For nearly half a century, the New York Yankees’ facial hair policy kept some of the world’s most famous baseball players clean-shaven. Last week, thanks to a new player’s push and advice from All-Star veterans, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner changed the team’s face—literally.
“Everyone was shocked,” said Yankees pitcher Devin Williams, whose desire to keep his signature beard helped drive the rule change, allowing players to have more than just a mustache. “Some people had heard discussions and thought it might be possible, but now that it’s real—I’m just waiting for it to grow back.”
On Friday morning, the Yankees announced that players would now be allowed to have “well-groomed beards,” shaking up the baseball world. The strict rule, originally enforced by former owner George Steinbrenner in 1976, remained intact for over a decade after his death, with his son Hal showing no signs of softening the stance.
When Williams arrived at the Yankees’ spring training camp in Tampa, Florida, last week—having been traded from the Milwaukee Brewers—he was forced to face an old enemy: the razor. Williams had never pitched in the Major Leagues without at least a full layer of facial hair. After shaving, he looked in the mirror, barely recognizing himself, and finally took his concerns to Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
Later, Williams voiced his frustration to general manager Brian Cashman, explaining that players perform their best when they feel their best. He also pointed out the hypocrisy of allowing only neatly trimmed mustaches while forcing everyone else to shave completely. Cashman listened—and agreed. Soon after, Steinbrenner sat down with Williams and realized it was time to push for a change.
The inconsistent enforcement of the rule—ranging from Goose Gossage’s Fu Manchu mustache to the five o’clock shadow sported by players like Thurman Munson, Andy Pettitte, and Roger Clemens—was just one of the reasons for reconsidering it. There were also concerns that players might avoid signing with the Yankees because they didn’t want to part with their beards. Steinbrenner took the matter seriously and, on Monday, held discussions with a group of Yankees legends—Ron Guidry, Pettitte, and recent Hall of Fame inductee CC Sabathia—as well as current players Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, and Giancarlo Stanton—to hear their thoughts.
In the following days, Steinbrenner became convinced that banning beards was no longer worth the trouble.
“My father’s top priority was always winning,” Steinbrenner stated. “If someone had told him that this policy might prevent us from signing the players we want, he would have reconsidered. Every offseason, we try to put ourselves in the best position to get the best players. If something like this gets in the way, then it doesn’t make sense. Honestly, I think my father would have been more open to this change than people assume—because for him, it was always about winning.”
On Friday morning, Steinbrenner and Cashman officially announced the policy change, and players responded with enthusiasm.
“This is huge,” said Cole, who previously had a beard while playing for Pittsburgh and Houston.”I completed my bullpen session today, and nobody even noticed.” No one was talking about my appearance. Growing up as a Yankees fan, I wanted to embrace everything about the team’s traditions, so I shaved. But it’s also great that we’re now moving forward with a slightly different tradition.”
Williams, for his part, won’t be shaving again anytime soon. He expects his beard to grow back within two to three weeks and is willing to trim it if needed. “It just feels good to know that my voice was heard,” he said.
Williams’ agent, Nate Heisler of Klutch Sports Group, praised the Yankees’ decision. “Hal took the time to listen to Devin, talk to other players, and make a very difficult decision. Today, the Yankees showed why they remain one of the best organizations in professional sports.”
Now, the Yankees won’t be the cleanest-shaven team anymore. Free agents with bearded pasts—like Cole, Stanton, left-hander Carlos Rodón, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, and reliever Tim Hill—are free to return to their preferred look. Homegrown players can even celebrate No-Shave November for the next eight months.