Yankees pitcher Devin Williams debuted a new clean-shaven look on Wednesday, leading fans to slam the team’s ‘dumb’ long-held facial hair policy.
Since the 1970s, when the late George Steinbrenner took over the team, the Yankees have prohibited players from having beards or long hair.
Steinbrenner, who came from an Air Force background, put the rule officially into place in 1976 as a way to ‘instill certain sense of order and discipline,’ he said.
The rule did not ban mustaches, and was later changed to allow for ‘mutton chops.’
Nonetheless, many players have been forced to ditch their facial hair over the years, and Williams – a one-year, $8.6million signing this offseason – reported to spring training on Wednesday without his signature beard.
The 30-year-old, who did appear to have a light mustache on Wednesday, sported a thick beard while playing for the Brewers, with Talkin’ Yanks writing on X that he hadn’t been clean shaven for six years.
And in response to seeing Williams’ new look, baseball fans took to the platform to bash the team’s appearance policy.
‘Lamest rule of all time,’ one said.
‘Looks miserable and I don’t blame him,’ another added. ‘It’s not the military. It’s baseball. Hate that rule the Yankees enforce,’
‘Rule makes no sense,’ a third chimed in. ‘I do believe that players shouldn’t be prisoners in a team and be themselves. What does rule even help with? Looking clean? why is mustache allowed and not beard?’
And a fourth said, ‘Damn that aura is somewhat reduced. Give my man at least some stubble please.
The rule has caused some dramatic makeovers in the Bronx, with Johnny Damon memorably having to shave off the shaggy beard and hair that he sported while on the Red Sox.
And many players have taken issue with the policy.
Former Yankees outfielder Cameron Maybin, who played for the team in 2019, ripped the rule in a December 2023 post to X.
‘This might be an unpopular take to Yankees fans, but you’d be surprised how much more attractive the Yankees would be if they got rid of that facial hair rule,’ he said.
‘You wouldn’t believe how many quality players just think it’s a wack rule to have. I mean cmon we’re coming up on 2024 let that go already, and I swear it would be more appealing. Again this only comes from conversations I’ve had and experience from actually Playing.’
In 2013, relief pitcher Brian Wilson also refused to sign his beard – leading the team to abandon their pursuit of him in free agency.
Andrew McCutchen, who played for the team in 2018, also later said on the Sports Bubble podcast that the rule ‘takes away from our individualism as players and as people.’
Williams’ clean-shaven appearance on Wednesday came as the Yankees’ pitchers and catchers reported for spring training in Florida.
The Yankees will play their first spring training game of the year on Friday, February 21 against the Rays.
