Earlier this yr, the New York Yankees added sponsored sleeve patches to participant jerseys, however as one ex-player identified, nonetheless gained’t let go of its outdated facial hair coverage that’s possible nonetheless costing the Bronx Bombers from signing sure gamers.
Cameron Maybin took to X/Twitter Thursday afternoon to argue that the Yankees’ notorious no-beards coverage ought to be abolished. Eliminating the rule, in Maybin’s opinion, would make New York a extra in style free-agency vacation spot.
“This might be an unpopular take to Yankees fans, but you’d be surprised how much more attractive the Yankees would be if they got rid of that facial hair rule,” Maybin wrote. “You wouldn’t believe how many quality players just think it’s a wack rule to have.
“I mean cmon we’re coming up on 2024 let that go already, and I swear it would be more appealing. Again this only comes from conversations I’ve had and experience from actually Playing.”
Maybin performed 82 video games for the Yanks in 2019 and later labored as an analyst/brocaster for the YES Community.
Yankees proprietor George Steinbrenner instituted the grooming coverage in 1976. The membership’s “Neatness Counts” coverage specifies “No beards. No beads. No mutton chops. No long hair. No long stirrups.” It was later amended to permit for mustaches, lean-back bans on mutton chops and sideburns, and allow facial hair for spiritual functions.
“I have nothing against long hair per se,” Steinbrenner stated after instituting the rule. “But I’m trying to instill a certain sense of order and discipline in the ball club because I think discipline is important in an athlete.
“They can joke about it as long as they do it. If they don’t do it, we’ll try to find a way to accommodate them somewhere else. I want to develop pride in the players as Yankees. If we can get them to feel that way and think that way, fine. If they can’t, we’ll get rid of them.”
The Simpsons famously goofed on the coverage within the Season 3 episode “Homer at the Bat.” Mr. Burns repeatedly informed Don Mattingly — one of many ringers on the Springfield nuclear energy plant’s softball workforce — to do away with his sideburns.
The near-50-year-old facial hair coverage has in all probability run its course. On Thursday, Yankees basic supervisor Brian Cashman stated he wished to make Yankee Stadium “the mecca of baseball.” Then why homogenize each participant on the roster? In 2020, Andrew McCutchen — who joined New York in 2018 by way of commerce —argued that the coverage “takes away from our individualism as players and as people” as a result of his beard was how he expressed himself.
In all probability probably the most jarring instance of that’s Johnny Damon. The outfielder was compared to Jesus for his huge beard and lengthy hair throughout his days in Boston. These rapidly got here off when he signed with the Yankees in 2005. The scruffy, shaggy man who ripped New York’s hearts out in Recreation 7 of the 2004 ALCS seemed like simply one other man in his Yankees press convention debut. Damon later admitted he couldn’t completely half together with his locks, keeping them in a bag below his sink.
Then there are the gamers who stated they’d refuse to conform. Cy Younger winner David Value stated in 2013 that he would never join the Yankees, particularly due to their facial hair coverage. San Francisco Giants nearer Brian Wilson additionally bought eradicated from Yankees free agent consideration as a result of he refused to shave. Maybe the Yanks may have used him as Corridor of Fame nearer Mariano Rivera retired, and his alternative David Robertson blew 5 saves the next season.
