Few sports adhere to tradition as closely as baseball, particularly the New York Yankees. While the addition of names to the back of the Bronx Bombers’ jerseys is still off the table, the franchise is implementing a significant change in its uniform policy. Owner Hal Steinbrenner announced that beards will now be permitted, provided they are well-groomed. This shift puts an end to a long-standing rule allowing only mustaches, a policy introduced by his father, legendary owner George Steinbrenner, in 1976.
Steinbrenner shared his decision on the team’s social media account on Friday morning. “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,” his statement read. “These conversations are part of ongoing internal dialogue going back several years. Ultimately, the final decision rests with me, and after careful consideration, we will amend 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.”
However, it remains unclear how this rule change affects the policy on scalp hair, which prohibits players from having hair longer than collar length. The original “Neatness Count” policy states: “No beards. No beads. No mutton chops. No long hair. No long stirrups.”
Statement from Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner on the alteration of Yankees facial hair policy: pic.twitter.com/UdEuAg3gZy
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) February 21, 2025
While many baseball fans were used to the Yankees’ “clean-cut” image — including Johnny Damon famously shaving his beard and cutting his hair upon joining the team in 2006 — the outdated policy had become a topic of discussion in recent years. Early in the 2023 season, YES Network’s play-by-play announcer Michael Kay notably criticized a bat boy for his long hair, which led to further commentary on the policy, including reactions involving this very site.
Even though it seemed likely that beards would remain banned as long as a Steinbrenner was in charge, recent signs suggested a change might be on the horizon. Upon reporting for Spring Training last week, newly acquired All-Star closer Devin Williams was seen sporting his signature beard. Although he later shaved it (albeit not completely) before taking the field, it appears he may now be permitted to grow it back.
