Heres a look at why dont Yankees players have beards. 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. 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. The Yankees are the lone big-league team to have a policy that bans beards. I reached out to the head of Yankees media relations, who ignored both text and email. Why Do Ball Players Chew Sunflower Seeds? In the 1970s, the Yankees began to relax their policy a bit, allowing players to grow mustaches. 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. In the mid-1990s, the Yankees began to resemble the championship clubs of yesteryear, appearing in the playoffs on an annual basis, winning four World Series in the span of five seasons. The official policy by the New York Yankees states: "All players, coaches and male executives are forbidden to display any facial hair other than mustaches and scalp hair may not be grown below. At the end of the day, the debate around the Yankees no-beard policy is likely to continue. [20] The next day, the team agreed to allow Mattingly back into the lineup for their game against the Chicago White Sox, and he told reporters that he would likely cut his hair soon of his own accord. In 1991, Don Mattingly was taken off of the Yankees' lineup for a day when he refused to cut his hair. Weve seen that realization play out preemptively in the free-agent market. This is the only appearance policy in MLB. The debate around the Yankees no-beard policy continues to this day, with fans and players weighing in on both sides. The Money Isn't Better Anymore. New York Yankees' 10 greatest offseason beards through the years Tyler Clippard grew out an ugly chin patch. But how did it originate in the first place? Why don t Yankees have names on back? - Sage-Answers Bearded Aaron Judge should challenge the Yankees' facial hair policy 1. Ironically, though, Mattinglys clash with management over his hair actually occurred when Steinbrenner was (temporarily) banned from baseball. Beards Are In Style Again. To many, the policy is seen as outdated and out of touch, and some have argued that it prevents players from expressing themselves. The Yankees' no-beard policy dates back to the late 19th century, when the team was founded by John J. McGraw and Frank Farrell. And especially with the team in recent years failing to live up to their potential, its worth debating whether management should let the players be themselves rather than forcing them to conform to a musty old rule. Yankees: No BeardsAnd That's Final - WSJ One of the main reasons Yankees players dont have beards is because they simply dont have the time to grow them. No teams in the NBA, NHL or NFL have an appearance policy. As #Movember comes to a close, we remember the #StacheSquad! (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.) I couldnt do it. The 27-year-old has hit 25 home runs in 2021, the sixth-most in baseball. "[32] (McCutchen would cut his dreadlocks off on his own accord in 2015 for charity while still with the Pirates. 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. Why Do Yankees Players Have to Shave Their Faces? A Look - Distractify 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. Steinbrenner later added, He looks like a Yankee, he sounds like a Yankee and he is a Yankee.. These Yankees Players Have Grown Beards During MLB's Hiatus The New York Yankees are known for their strict rules, and one of those rules is that players cannot have beards. exercise free will with their own personal appearance. Just back from a vacation and, well, look at that, still in a lockout. [39] Although no member of the Reds had sported facial hair since 1902, general manager Bob Howsam put a formal ban into place in 1967. The Chairman of the Board played his entire career in the Bronx from 1950-1967 he missed two seasons in 1951 and 1952 to serve in the Korean War. Facial hair. And although the law was more about striking down racist hiring tendencies, an argument could be made that the Yankees are in violation of this law. [38] The terms of Steinbrenner's appearance policy, meanwhile, were inspired by that of the Cincinnati Reds, who forbid their players from growing their hair past their collar or sporting any form of facial hair besides short sideburns. Some people think its a great way to show team unity, while others think its unprofessional. 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. Beards can interfere with a players grip on the bat or their ability to wear a batting helmet properly. Steinbrenner's policy was inspired by that of the Cincinnati Reds, who forbid their players from growing facial hair between 1967 and 1999, when Greg Vaughn petitioned Marge Schott to rescind the rule. Steinbrenner wanted the Yankees to adopt a corporate attitude. What does that mean? They could also grow sideburns or mutton chops. 28, Sparky Lyle. When other teams joined the trend of adding names, New York abstained. The darker uniforms or the road greys could conceal the dirt and grass stains better than the white uniforms. Why don't the New York Yankees have names on their uniforms? [27] In 2013, general manager Brian Cashman attempted to acquire relief pitcher Brian Wilson in free agency, but negotiations halted when Wilson refused to shave his signature beard. First, the Yankees have a strict dress code that doesnt allow players to have beards. But perhaps the most memorable occurrence was Johnny Damon, the heart and soul of the scruffy Boston Red Sox team that came back to beat their hated rivals the Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series, who joined New York soon after. Believe it or not, the Yankees have actually passed up on players who would not shave. But back to the beards. why don't yankees players have beardsmoen caldwell kitchen faucet reviews. Seriously. 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. The Yankees are the lone big-league team to have a policy that bans beards. About Clint Frazier's Lush Locks: Will the Yankees Let Their Hair Down 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. George Steinbrenner, the team's owner from 1973-2010, was a strict disciplinarian who believed that a clean-shaven face was the epitome of professionalism. To what end? You want them to be able to represent themselves and their families and the organization. Because Aaron Judge has a beard now, and he really should keep the beard. The deal was for $10 million, a bargain considering the teams previous owner, CBS, had purchased the club for $13.2 million back in 1964. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. They certainly would have a case. Mattingly refused, and was effectively benched because of it. Beards @MIYUMMY 3/1, 7:30PM!!! - Page 9 - RealGM Odds & lines subject to change. Would the Yankees void a deal if the baseball equivalent of James Harden, someone like San Diegos Fernando Tatis Jr. or Torontos Vladimir Guerrero Jr., refused a request to trim his hair and shave? Chapman throws left-handed and bats right-handed. Beards, bunnies and Airbnb: What it's REALLY like to get traded Yankees need to end outdated facial hair policy - New York Post Because that was who I was. Josh Breaux becomes the latest Yankee catcher to go down to injury; the Yankees are on the lookout for replacements behind the plate; a profile of super-prospect Anthony Volpe; how players react to becoming Yankees. And1: 60,606. 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? 1. 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. The long-hair/facial-hair rule was still in place, though, despite his absence. I think if you look professional, you act professional. But he refused to ban facial hair, noting, [Athletes are] individuals, they have their personalities. Finally, its worth noting that having a beard can actually be somewhat of a disadvantage when it comes to playing baseball. 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. Indeed, the team attempted to sign the Great Bambino following his release from the Yankees in 1934. 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. Could the Yankees successfully defend keeping their policy? I get that being clean shaven could be looked upon as more professional, I even had the same appearance policy in my high school. The Significance of Beards Throughout History - Advanced Dermatology It wasnt just that he was teaming up with Bostons arch nemesis it felt like he was selling out and losing part of himself in the process by going clean-shaven. Why Do Baseball Players Have Long Hair? We Investigate - Peoplemag