NEW YORK — The New York Yankees are making a historic change to one of baseball’s most well-known traditions, allowing players to sport well-groomed beards for the first time in nearly 50 years. Managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner announced the policy shift on Thursday, marking a departure from the team’s strict grooming standards that date back to the 1970s.
The Yankees’ facial hair policy was first implemented in 1973 by former owner George Steinbrenner, who mandated that players maintain a clean-shaven look with hair not extending below the collar. The rule, inspired by military grooming standards, allowed only mustaches, leading to the infamous “Mustache Gang” of the 1970s and a notable loophole that players like Thurman Munson, Don Mattingly, and Reggie Jackson used to their advantage.
Over the years, the policy became a defining characteristic of the Yankees’ brand, emphasizing professionalism and uniformity. It also sparked controversy, with some players reluctantly shaving upon joining the team. Mattingly, then the Yankees’ captain, was even benched in 1991 for refusing to cut his hair to regulation length. More recently, stars like Johnny Damon, Andrew McCutchen, and Brian Wilson had to shave their signature beards upon joining the organization.
Despite criticism and changing cultural norms around facial hair in professional sports, the Yankees remained committed to the policy under George Steinbrenner and, later, his son Hal. However, as grooming standards evolved, internal discussions about revising the rule gained traction. In his statement, Hal Steinbrenner acknowledged speaking with former and current players before making the decision to allow “well-groomed beards” moving forward.
“In recent weeks I have spoken to a large number of former and current Yankees — spanning several eras — to elicit their perspectives on our longstanding facial hair and grooming policy, and I appreciate their earnest and varied feedback,” Steinbrenner said. “These most recent conversations are an extension of ongoing internal dialogue that dates back several years. Ultimately the final decision rests with me, and after great consideration, we will be amending our expectations to allow our players and uniformed personnel to have well-groomed beards moving forward. It is the appropriate time to move beyond the familiar comfort of our former policy.”
The move aligns the Yankees with the rest of Major League Baseball, where facial hair has become commonplace. Notably, teams like the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants have embraced bearded rosters in recent championship runs. With this decision, the Yankees are embracing a new era while closing a chapter on one of the sport’s most polarizing traditions.
The Yankees’ facial hair policy, once a symbol of the team’s discipline, is now a relic of the past as the franchise embraces a more modern look.