Derek Jeter is already thinking about what could have been.
Not so much about his 20-year Yankees career that featured five World Series rings, 14 All-Star nods and five Silver Slugger awards.
Rather, the Hall of Famer is now picturing what he could have looked like had the Yankees allowed their players and uniformed staff to grow beards.
After nearly 50 years, the Yankees did away with the rule on Friday, allowing all in the organization to grow facial hair as long as it remains “well-groomed,” Hal Steinbrenner explained about the modifications to the rules established by his father, George, in 1976.
Following the news, Jeter, who has since sported some scruff in retirement, posted a photo of himself in Yankees uniform with a full beard on Instagram.
“New rules!” Jeter captioned the photo.
“You look like Dad! Hahaha,” Jeter’s sister, Sharlee, wrote.
“MY CAPTAIN!!” former Yankees teammate and Hall of Famer CC Sabathia commented.
Dodgers broadcaster and former pro of 16 years, Jerry Hairston Jr., also wrote, “Not gonna hate. This looks good!”
Bronx native and rapper Fat Joe also commented with six laughing emojis.
Steinbrenner said the rule change has been years in the making, involving many conversations with a wide variety of people, both currently in the organization and past members.
He came to the conclusion that the facial hair rule was “outdated” and “somewhat unreasonable.”
Since the ruling, social media has gone into a craze, bringing out all the jokes possible.
The Empire State Building got involved, posting a bearded image of the New York attraction on X with the caption “Finally.”
“Finally,” the Empire State Building’s official X account shared Friday morning, along with a picture of a bearded image of the New York landmark.
NYC Sanitation also joined in with an image of two bearded trash bins.
“If the @yankees can allow beards, you can use a trash bin!” the department wrote.
