TAMPA — Things are about to get hairier around the Yankees.
For the first time in nearly 50 years, the Yankees will allow their players and uniformed staff to grow beards — so long as they are “well-groomed” — as Hal Steinbrenner announced on Friday that the organization was relaxing its facial hair policy that had been instituted by his father, George, in 1976.
Hal Steinbrenner, who described the decision as one that has been years in the making, spent time talking to a wide swath of people, including current and former Yankees, before coming to the conclusion that the policy was “outdated” and “somewhat unreasonable.”
And for those that said his father must be turning in his grave, Steinbrenner essentially said not so fast.
“Winning was the most important thing to my father,” Steinbrenner said at a press conference Friday morning at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a few hours after informing the team of the new policy. “If somebody came and told him that they were very sure this could affect us getting the players we want to get … If something like this would detract from that or lessen our chances, I don’t know, I think he might be a little more apt to do the change that I did than people think, because it was about winning.
“If I ever found out that a player we wanted to acquire, to make us better and get us a championship, did not want to be here and would not come here because of that policy — as important it is to that generation — that would be very, very concerning. I’m fairly convinced that’s a real concern.”
Steinbrenner said he did not know for sure if any previous free agents have turned down the Yankees because of their unwillingness to shave.
Manager Aaron Boone said he “loosely” heard over the years that it could be a non-starter for certain guys, but added that if the Yankees missed out on just one player because of their facial hair policy, “that’s too many.”
“It’s time,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “It’s not an easy decision for Hal Steinbrenner to make, but he’s made it over the course of time … with a lot of information.
“We’re like a gigantic naval battlecruiser. It takes a little while to turn.”
Steinbrenner, whose father was in the military and believed his team should have a disciplined look, said that the franchise’s rule about no hair below the collar remains unchanged.
Some players had pushed the limits of the facial hair policy in recent years, growing more than five o’clock shadows, with Boone having to remind them at times that it was time to shave.
New closer Devin Williams, acquired from the Brewers in December, was not thrilled about having to shave his beard off on the first day of workouts last week, keeping it until the last possible moment and still sporting more than stubble earlier this week during the team’s photo day.
“I think it’s appropriate,” said Gerrit Cole, who like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton met one-on-one with Steinbrenner earlier this week. “It makes sense. It still embodies our look and our neatness but it allows for some individual freedom and a few less razor burns.”
As for what qualifies as a well-groomed beard?
“The only information we were offered from Cash was that we’re not trying to look like Duck Dynasty,” Cole said with a laugh. “No diss against Duck Dynasty, grinding in the woods all the time, you don’t really have another option.”
While the decision was met with some shock within the clubhouse, plans differed about whether players and staff would immediately start growing a beard.
But the consensus was that it was the right decision — both in the team granting its players some room to be themselves and also in the Yankees’ own self-interest in landing the best talent.
“It’s hard for guys to go out there and you expect them to be their best when you don’t feel like you’re in your own skin,” said Marcus Stroman, who said the old facial hair policy was “very talked about” around the league. “I think it’s a great thing that needed to happen for that factor. When we go out on the field, you want to make sure we have the utmost confidence.”
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