After forbidding facial hair for 49 years, the New York Yankees introduced they’ll now permit it for gamers and different uniformed personnel.
The beautiful choice was revealed in a press release Friday by group proprietor Hal Steinbrenner through which he confirmed that, after talking to a “massive variety of former and present Yankees,” the group is amending its longstanding facial hair coverage.
From right here on, Yankees gamers will probably be allowed to don well-groomed beards and mustaches.
After practically 5 a long time of banning facial hair, the Yankees made the precise name. The choice to ban facial hair to start with at all times felt pressured and pointless.
Sustaining a uniformed look can add a stage of professionalism to a group, however the rule in opposition to facial hair basically solely restricted self-expression.
Through the years, gamers who sported lengthy hair or beards have been pressured to make a journey to their stylist or barber after becoming a member of the Yankees. Notably, when outfielder Johnny Damon signed with the group in 2006 after rising out his hair and beard with the Boston Pink Sox, he knew he must kiss his lengthy locks and facial hair goodbye.
“Mr. Steinbrenner has a coverage and I’m going to stay to it,” Damon said at the time, referencing longtime group proprietor George Steinbrenner, who died in 2010.
Per Jorge Castillo of ESPN, “George Steinbrenner, who had a army background, thought regulating gamers’ look would instill self-discipline. The rule was codified earlier than the 1976 season, leaving gamers with a alternative of being clean-shaven or carrying a mustache, and never permitting them to develop hair previous their collars.”
The ban on facial hair has additionally value Yankees at the least one free agent. Former All-Star nearer Brian Wilson told general manager Brian Cashman in 2013 that he wouldn’t shave his signature beard to return to the group. (He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a substitute.)
With the outdated rule now a factor of the previous, all gamers, no matter facial hair type, can be a part of the Yankees with out worry of fixing their look.
