A recent announcement from the New York Yankees has some folks stroking their chins. The organization dropped its infamous beard ban, which dated back to a legendary owner, the late George Steinbrenner.
Current owner Hal Steinbrenner, son of “The Boss,” announced the change Friday before the team’s spring training opener. The statement said, “We will be amending our expectations to allow our players and uniformed personnel to have well-groomed beards moving forward.” He called the ban “outdated” and “somewhat unreasonable.”
In 1976, George Steinbrenner announced a new facial hair policy. Mustaches were allowed. But long hair, sideburns, and beards were forbidden.
Players mostly complied. Some pushed boundaries by going unshaven or letting hair fall over their collars.
“My dad was in the military. He believed that a team should look [disciplined],” the younger Steinbrenner says.
George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees in 1973. He died in 2010.
“The vast majority of 20, 30s-into-the-40s men in this country have beards,” Hal Steinbrenner says. He calls himself “an older guy who’s never had a beard in his life” but acknowledges “it is a part of who these younger men are.”
The change is a move aimed at improving player recruitment—and trying to win the team’s first World Series title since 2009.
Hal Steinbrenner succeeded his father as controlling owner in November 2008. He says he pondered the hairy issue for a decade. He also discussed the intended change recently with current Yankees stars Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gerrit Cole.
Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman says some players hesitate to sign up to stay clean-shaven. He also says some current players have said of the facial hair ban: “It’s not my preference, but I will honor the rules of the land.”
Outfielder Alex Verdugo had to trim his previously long hair when he was traded to the Yankees ahead of the 2024 season. Clay Holmes and Gleyber Torres arrived at spring training this year with beards after leaving the Yankees.
“It’s somewhat surprising just because of how long the rule’s been around,” says pitcher Holmes. Holmes left the Yankees for the rival Mets after last season.
The rule change had the feel of a last-minute decision. Earlier in the week, the Yankees had left reminders for each player to arrive clean-shaven for photo day.
The team may be ditching the beard ban—but it will return to another George Steinbrenner edict dating from 1980. The stadium will play Frank Sinatra’s version of “Theme from New York, New York” after home wins only. It seems players and staff were tired of hearing a celebratory song following losses.
“The New York Yankees are different,” Cashman says. “This is obviously a special place in baseball history. That logo has a lot of meaning behind it.” He continues: “Ultimately, there’s still going to be things that we’re going to hold onto that are important for us.” But he admits that the most important thing is “trying to be a championship-caliber franchise and chasing winning.”
“I have nothing against long hair per se,” George Steinbrenner said in 1976, according to The New York Times. “But I’m trying to instill a certain sense of order and discipline in the ballclub because I think discipline is important in an athlete.”
He wasn’t wrong about that.
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. — 1 Corinthians 9:25
