By Andrew Hefner
February 16, 2025
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A long-standing and now legendary rule within the New York Yankees organization seems to be losing support more and more by the year. But why did the no beard rule originate in the first place and is there a chance that this Yankees tradition will end?
The History
In 1973, George Steinbrenner made history with a 10.3 million dollar purchase of the New York Yankees organization from the then-owners CBS. Steinbrenner, a graduate of Culver Military Academy and later a second lieutenant in the Air Force, was upset with the appearance of some players on the team. Having just purchased the team, he did not originally know the names of the players he was displeased with so he wrote their numbers and later had manager Ralph Houk instruct the players to shave and clean up. These players ended up being Yankees legends like Thurman Munson, Sparky Lyle, Bobby Murcer, Fritz Peterson, and Roy White. Later, in 1976, Steinbrenner and legendary manager Billy Martin introduced the official “Neatness Counts” policy to the team.
The new policy officially stated that there would be, “No beards. No beads. No mutton chops. No long hair. No long stirrups,” before later being amended to, “All players, coaches, and male executives are forbidden to display any facial hair other than mustaches (except for religious reasons), and scalp hair may not be grown below the collar. Long sideburns and 'mutton chops' are not specifically banned."
In 1978 in an interview with the New York Times, Steinbrenner further clarified his policy stating, “I have nothing against long hair per se, but I’m trying to instill a certain sense of order and discipline in the ball club because I think discipline is important in an athlete”. He would live by these words throughout his time as owner of the Yankees, creating an international brand recognizable across the world, while putting together some of the most dominant teams in baseball history. There is no doubt that George loved the game, and through this rule, his legacy has lived on.
Although Steinbrenner passed away in 2010, the policy is still in effect reportedly due to the request of his family, who still own and operate the club today.
Controversies and Stories
In 1983, on the heel of an All-Star season and 3rd place Cy-Young finish, now Hall of Famer Goose Gossage would shave just the chin of his beard so that he could have a “mustache” as allowed by the policy. Gossage would continue to don this unique look and it would end up becoming one of his career-defining features.
Years earlier Lou Pinella appeared at Yankees training camp with hair deemed too long, claiming that “Jesus had long hair." Steinbrenner, in typical Steinbrenner fashion, reportedly told Pinella that if he could walk on water, he could keep the long hair. Pinella, of course, cut his hair.
Yankees legend Don Mattingly famously showed up to a game with long hair and was scratched from the starting lineup. The Simpsons would later go on to parody the infamous moment and featured a cartoon Don Mattingly in the episode.
Brian Wilson, famous for his beard, was a part of trade talks in 2013, but the talks halted when he noted that he would refuse to shave his beard if he ended up in New York.
David Price was in talks to sign with the Yankees but would end up taking a different option as well due to the policy.
When star Johnny Damon joined the team in 2008, he shaved the beard and long hair he had previously sported with the Red Sox.
Similarly, Cy-Young Winner Gerrit Cole also removed his long hair when he signed a record-breaking contract to join the Yankees in 2019.
Harrison Bader, previously known for his long hair, was traded to the Yankees midseason a few years ago and had to cut his hair before joining the team. The Yankees would move on from him just over a season later, and Bader has remained with short hair since.
In 2023 amidst a bizarre and underwhelming season for the Yankees with not many trades or signings, former outfielder Cameron Maybin tweeted, “This might be an unpopular take to Yankees fans, but you'd be surprised how much more attractive the Yankees would be if they got rid of that facial hair rule.”
Spring Training 2025
The main reason the policy argument has come up was with the arrival of star relief pitcher Devin Williams to the Yankees camp. Williams, part of a trade between the Yankees and Milwaukee just over a month ago, appeared on the first day of camp with his beard intact, before shaving in the clubhouse and beginning his first workout. Many fans were outraged by the incident, claiming that because it was a trade not facilitated by Williams, why should he have to be forced to shave? Williams also noted that he had not been clean-shaven in over 16 years and had played his entire professional career with his beard.
New arrivals Cody Bellinger and Max Fried had no issue with the rule as both were already in line with the policy.
My Opinion
I became a Yankees fan due to my Grandfather, who was born and raised in North Jersey and has supported them since the 1940s. Although the rule was not yet in place then, I have grown up on the stories of Yankees teams past, and have had the great pleasure of listening to him reminisce on watching “Yogi smash them to the upper deck” or see “Mickey hit another one out." The rule has become a part of Yankees history just as Yogi and Mantle have, and to remove the work of the greatest owner in team history would be a disgrace. My Grandfather often claims that the Yankees are the clean and traditional team, while the Red Sox were always the scruffy ones, and despite the rivalry that has ensued for over a century, the sentiment is true in part thanks to the famous rule. 2025 is not the time to give up on history and tradition because of a single pitcher or what those on the internet may say. Let’s stick to our roots and continue honoring the legacy of Mr. Steinbrenner.
The rule was put in place because Steinbrenner being of a certain generation and political persuasion didn't want, no "long haired hippies" wearing the pinstripes. It was the political time he lived in and bottom line he owned the team, he made the rules, and if you didn't like it .... Goodbye, or play somewhere else. The older Yankee fans like the rule.... younger folks maybe no so much!
I have no problem with the rule.
one can never be too careful (or too extreme) when when fighting against the ugliness of hair.
I preferred it when Steingrabber the Felon insisted that beards were the reason that players could not run as fast as possible and that long hair was resulting in players having to wear bigger caps, often tighter one which resulted in slower thinking.
the long hair was not accepted in the military and seemed to be utterly unpatriotic.
Steingrabber's mistake was is being ahead of his time. had laser-based hair removal technology been more advanced back then, he could have had each player entirely hairless and waxed into perfect working order, angry and aggressive and scary as all get-out
"to remove the work of the greatest owner in team history would be a disgrace"
What work of Jacob Ruppert's is threatened with removal?
Actually, that the facial-hair rule was instituted by an abusive, bombastic criminal is the best reason for removing it. That said, I always thought the Yankees looked so much classier than the "idiot"-era Red Sox. And that's the real problem with removing the rule. I have a beard, and I keep it trimmed, but you know there would be a bunch of clowns who would sport ridiculous-looking facial hair that would detract from the professional appearance of the team. (Think Johnny Damon or more recently Alex Verdugo when they were on the Red Sox.)
This actually…