Tracing the Origins of the New York Yankees' Facial Hair Policy

Joining the Yankees means biding adieu to facial hair and saying hello to clean and fresh haircuts among many other great things. It’s now time to dig in deep and find out why this policy exists in the first place.

Where did it all begin?

The policy was introduced in 1973 when George M. Steinbrenner noticed some team players looking sloppy during the National Anthem. Some notable players included Thurman Munson, Bobby Murcer, and Sparky Lyle.

What is the official policy?

The official policy states, “All players, coaches and male executives are forbidden to display any facial hair other than mustaches and scalp hair may not be grown below the collar. Long sideburns and ‘mutton chops’ are not specifically banned.”

What did Steinbrenner want?

The policy was an effort made for the Yankees to develop a ‘corporate attitude’ and for the team to stand out as professionals.

Did everyone abide by the rules?

While many players religiously abided by the policy, there were a couple of rule-breakers, namely Don Mattingly and Brian Wilson.

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