The New York Yankees’ notorious ban on facial hair had its roots within the crew’s 1973 house opener.
Because the story goes, crew stars Thurman Munson, Bobby Murcer, and Sparky Lyle all caught the attention of latest proprietor George Steinbrenner once they eliminated their caps for the Nationwide Anthem. The issue, as everybody who has since performed for the Yankees now is aware of, was that their hair was too lengthy for Steinbrenner’s liking.
And with that, essentially the most well-known proprietor in baseball historical past instituted his long-disputed ban on lengthy hair, facial hair, and absolutely anything he deemed unsavory. Within the years that adopted, Steinbrenner would battle with slugger Don Mattingly over his mullet and required Jason Giambi to cowl his in depth tattoo assortment.
Even Steinbrenner’s 2010 passing did not affect the crew’s facial hair ban, which continued all the way in which till Friday, when it was formally discontinued by his son and inheritor, Hal.
And why, precisely, did Hal determine to permit gamers to develop ‘well-groomed beards’?
‘If I ever discovered {that a} participant we wished to amass, to make us higher, to get us a championship, didn’t wish to be right here, and if he had the flexibility to, wouldn’t come right here due to that coverage, as necessary as it’s to that era, that may be very, very regarding,’ Steinbrenner informed reporters at spring coaching in Florida on Friday whereas seated alongside normal supervisor Brian Cashman. ‘I’m pretty satisfied that is an actual concern.’
Rival star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is ready to turn into a free agent subsequent season, beard and allÂ
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George Steinbrenner purchased the Yankees in 1973 banned facial hair quickly after when he caught a glimpse of shaggy catcher Thurman Munson (pictured proper in 1973)
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San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Stop and his beard will each be a free brokers in 2026
The timing of the choice is especially fascinating – one yr earlier than a number of bearded stars are set to turn into free brokers.
Sure, there are just a few present Yankees gamers who sport offseason facial hair, and the crew not too long ago acquired scruffy star reliever Devin Williams.Â
But it surely’s gamers like bearded Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whose contract expires on the finish of the season, who seem like the actual targets of this coverage.
‘This era, the overwhelming majority of 20s, 30s into the 40s, males on this nation have beards,’ Hal Steinbrenner mentioned. ‘It’s a part of who these youthful males are, it is a part of their character, it is a part of their persona.
‘Do I completely relate to that? It is tough for me, I am an older man who’s by no means had a beard in his life.’
And it is not simply Guerrero who will probably be hitting the free-agent market, facial hair and all.
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Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz sports activities a beard and a powerful profession on-base share of .372, making him one other potential possibility for the Yankees sooner or laterÂ
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Bearded pitchers just like the San Diego Padres’ Dylan Stop and the Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star (pictured) Zac Gallen is also free brokers after the 2025 MLB seasonÂ
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz sports activities a beard and a powerful profession on-base share of .372, making him one other potential possibility for the Yankees both in free company or as a mid-season commerce acquisition.Â
Bearded pitchers just like the San Diego Padres’ Dylan Stop and the Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star Zac Gallen is also free brokers.Â
Whereas the coverage is a departure for the clean-shaven Yankees, Hal does not suppose it dishonors his father’s reminiscence. Somewhat, he sees this as a dedication to excellence, which is what George valued above all else, even when gamers had been as soon as comfortable to shave off their beads in an effort to put on pinstripes.Â
‘Profitable was a very powerful factor to my father and, once more, I feel if someone got here and informed him they had been very positive that this might have an effect on us getting the gamers we wish to get — all we’re tryin to do each offseason is put ourselves in the very best place to get a participant we’re attempting to get,’ Hal mentioned.
‘If one thing like this may detract from that, reduce our possibilities, I do not know, I feel he could be a bit extra apt to do the change I did than folks suppose as a result of it was about profitable.’