Did you know that the New York Yankees are the only team in all of baseball to still follow a decades-old rule that bans beards and long hair? That’s right, this policy has been around for 47 years, dating back to the era of wide-bottomed pants and disco music. But in today’s modern age, many people are questioning whether it’s time for the Yankees to update their grooming guidelines.
The team’s no-beard rule, first established during the tenure of previous owner George Steinbrenner, is still causing quite a stir among players and fans alike. As the Yankees approach the 50-year mark with this policy, there’s growing dissatisfaction with its strictness. In fact, many people are wondering why the club hasn’t adapted to the changing times.
According to Sports Laws website Conduct Detrimental, the team’s policy states that “All players, coaches, and male executives are forbidden to display any facial hair other than mustaches (except for religious reasons), and scalp hair may not be grown below the collar. Long sideburns and ‘mutton chops’ are not specifically banned.”
One of the latest players to adhere to this policy is Alex Verdugo, who had to part ways with his beloved beard when he joined the team. And he’s not the only one – the policy has even resulted in the loss of potential talent and draft prospects for the team.
But where did this rule come from, and why has it stood the test of time for nearly 50 years? It was George Steinbrenner who introduced the policy back in 1973, implementing it three years later after he felt that certain players needed to tidy up their appearances.
For the New York Yankees, maintaining a grooming policy set by a previous owner who has since passed away is certainly unusual. One can’t help but question the logic behind the rule and what exactly Steinbrenner’s reasons were for putting it in place.
