TAMPA – The Boss must be spinning in his grave.
Hal Steinbrenner announced Friday morning that the Yankees are getting rid of their long-standing facial hair policy, moving to allow “well-groomed beards moving forward.”
“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 I appreciate their earnest and varied feedback,” Steinbrenner said in a statement. “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.”
While it remains to be seen how “well-groomed” will be defined, the move will give players some more freedom after previously being limited to mustaches being the only facial hair allowed.
Some players had pushed the limits of the policy in recent years, growing more than five o’clock shadows.
New closer Devin Williams did not seem thrilled about having to shave his beard off on the first day of workouts, keeping it until the last possible moment.
