TAMPA. Fla. (AP) — The New York Yankees dropped their ban on beards Friday, 49 years after it was imposed by proprietor George Steinbrenner, in a transfer aimed to enhance participant recruitment because the staff tries to win its first World Sequence title since 2009.
Present proprietor Hal Steinbrenner, son of The Boss, introduced the change Friday earlier than the staff’s spring coaching opener.
“My dad was within the army. He believed {that a} staff ought to look in a disciplined method,” Hal Steinbrenner mentioned throughout a information convention, flanked by basic supervisor Brian Cashman. “Crucial to my father, however once more (for) my father, nothing is extra essential than successful and that’s at the back of my thoughts.”
George Steinbrenner introduced the facial coverage throughout spring coaching in 1976, mandating no lengthy hair or beards — mustaches had been allowed. Gamers complied however some pushed boundaries by going unshaven or letting hair fall over their collars.
Hal Steinbrenner, who succeeded his father as controlling proprietor in November 2008, mentioned the contemplated change with Yankees stars Aaron Decide, Giancarlo Stanton and Gerrit Cole in one-on-one conferences. Steinbrenner then issued an announcement Friday morning that “we might be amending our expectations to permit our gamers and uniformed personnel to have well-groomed beards shifting ahead.”
As lately as Monday, the Yankees had left reminders on the clubhouse chair of every participant to reach clear shaven the next morning for picture day.
All-Star nearer Devin Williams, acquired in an offseason commerce from Milwaukee, had hair on his chin for his picture. Williams, eligible totally free company after this season, had a beard when he performed for the Brewers.
“The New York Yankees are totally different,” Cashman mentioned. “That is clearly a particular place in baseball historical past. That emblem has plenty of which means behind it and we wish our previous and our current gamers to acknowledge that, and the longer term gamers to acknowledge that. So in the end there’s nonetheless going to be issues that we’re going to carry onto which might be essential for us, however I believe as simply Hal mentioned extra importantly is all the time attempting to be championship-caliber franchise and chasing successful.”
Outfielder Alex Verdugo was compelled to trim his beforehand lengthy hair when he was traded to the Yankees forward of the 2024 season.
George Steinbrenner, who purchased the Yankees in 1973, died in 2010.
“I’ve nothing in opposition to lengthy hair per se,” George Steinbrenner mentioned in 1976, in keeping with The New York Occasions. “However I’m attempting to instill sure sense of order and self-discipline within the ballclub as a result of I believe self-discipline is essential in an athlete.”
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