For the primary time in almost 50 years, the New York Yankees have loosened their long-standing facial hair coverage, permitting gamers and workers to sport “well-groomed” beards any more. The choice, introduced by proprietor Hal Steinbrenner on Friday, marks a big shift from the strict grooming requirements established by his father, George Steinbrenner, in 1976.
Whereas the change has been met with blended reactions throughout the baseball world, one former Yankee, Don Mattingly, had maybe probably the most amusing take. Mattingly, who famously clashed with the Yankees over the coverage throughout his enjoying days, responded with simply two phrases when requested concerning the change, saying, “Instances change!”
His brief however humorous response shortly went viral, as many followers keep in mind how Mattingly was as soon as benched and fined for refusing to trim his hair within the early Nineteen Nineties. The irony of Mattingly’s historical past with the rule made his response much more becoming.
The Yankees’ facial hair rule, which had been in place for almost 5 a long time, required gamers to be clean-shaven, apart from mustaches. Nevertheless, it usually confronted pushback from gamers, together with those that refused to signal with the group due to the coverage. Hal Steinbrenner admitted that this was a significant factor in his determination to chill out the rule.
A brand new period begins for the New York Yankees, and Gerrit Cole can have a beard once more
“If I ever discovered {that a} participant we needed to accumulate, to make us higher and get us a championship, didn’t need to be right here and wouldn’t come right here due to that coverage, that will be very, very regarding,” Steinbrenner mentioned.
For what it is value, the final time Gerrit Cole had a beard, he put up numbers like a 2.50 ERA in 212 innings with 326 strikeouts and an ERA+ of 185. He additionally had a FIP of two.64 and a Ok/9 of 13.8. All league main numbers for his 2019 season. But, in some way, he misplaced out on the Cy Younger to his then teammate and present San Francisco Large Justin Verlander.
Whereas Steinbrenner couldn’t verify whether or not any high free brokers had turned down presents from the Yankees because of the grooming coverage, basic supervisor Brian Cashman famous that it had been a subject of debate in previous free-agent negotiations.
“We’re like a big naval battlecruiser,” Cashman mentioned of the Yankees’ reluctance to alter. “It takes a short time to show.”
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Some present Yankees welcomed the choice, seeing it as a step ahead in modernizing the group.
“It is sensible,” mentioned Gerrit Cole, who had a beard earlier than signing with the Yankees. “It nonetheless embodies our look and neatness however permits for some particular person freedom and some much less razor burns.”
In the meantime, new nearer Devin Williams, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers, reluctantly shaved his beard upon reporting to Yankees camp earlier this month. He expressed frustration over the rule earlier than the change was introduced, making him one of many final gamers to be affected by the outdated coverage.
The Yankees’ facial hair rule was deeply rooted in George Steinbrenner’s army background and perception {that a} clean-cut look instilled self-discipline. Through the years, nonetheless, the coverage led to some memorable controversies.
In 1991, Don Mattingly was benched by supervisor Stump Merrill for refusing to chop his hair. The incident turned a nationwide story, and Mattingly’s rebellious stance even impressed a subplot in The Simpsons. In 2013, pitcher David Worth mentioned he would by no means signal with the Yankees due to the grooming coverage. In 2023, Devin Williams resisted shaving his beard, preserving it till the final doable second earlier than reporting to Yankees camp.
Now, gamers will now not need to face such dilemmas, although the Yankees will nonetheless implement guidelines on hair size, guaranteeing that gamers preserve a “clear and disciplined” look.
Whereas custom has lengthy been on the coronary heart of the Yankees’ identification, Hal Steinbrenner made it clear that successful comes first. “Profitable was an important factor to my father,” Steinbrenner mentioned. “If one thing like this might detract from that or reduce our probabilities, I don’t know, I feel he could be just a little extra apt to do the change than individuals suppose.”
As gamers start embracing their newfound freedom, will probably be fascinating to see what number of choose to develop beards within the post-clean-shaven Yankees period. One factor is for sure—Don Mattingly was proper. Instances have certainly modified.