Mr. Burke does this every day for us. Michael Burke had been part of the group that had purchased the Yankees along with Steinbrenner. On this point, Cheryl Rings article reinforced, the New York state hair law A07797A, which banned an employer from prohibiting, among other things, dreadlocks, braids and twists. A07797A specifically, [p]rohibits race discrimination based on natural hair or hairstyles. This would seemingly repudiate the Yankees scalp hair may not be grown below the collar policy. [11]:48, The terms of the Yankees' appearance policy were codified in 1976, when Steinbrenner and manager Billy Martin introduced the "Neatness Counts" policy, which specified, "No beards. It wasnt just that he was teaming up with Bostons arch nemesis it felt like he was selling out and losing part of himself in the process by going clean-shaven. In 2019 when the Yankees acquired highly-prized ace Gerrit Cole, he had to say goodbye to his beard and long hair. We express ourselves in different ways. I emailed Hal Steinbrenner, who did not reply, I assume because as a member of MLBs negotiating committee he was readying for Thursdays first formal talks between owners and players since the lockout began Dec. 2. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Would they really want to be seen as an organization that would go to a grievance against a player over hair facial or long? That includes McCutchen at the time, who was as noted traded to New York. The Yanks appearance policy was established in 1973 by traditionalist and conservative George Steinbrenner, supposedly after witnessing several players hair covering their numbers during the performance of the Star Spangled Banner. He was notorious for hiring and firing combative skipper Billy Martin several times over the course of their contentious professional relationship, but his micromanaging came out in other ways, too. "[11]:100101 The policy has since been amended to read, "All players, coaches, and male executives are forbidden to display any facial hair other than mustaches (except for religious reasons), and scalp hair may not be grown below the collar. They wouldnt improve their roster over this policy? But Judge can make it happen himself. Mike Burke is a guy who I admired tremendously, Steinbrenner said. Well, it is the third version of the facility, it is more mall than ballpark and it is a few football fields from the original. Were not going to pretend were something we arent. Void in ONT. Thats not something I want to be a part of., Even some recent former Yankees have been dismissive of the teams stringent attitude toward personal grooming. It's something they've done since the late George Steinbrenner instituted the policy in 1973, and. If this was an inspirational sports movie, wed be at the beginning, when the tough-but-fair leader instills strict measures on his players, turning them into champions. Oregon State failed to recruit a single black player in 1970. [10]:243244 After the game, Steinbrenner, who did not yet know the names of the players whose hair he considered unacceptable, wrote down their jersey numbers for manager Ralph Houk to reprimand after the game: No. Hal Steinbrenner has important stuff on his agenda helping to get a new collective bargaining agreement for the sport and finding a shortstop for his team. [36] Despite admitting that some players preferred to keep their facial hair during the MLB season, then-manager Joe Girardi said in 2017 that "I haven't really had anyone come into my office and say, 'We need to change this. The school's hair and makeup policy states in part: Students may not wear drastic or unnatural hair colors or styles such as shaved lines or shaved sides or have a hairstyle that could be. The Yankees aren't saying you can't have certain long hair styles (like dreads) but you can have others. He shaved, thats enough. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Yankee management ordered Don Mattingly to get a hair cut, who was sporting a mullet-like hair style. The year prior, the NCAA had added a new rule declaring that wrestlers must be clean shaven, which they later specified to mean no hair below the earlobes. The rule was never enforced until Hodges, a black man, threatened to run through his largely white competition at the NCAA championships. 17, Gene Michael; and No. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Is it Flowers Day? Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) November 13, 2013. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Perhaps influenced by the As brilliance in the 1970sthey won five straight American League West championships from 1971-1975 and three straight World Series from 1972-1974most teams relaxed their facial hair policies when confronted with the prospect of losing a star or a free agent target. The fight garnered national attention and support from black students and athletes at other campuses. [14][15] One of the most drastic changes caused by this policy was to Oscar Gamble, who was known for his distinctive Afro hairstyle, and even had an endorsement deal with Afro Sheen that would be lost if he were to cut his hair. Reggie Jackson broke baseballs facial hair trend in 1972 when he showed up to camp with a beard, stating he hadnt shaved since his Athletics lost to the Orioles in the playoffs the year prior. Odds and lines subject to change. The world has changed, and the Yanks are ironically hurting their image rather than protecting their image by continuing to obstinately insist that the rule should continue to remain in place. Steinbrenner, who had previously spent time in the United States Air Force and adhered to their strict grooming standards,[9] became incensed when, during the Yankees' Opening Day game against the Cleveland Indians, his players removed their baseball caps for "The Star-Spangled Banner" and subsequently displayed their shaggy hair. [17] Six years later, when Goose Gossage was reminded that mustaches were the only facial hair allowed, he shaved only the chin of his beard, thus creating the exaggerated mustache that became synonymous with the pitcher. The Bombers are just a game over .500 through the first month of the season. It all began back in 1973 when George M. Steinbrenner saw some of his players looking sloppy while standing for the National Anthem, most notably Thurman Munson, Bobby Murcer and Sparky Lyle. [1]:568569 Before 1970, the last player known to have sported a mustache during the regular MLB season was Frenchy Bordagaray in 1936, whose manager, Casey Stengel of the Brooklyn Dodgers, subsequently ordered him to shave. NYY Recaps is the most-viewed Yankees podcast on YouTube according to SocialBlade.com. It has become a rite of passage (away from The Bronx) that the first act after moving elsewhere is to give a hirsute middle finger to their former employer; a silent (yet hairy) signal that it was joyless distress playing for the Yankees. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/11/aaron-judge-yankees-beard-facial-hair-policy-rule-photos-mlb. "[32] (McCutchen would cut his dreadlocks off on his own accord in 2015 for charity while still with the Pirates. It backfiredthe As facial hair became an integral part of their look as they dominated baseball throughout the early 1970sbut Finley managed to make the most of it, as he turned it into a successful marketing ploy with Mustache Day on Fathers Day 1972. that her club would be presenting a clean-cut image and demanded Vaughn keep it neatly trimmed., Marlins stud pitcher Jose Fernandez wasnt thrilled with the change. It has been held that, employers may set standards for their employees personal appearance, including their hair length and style, if the regulations are related to legitimate business or governmental objectives. Theres a different standard now for professional appearances, and ignoring that makes the rule a real relic of the past. NYY News: Judges hip may send him to IL; Franchy demoted, Yankees 2, Rangers 5: No deGrom, no problem for Texas. They were found in violation of equal employment opportunity law after firing a black man for breaking their no beards policy. I want to develop pride in the players as Yankees. In late summer 1977, there was a brewing controversy when catcher Thurman Munson went a whopping 11 days without shaving his beard normally, he just had a mustache sparking rumors that he was trying to get traded. I get that being clean shaven could be looked upon as more professional, I even had the same appearance policy in my high school. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Plus, if he felt that strongly about the policy, why did he agree to play for the Yanks? Yankees need to end outdated facial hair policy Joel Sherman MLB The Yankees need to end their outdated facial hair policy By Joel Sherman January 11, 2022 3:27pm Updated An ad blocker. New York Yankees first baseman Luke Voit. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Lou Piniella challenged the rule by pointing out that Jesus had long hair. When Derek Jeter became the CEO of the Miami Marlins, he said, You want people to look professional. The late 1960s were a ripe time for these kinds of policies, as activist movements gained steam on college campuses. The Yanks are the only club in MLB that has an appearance policy. In 1976, Steinbrenner gave an interview with the Times where he clarified his position. [30] Independent marketing executives have commented on the strong "Yankees brand" generated by the players' homogeneous appearance, but have criticized the negative impact that has on creating individual player brands. Could the Yankees successfully defend keeping their policy? Maybe this is a way of saying I dont fit in, The Marlins employ mostly young, cheap talent. Steinbrenner began noting which players he believed needed haircuts when he took over the Yankees in 1973, but the policy was not codified until three years later. David Price. The Yankees' policy has been criticized by sportswriters as outdated, and by marketing officials for limiting the self-expression of players, thus also limiting their personal brands. $324 million dollar man Gerrit Cole is the newest member to join the they look so different without a beard club. No long stirrups. Andros told Sports Illustrated in 1969, Ive coached 20 years and was never reproached by blacks before. Make it: Gone today, hair tomorrow. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. But is this a case the Yankees want to risk? For one thing, his family still owns the club. McCutchen said on the "Sports Bubble" podcast that the rule stifles "individualism . Who Did It: Cam Newton Or Some White Quarterback? I woke up this morning, got a shave and came here. pic.twitter.com/8JtDvTPrrT, But not everyone made that deal. Is this something the Yankees really want to defend in 2022? Outside of that, the entire policy stands on peer pressure and tradition. Over the weekend, news broke that the MiamiMarlins will be instituting a no facial hair policy. The black students organized a boycott in support of Milton, but white alumni and athletes supported Andros. Steinbrenner has been dead now for 12 years, but his fingerprints remain all over baseballs most storied team. But you want them to do that in a professional manner., Rougned Odor on having to shave his beard when joining the Yankees:"I feel weird. We've received your submission. Simply put, the logic and reasoning behind implementing the appearance policy by Sir Steinbrenner are no longer valid today. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500(VA). dark. The most infamous incident involving the Yankees and facial hair happened in 1991. The Yankees mustache rule falls in line with the organization's policy on long hair. What standard is being upheld? Maybe he wanted to stay with the club beyond 2018, and perhaps he felt that by speaking up then he might hurt his chances of being re-signed by the club. I havent shaved in like 10 years, but you know what? While I agree with McCutchens position in general, I dont buy his reasoning. If they dont do it, well try to find a way to accommodate them somewhere else. Should he really have no control over his face? The guy who does it in the clubhouse just came to the hotel and dialed me in., For a man who claimed hed be hands-off, Steinbrenner made sure his influence was felt in the clubhouse. and our Weve seen that realization play out preemptively in the free-agent market. And I feel like I owe it, to someone, yeah, But Im not, Im not giving in an inch to fear. Andrew McCutchen, who played for the New York Yankees in 2018, believes the Yankees should change their famous hair policy. As owner Charlie Finley knew Jackson wouldnt respond to a direct confrontation, and instead he went so far as to. For someone who doesnt have a bit, not a damn bit of business to do with some part of my body to tell me to do something with itjust couldnt see doing it, Hodges told Dr. Jack Scott for the 1970 book The Athletic Revolution. Past practices and precedent matter and so, perhaps, an arbitrator would accept that a baseball organization has the right to control the hair length of an adult under its employ. He also had been a member of the United States Air Force, which similar to other military branches also has an appearance policy. [4], In 1972, Oakland Athletics player Reggie Jackson appeared at spring training sporting a full beard. Were starting it in our minor league system. Probably not, but its funny that even former Yankees who have been put in positions of authority at other clubs dont force their players to adhere to a similar rule. The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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Steinbrenner's policy was inspired by that of the Cincinnati Reds, who forbid their players from growing facial hair between 1967 and 1999, when Greg Vaughn petitioned Marge Schott to rescind the rule. Teams are permitted to have reasonable team rules, and the Yankees have adhered to these grooming ground rules since George Steinbrenner established them shortly after purchasing the team in 1973. Because Aaron Judge has a beard now, and he really should keep the beard. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Guys will whine. However, I wanted to look at this issue from a constitutional standpoint. The Yankees hair policy states that, All players, coaches and male executives are forbidden to display any facial hair other than mustaches and scalp hair may not be grown below the collar. 28, Sparky Lyle. That same year, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price made it clear that when his contract was up, he wouldnt want to play for New York. The moustache and beard are historical and valid external signs of black manhood and black culture, a writer for UCLAs black student newspaper, , wrote in support of Miltons cause. Yankees Mailbag: Automated strike zone & Baders return, The 1998 Yankees Diary: A 25th Anniversary Retrospective. Take relief pitcher Brian Wilson in 2013, for example. But when Hodges took to the mat for his first match of the NCAA Championship tournament, the referee stopped him. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). The decision reads in part: This evidence clearly permits the inference that some black males would be eligible for positions [with Dominos] if they did not suffer from PFB, and proportionately fewer blacks than whites were eligible for [these] positions because of Dominos no-beard policy.. No mutton chops. On Thursday, newly acquired Billy Butler made his Yankees. While facial hair was common in the early era of Major League Baseball (MLB), it had fallen out of fashion by the early 20th century, and instances of players growing beards and mustaches during the baseball season became rare. This is the New York Yankees, a historic dynasty, not the Sheepshead Bay Little League. pic.twitter.com/aAO5LPpZjL, Also, is the Yankee policy even legal? [2]:128 There were no codified restrictions on mustaches and other facial hair in MLB during this time period; rather, the social customs of the time preferred a clean-shaven appearance, and players willingly conformed. It is an outdated policy. Supreme Court Says Yeah, Booking.com Deserves A Trademark Registration, Hello I Am Elliot: The Startups IP Nightmare. If there's one catch to making your rounds in the majors and landing in a New York Yankees uniform, it's their facial hair policy. No one ever charged me with racism. I understand both sides of the arguments. Thats not my style, man. [22], As the appearance policy only applies during the MLB season, members of the Yankees often grow facial hair during the offseason. While many young people embraced the new radical changes in clothing and physical appearance in the 60s and 70s, a large number were undecided about what to wear and how to look. Yankees players use the mustache exception to their restrictive facial-hair policy to break out of slumps, slugger Luke Voit reveals. Gossage obliged by shaving the beard, but he left an exaggerated mustache extending down the upper lip to the jaw line, also known as a handlebar. Hey, theres nothing in the rulebook about that! But Steinbrenner didnt want that hippie-ish nonsense infecting the Yankees. [3] This streak of clean-shaven players came to an end when Dick Allen of the Philadelphia Phillies and Felipe Alou of the Oakland Athletics grew mustaches for the 1970 MLB season. Agent tells Brian Cashman that Wilson won't shave his beard. As a well respected and veteran ballplayer, American society is dramatically different. Former Yankees Mattingly and Joe Girardi have twice attempted to institute a similar policy on the Florida/Miami Marlins, but restrictions on that team have since loosened. Steinbrenner later added, He looks like a Yankee, he sounds like a Yankee and he is a Yankee.. That was volunteered to me during our conversations, that the beard stays on.. He said well talk at the end of the year. If you have social media accounts and follow any Yankee, you will learn that their favorite offseason hobby is not golfing or fishing. leading to a policy that continues to this day, whopping 11 days without shaving his beard, Steinbrenner was (temporarily) banned from baseball, said goodbye to his lovable caveman appearance, banned employment discrimination on the basis of hair, Tickle Me Kaczynski: How the Inventor of the Ultimate Elmo Toy Became a Unabomber Suspect, Real Italians Put Hot Dogs and French Fries on Their Pizza, The Other Drug War: Inside the World of Counterfeit Viagra, The $65 Million Art Heist That Put Oceans Eleven to Shame. I can rule out Brian Wilson, Brian Cashman said. To what end? [23] The policy also leaves an exception for mustaches, and in 2015, a number of Yankees began growing mustaches out of a superstition that their facial hair growth was tied to their improved game performance. So it is The House That Ruth Built kind of. Believe it or not, the Yankees have actually passed up on players who would not shave. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. That year, Andros policy faced its first opposition, from black middle linebacker Fred Milton. 7 Hal McRae; 1976 Topps; Some will argue that when sideburns meld into the mustache they become something altogether different; regardless, Hals hirsute hammers were Hall-of-Fame-worthy; #Royals pic.twitter.com/nOGdheURHp, The 1970s was an era of incredible facial hair in baseball, perhaps best embodied by Rollie Fingers, whose handlebar mustache was a thing of beauty. The Yankees' "appearance policy" has been in force since not long after George Steinbrenner purchased the team in the early 1970s. Is any fan really saying, Good for the Yankees for differentiating themselves? Even if there were such fans, should that allow the organization to dictate what their employees do with their hair? The policy itself states thusly: "All players, coaches and male executives are forbidden to display any facial hair other than mustaches (except for religious reasons), and scalp hair may not. The policy came from then-franchise owner George Steinbrenner, who believed that regulating his players' appearance would instill a sense of discipline. It was there where he had to be clean shaven and hair trimmed. There is no direct correlation between having a haircut that could pass Marine inspection and winning. The New York Yankees saw their season end in early October after a loss to the Red Sox in the American League Wild Card, which has given the Yankees roster a solid eight weeks to exercise free will with their own personal appearance. We all know what it is. Still, when it comes to sports, policies like these are candy for fans who like anauthoritarian approach to team management. As #Movember comes to a close, we remember the #StacheSquad! Well give you two minutes to cut your mustache off.. That question alone should be enough to get rid of the rule. In contrast, Charlie Finley, owner of the Oakland A's at around that same time, actually paid his players bonuses for growing out their facial hair and locks. They wanted to avoid an entire ordeal over the unenforceable policy even if that meant passing up on a potential asset. Aaron Judge easily hits .300 and gets back to the 50 home run plateau with a beard. George Steinbrenner wanted his players to look neat. Fifty years later, the team still fears the beard, a silly policy endemic of an antiquated ethos that baseball is trying to get away from, In January 1973, George Steinbrenner, along with 11 other business partners, bought the New York Yankees. In 1991, Don Mattingly, one of the most beloved of the Yankees during the 1980s who was by then in the twilight of his career, was benched because his hair was too long, provoking his ire.
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