The New York Yankees tend to stand out on the diamond due to one specific rule – facial hair is not allowed. While growing a moustache is perfectly acceptable, beards, long hair, and, as C. Montgomery Burns infamously reminded Don Mattingly, sideburns, are not allowed. The very concept of a player with a beard on the Yankees is almost laughable.
But the times, they are a’changin’. Aaron Judge having a beard this offseason just shows why it is time for this policy to change.
Bearded Aaron Judge is the villain origin story of Yankees fans’ nightmares if he ever leaves pic.twitter.com/UaXKiBLQLY
— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) November 22, 2021
Time for New York Yankees to end archaic rule
The facial hair policy had been instituted to retain a look of professionalism for the franchise. Not only were the Yankees expected to win, but they were expected to look, play, and act with respectability on the diamond. The Yankees had a standard to uphold, not just in the standings, but on the diamond as well.
It is also a policy of a bygone era. The facial hair policy was instituted as a response to the changing fashions of the 1960s and 1970s, when facial hair was coming back into style and hair was being grown longer than before. It is also an archaic rule and one that needs to change.
That does not mean that players on the Yankees will look like Johnny Damon in his Captain Caveman days. One would imagine that there would be some limitations on beard length in order to retain that professional image.
Changing that policy could also make a difference in free agency. Some players may bypass heading to New York simply because they do not want to shave, their facial hair being a part of their persona as a player. As the Yankees are suddenly finding themselves needing more and more help on the roster, any changes could help.
Judge is the right player to have change that rule. The Yankees want him to remain with the franchise throughout his career, a conversation that may happen this offseason as he is slated to reach free agency next year. Allowing him to keep the beard could be an added bonus for signing an extension.
The New York Yankees have had a policy banning facial hair since George Steinbrenner took over. It is time for this archaic rule to come to an end.