New York Yankees Start Spring Training Games After Major Change To Facial Hair Rules

A running joke is the first sign of a player becoming a former member of the New York Yankees is the sudden appearance of facial hair.

Virtually every player who signed elsewhere or got traded to another team, re-emerged with some form of facial hair. In other words, those players do something representing the opposite of the policy that stood until Friday when the Yankees finally ended hours of debate and ditched the 49-year-old policy.

First came a short statement from managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner that read:

“In recent weeks I have spoken to a large number of former and current Yankees — spanning several eras — to elicit their perspectives on our longstanding facial hair and grooming policy, and I appreciate their earnest and varied feedback. These most recent conversations are an extension of ongoing internal dialogue that dates back several years. Ultimately the final decision rests with me, and after great consideration, we will be amending our expectations to allow our players and uniformed personnel to have well-groomed beards moving forward. It is the appropriate time to move beyond the familiar comfort of our former policy.”

Then came the explanation and when Steinbrenner took the podium to answer questions from reporters in Tampa before the initial spring training game, there was a more substantive explanation. While he did not outright say, it cost the Yankees chances to sign free agents they truly coveted, the implication was there.

“If I ever found out that a player we wanted to acquire to make us better, to get us a championship, didn’t want to be here, and if he had the ability wouldn’t come here because of that policy — as important as it is to that generation — that would be very, very concerning,” Steinbrenner told reporters. “I’m fairly convinced that’s a real concern.”

Real or not, in recent years became an antiquated policy for a team that has a famous exchange of George Steinbrenner telling Lou Piniella if he could walk on water the outfielder could keep his long hair.

This time Steinbrenner opted for the change after hearing from influential voices who previously adhered to the policy. After getting the input from Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia, Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton, the change was made.

Relaxing the policy does not mean the Yankees are about to resemble highly bearded teams of the recent past such as the 2013 Boston Red Sox, who won their third of four World Series titles since the 86-year gap, with several bearded players.

Instead, the Yankees will allow for neatness or beards that are well-groomed, something Gerrit Cole sported during various points of his time with the Houston Astros or more recently Devin Williams had as a star closer for the Milwaukee Brewers before shedding his beard on the first day of spring training.

“There’s been a lot of change in the game,” Yankees GM Brian Cashman told reporters. “I think this is a little bit of an evolution and a nudge on our part to make an adjustment also.”

It is likely the previous policy would not have changed the status of the Yankees, who are amongst the preseason favorites to win the AL East and AL pennant. If anything, it might make some a little less stressed out knowing that their time for shaving a beard is not rapidly approaching, which is something various players hinted at.

“It was almost kind of cool to see in this day and age because it doesn’t exist,” Marcus Stroman told reporters. “But in 2025, I feel like it’s just hard to keep that around, especially when (a beard) gives guys confidence. Guys want to look good, feel good, when they’re out there.”

The first day of spring training games was a look at some variation of the regular lineup and getting first glances as newcomers Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger along with Jasson Dominguez’s first game in a bid to be the opening day left fielder. Those events were overshadowed by what became a monumental occurrence for switching away from a lengthy policy that in many circles felt long overdue for a change.

“It’s appropriate. It makes sense,” Cole told reporters. “It still embodies our look and neatness, but allows for some individual freedom and a few less razor burns.”