New York Yankees players can finally let their hair down… kind of.
On Friday, the team amended its grooming policy for the first time in 50 years. Previously, players were given the choice of being clean-shaven or wearing a mustache, and could not let their hair grow past their shoulders. Now, as Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said, the organization will allow «well-groomed beards.» The original policy was put in place by his father, George Steinbrenner, in 1976.
Complying with the policy hasn't always been easy for players, but there have been exceptions. Don Mattingly was fined and benched in the 1990s for refusing to trim his mullet, a conflict which was parodied during his appearance on «The Simpsons» episode «Homer At The Bat,» where Mr. Burns repeatedly demands he shave his sideburns, leading Mattingly to quip «I still like him better than Steinbrenner.»
Players who've been traded to or signed with the Yankees have often had dramatic changes in their appearances after getting their hair cut. Here are some of the most notable examples.
Gerrit Cole has been a Yankees fan for almost his entire life and sported facial hair going back to his days as a college ace at UCLA. In the 2020 season, his desire to join his childhood favorite team — and $324 million — won out. Cole showed up at his introductory news conference with a fresh shave and trimmed haircut.
Cutch had already cut the trademark dreadlocks he sported during his MVP days with the Pittsburgh Pirates long before being dealt from the San Francisco Giants to the Yankees late in the 2018 season, but landing in the Bronx meant McCutchen also had to ditch his beard for a clean-shaven look for his 25-game stint in pinstripes. Upon signing with the Phillies for the
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