation to honor 22 of their finest players and managers stand as the most in Major League Baseball. I couldnt do it on some of these teams I hear about. Indeed, the team attempted to sign the Great Bambino following his release from the Yankees in 1934. Ultimately, the decision is up to the Yankees and their fans. But why? Additionally, what MLB teams dont allow facial hair? While some argue that the policy should remain in place to preserve the teams traditional look, others argue that it is outdated and prevents players from expressing themselves. If youre a Yankee, you shave. Here's a look at why the team won't let its players Skip to content On one hand, some argue that the policy should remain in place to preserve the teams traditional look. The long-hair/facial-hair rule was still in place, though, despite his absence. What is Another Name for a Baseball Shirt? The policy was strictly enforced for decades, with players like Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle refusing to grow out their facial hair. They can joke about it as long as they do it. 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. The Yankees' policy on facial hair dates back to the early days of the franchise. Heres a look at why dont Yankees players have beards. Growing up, Ive always had a love for the sport. [10]:243244 The players, meanwhile, were primarily amused that Steinbrenner did not know their names. For one thing, his family still owns the club. 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. If the argument to keep Yankee players in uniform clean-shaven is tradition based, then I would ask about that uniform. Theres no real clear answer anywhere, but the best guess is that its just tradition. Beards have been linked with laziness, uncleanliness, and general slovenliness none of which are qualities thatYankees players want to project. The Yankees dont allow facial hair, but they allow mustaches.. Why can't Yankees have beards? If a star player like Judge truly wanted to take the policy down or had teammates join him the Yankees know theres not much they could do to stop them. Who Got Third Place in the Sports Festival? I got involved., Steinbrenner was just as proactive when it came to personal grooming. And it is expected to reach $43.1 billion by 2026, thanks to the increasing number of health-conscious consumers. Personal grooming policy instituted by the New York Yankees, Logos and uniforms of the New York Yankees, "A History With Hair as Old as Baseball Itself", "Today in Baseball History: Oakland's Mustache Gang is born", "TBT: '72 A's hold memorable 'Mustache Day', "Andrew McCutchen Is Right to Question the Yankees' Outdated Grooming Policy", "First Look at Rougned Odor's Clean-Shaven Face With Yankees", "Cole's 1st side effect in pinstripes? Steinbrenner, who . Putting names on the back of jerseys kind of defeats the purpose of a number at this point. Yankees Appearance Policy The Yanks appearance policy was established in 1973 by traditionalist and conservative George Steinbrenner, supposedly after witnessing several players' hair covering. '"[37], Around the time of Steinbrenner's edict, personal grooming policies among MLB teams greatly varied based on the personal preferences of managers. Agent tells Brian Cashman that Wilson won't shave his beard. No Major League franchise boasts a richer and more storied history than the Yankees. The Yankees' policy is the exact opposite. Question: How much are new york yankee tickets? [13], The policy remained in effect even after Steinbrenner's death at the request of his daughter Jennifer, a partner in the Yankees franchise. But back to the beards. In an effort to make the Yankees stand out, they decided to outlaw facial hair. In late summer 1977, there was a brewing controversy when catcher Thurman Munson went a whopping 11 days without shaving his beard normally, he just had a mustache sparking rumors that he was trying to get traded. We express ourselves in different ways. In 1983, Steinbrenner ordered that Goose Gossage remove his facial hair. That's why Andrew Ladd 's . Some have even called for the team to change its policy and allow players to grow beards. Aroldis Chapman is a Cuban-born professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). Do whatever you want., Copyright 2023 abusedbytheyankees.com | Powered by Digimetriq, Reasons for lack of facial hair among Yankees players, Yankees players who have grown facial hair, Reactions to Yankees players growing facial hair. At the time, then-franchise owner George Steinbrenner pushed for the team to adopt a grooming policy. At 14-years-old, he joined the Culver Military Academy in Indiana. The Yankees are the lone big-league team to have a policy that bans beards. In a season with so many injuries, Mike Tauchman stepped up and performed. As a result, Steinbrenner introduced an appearance policy for the Yankees. Mike Burke is a guy who I admired tremendously, Steinbrenner said. A: The Yankees are a professional baseball team that play in the American League East division. The story behind the Yankees facial hair policy, Yankees 3, Tigers 5: Michael King is back, baby. Theres a different standard now for professional appearances, and ignoring that makes the rule a real relic of the past. Whether the team decides to keep the policy or make changes, one thing is certain: the debate around the no-beard policy is unlikely to end anytime soon. In some cases, players have even said that they feel like they need to shave their beards off in order to look more professional. Steinbrenner had made his name in the shipping industry, dabbling in Broadway as well. The Yankee organization is very public image conscious and they do not allow many variations of the dress code. "I find men with beards and men without . But none of that stresses . At the end of the day, the debate around the Yankees no-beard policy is likely to continue. For now, the team seems content to keep the policy in place, although some fans and players have argued that it is time for the team to embrace facial hair. The Yankees have built a strong brand around the appearance of their players, the way the players are expected to behave and carry themselves, the charities they support, and especially the design of their uniforms. It all began back in 1973 when George M. Steinbrenner saw some of his players looking sloppy while standing for the National Anthem, most notably Thurman Munson, Bobby Murcer and Sparky Lyle. There are at least five reasons why the Red Sox have put their facial hair on display. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). 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. The thing about beards is, you can either grow one or you can't. The majority of men cannot and this is why there are so many bad beards out there, that combined with poor maintenance or just laziness. Joined: Sep 16, 2016. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. That's because, for close to five decades, the Yankees have had a strict policy that prohibits players from sporting beards and wearing their hair long. In the 1970s, the Yankees began to relax their policy a bit, allowing players to grow mustaches. [5] As more of his players grew them, Finley began to like the mustaches, and the 1972 Athletics were soon nicknamed "The Mustache Gang". Theyll joke about it, but sooner or later well get it ingrained in them. Yankees 4, Nationals 2: Walk-off Wednesday, The Yankees Top 10 Prospects: No. 1. (He looks like a Yankee, he sounds like a Yankee and he is a Yankee, Steinbrenner wrote in a statement about the Damon signing. You dont see dreadlocks, or beards, even tattoos are forbidden I believe. Im not someone who automatically hates the Yankees, but their slavish adherence to a nearly-50-year-old policy one instituted by a man dead for more than a decade speaks to the arrogance of a club thats hard to love. 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. Others, like Derek Jeter, have said that they would prefer to keep the policy in place, although they also understand why some players may want to express themselves through facial hair. The New York Yankees are known for their strict rules, and one of those rules is that players cannot have beards. In an effort to make the Yankees stand out . 2. Im a grown man. Being told that hed have to be clean-shaven if he went over to the Yankees, Price responded, I wouldnt stay there very long then. Most teams wear their names all the time. First baseman Luke Voit told Insider that the team had grown mustaches to bust out of slumps, so there may still be a time when Odor can bring back some of his facial hair. Let us know what you think in the comments! These are the players who must avoid the Bronx at all costs, lest we be deprived of their amazing beards: Bryce Harper "[32] (McCutchen would cut his dreadlocks off on his own accord in 2015 for charity while still with the Pirates. This may be because shaving creates micro-abrasions in the skin, and these little cuts can become perfect bacterial breeding zones. Long hair can be a useful distraction on the field especially for pitchers. Most Surprising NYY Seasons: 2019 Mike Tauchman. There are a few reasons why New York Yankees players may be hesitant to grow facial hair. Hockey players have long championed the beard as a postseason superstition. [28] Pitcher David Price, meanwhile, told reporters that he would not want to sign with the Yankees due to their appearance policy. Steinbrenner began noting which players he believed needed haircuts when he took over the Yankees in 1973, but the policy was not codified until three years later. Is it Secretarys Day? Steinbrenner later recalled. Do the new york yankees have a no facial hair policy? Over the years, the policy has evolved, with the team now allowing players to grow mustaches and neatly trimmed beards. 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. Between the demands of practices, games, and other team obligations, theres not a lot of time left in the day for things like personal grooming.