The New York Yankees stood alone among Major League Baseball teams with one specific player-unfriendly policy, which will reportedly end this season.
Since 1976, the Yankees have not allowed players to sport any facial hair. That ended Friday with one simple yet shocking announcement from team chairman Hal Steinbrenner.
“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 l 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.”