New York Yankees drop beard ban after MLB club's facial hair policy gave players pause

The New York Yankees have dropped their ban on beards, 49 years after it was imposed, in a move aimed to improve player recruitment as the team tries to win its first World Series title since 2009.

Current owner Hal Steinbrenner, son of long-time owner George Steinbrenner, announced the change before the team's spring training opener, calling the ban "outdated" and "somewhat unreasonable".

"This generation, the vast majority of 20, 30s-into-the-40s men in this country have beards," Steinbrenner said during a news conference, alongside general manager Brian Cashman.

"It is a part of who these younger men are. It's part of their character. It's part of their persona. Do I totally relate to that? It's difficult for me. I'm an older guy who's never had a beard in his life but it's a very important thing to them. They feel it defines their character."

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George Steinbrenner announced the facial policy during spring training in 1976, mandating no long hair or beards — moustaches were allowed. Players complied but 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 in a disciplined manner," Hal Steinbrenner said.

"Very important to my father, but again [for] my father, nothing is more important than winning and that's in the back of my mind."

Hal Steinbrenner, who succeeded his father as controlling owner in November 2008, said he had considered the issue for a decade and discussed the contemplated change recently with Yankees stars Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gerrit Cole in one-on-one meetings.

Steinbrenner then issued a statement that "we will be amending our expectations to allow our players and uniformed personnel to have well-groomed beards moving forward".

The serious nature of the announcement, which included a social media statement preceding the press conference, was widely mocked.

"A 20-minute press conference over facial hair? I mean, what a disgrace. I couldn't believe it," star broadcaster Stephen A Smith said on ESPN's SportsCenter.

"I'm a … diehard Yankees fan. I'm trying to keep my cool, but I mean damn, you ain't won a world series title since 2009 … and facial hair is the reason there was a press conference?"

Welsh football club Wrexham, co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, replied to the Yankees' tweet with a similar, albeit tongue-in-cheek, statement that said many players were "surprised to learn" the team had a facial hair policy.

"We will be amending our expectations to require our players and uniformed personnel to all maintain ridiculous beards and obnoxious goatees moving forward," it read.

" 'Ye Olde Timey' moustache styles will be approved on a case-by-case basis. Except Max Cleworth. Don't ever change, Max. "

Cashman said CC Sabathia hesitated because of the hair policy before signing with the Yankees ahead of the 2009 season and the agent of a player contemplating a minor league contract this off-season was not sure his client would be willing to shave.

Cashman said some current players had told him of the facial hair ban: "It's not what I want. It's not my preference, but I will honour the rules of the land."

As recently as Monday, the Yankees had left reminders on the clubhouse chair of each player to arrive clean shaven the following morning for photo day.

All-Star closer Devin Williams, acquired in an off-season trade from Milwaukee, had hair on his chin for his photo. Williams, eligible for free agency after this season, had a beard when he played for the Brewers.

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"The New York Yankees are different," Cashman said.

"This is obviously a special place in baseball history. That logo has a lot of meaning behind it and we want our past and our present players to recognise that, and the future players to recognise that.

"Ultimately there's still going to be things that we're going to hold on to that are important for us, but I think as Hal just said, more importantly is always trying to be a championship-calibre franchise and chasing winning."

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