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NY Yankees throw curveball, allowing players to grow ‘well-groomed beards’
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ryan Kailath
Published Feb 21, 2025
Modified Feb 21, 2025
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New York Yankees / Getty Images
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ryan Kailath
Published Feb 21, 2025
Modified Feb 21, 2025
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Things are about to get hairy for the Yankees.
The Bronx Bombers are ending their longstanding beard ban for players ahead of their spring training opener against the Tampa Bay Rays, Hal Steinbrenner, managing general partner, announced Friday. He said he has lately spoken with “a large number of former and current Yankees” about the policy.
“These most recent conversations are an extension of ongoing internal dialogue that dates back several years,” Steinbrenner said in a statement. “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.”
Most modern-day Yankees fans can’t remember a time when players were allowed to grow their whiskers and locks. George Steinbrenner, the late owner who forged the team into one of baseball’s most feared dynasties in the 1990s, insisted on a military approach to personal grooming: no long hair, no beards, tightly maintained mustaches.
This month, fans quickly noticed that new Yankee Devin Williams had shaved his beard for spring training, following in the footsteps of other once-scruffy MLB players who became Bronx Bombers, including Randy Johnson and Johnny Damon.
And fans of a certain vintage will not forget the great “Battle of the Mullet” in 1991, when Don Mattingly refused to acquiesce to the elder Steinbrenner’s demand that he tame his mullet.
Yankees memorabilia hangs on a wall at Evolution Barber Shop at East 157th Street and Gerard Avenue in the Bronx on Feb. 21, 2025.
Brittany Kriegstein / Gothamist
It was not immediately clear how the team’s management would define and enforce “well-groomed beards” under its amended policy. Gothamist asked for some advice on how to meet the "well-groomed" requirement from experts at Beyond the Beard on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
"A well-groomed beard can mean a lot of things," said company founder Cassondra Kurtz.
She said if the beard is short, daily trimming and shaping with quality razors is key. For longer beards, she recommends beard oil, beard balm or beard wax. Balm is a pomade-type substance that shapes and hydrates the beard. Wax is stronger and typically used to keep the hair in place. As in almost all hair and skin care, the key to a healthy beard is hydration.
Kurtz also said Yankees who want to grow long beards should embrace the scissors and clippers if they want their beards looking healthy and neat.
"A common misconception amongst a lot of men who come into our shop is that they think if they want to grow their beard out, or if they want to keep a beard, that they just don't touch it," Kurtz said. "That creates breakage, damage and, as a result, frizziness and perceived messiness."
Kurtz said she was happy about the news and said the Yankees are welcome at her shop.
"It really depends on ultimately what the Yankees deem as clean or well taken care of," Kurtz said. "Either one can be accomplished, whether the beard is long or short."
Barbers and their customers near Yankee Stadium on Friday also said they supported the change.
"I think it's an evolution, and it's a little more freedom for the players who don't feel good with their faces shaved,” said Adan Pichardo, a man who was getting a haircut at the Boss Barber Shop on Gerard Avenue.
His barber, Victor Batista Arias Enchima, said he agreed.
"If I'm one of the [Los Angeles] Dodgers, for example, and I have my beard and my braids, and I sign to the Yankees and they want me to cut my braids and my beard,” he said, “I'm going to feel kind of bad and I won't play well."
This story has been updated with additional information.
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new york yankees
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Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Ryan Kailath
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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