New York Yankees chairman Hal Steinbrenner has amended the team’s facial hair policy to allow “well-groomed beards” for the first time in nearly five decades. The policy, put in place by his father George Steinbrenner in 1976, required players to have no hair below the lip. Steinbrenner called the old policy “outdated and somewhat unreasonable” and acknowledged the importance of beards to younger men. Notable players impacted by the policy over the years include Oscar Gamble, Thurman Munson, Goose Gossage, and Don Mattingly. The New York Yankees have had a strict facial hair policy for many years, with players like Don Mattingly, Jason Giambi, Randy Johnson, and Johnny Damon altering their appearances to adhere to team rules. Mattingly was benched for one game due to his long hair, while Giambi changed his look upon joining the team. Johnson trimmed his long hair upon joining the Yankees in 2005, and Damon went from long hair and a thick beard with the Red Sox to a clean-cut look with the Yankees, joking about it at his introductory press conference. Damon helped the Red Sox in their historic 3-0 comeback against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS and later won the 2009 World Series with the Yankees. Darnell McDonald had to shave his beard and cut his dreadlocks to join the Yankees in 2012, but was designated for assignment after just four games. Gerrit Cole may bring back his beard in 2025 after the Yankees lifted their no beards policy.
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