Did you know about the New York Yankees’ bizarre “no beard” rule? This odd policy was first enacted by Hal Steinbrenner’s late father, George Steinbrenner, in 1976. Since then, many players have had to remove their beards in order to stay in the Yankees. The newest victim? Recently acquired closer Devin Williams, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in December, who had to remove his beard when he arrived at spring training.

Before that, in 2019, Gerrit Cole, the team’s star player, shaved off his beard while playing for the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates. Going further back, when former outfielder Johnny Damon joined the Yankees in 2005 after leaving the Boston Red Sox, he was infamously compelled to cut his hair. So, is this policy of the New York Yankees sitting well with everyone? Well, no; a lot of players love to keep a beard and might not want to come to the pinstripes because of this strict rule.

Bryan Hoch on X wrote that Aaron Boone said he has heard of players saying they would not want to be Yankees because of the grooming policy. “If we miss out on one player because of that, that’s too many.” Even Hal Steinbrenner expressed his concerns to the media about this.

Steinbrenner said, “If I ever found out that a player we wanted to acquire to make us better, to get us a championship, did not want to be here, and if he had the ability, would not come here, because of that policy… that would be very, very concerning.” This made the owner of the Yanks rethink his father’s rule. The club is allowing players and coaches to have “well-groomed beards” going forward, reversing their long-standing stance about facial hair 

How did this rule come about? 

Picture this: it’s 1973, and George M. Steinbrenner, still new to his role as the Yankees’ principal owner, is watching his team line up for Opening Day. But he’s not scanning the field for great plays or home run swings—no, this guy is focused on something else entirely: hair. Specifically, the wild, untamed hair sprouting from the heads of his players. Mutton chops, bushy mustaches, and shaggy locks? Not on his watch.

Steinbrenner wasn’t quite “The Boss” yet, but his early leadership move set the tone for the Yankees’ strict appearance code that would follow. His solution? A stern order to the manager, Ralph Houk, to get those guys to the barber. “Tell them to get a haircut,” he scribbled on a scrap of paper, and off it went to Houk, with a list of players who needed to clean up their act: Sparky Lyle, Thurman Munson, Bobby Murcer, Fritz Peterson, and Roy White. 

Fast forward a bit, and we see the Yankees’ player manual—written with all the precision of a military manual (which, honestly, isn’t surprising when you consider Steinbrenner’s background in the Air Force). It laid down the rules for anyone in pinstripes: no facial hair except for mustaches (unless, of course, it was for religious reasons), and no hair below the collar. Long sideburns? Those were allowed, but anything resembling mutton chops? Not happening.

What’s your take on this odd rule? Share with us below.