The First Amendment, guarantees freedom of expression to individuals in the United States. Andrew McCutchen thinks the Yankeesshould cut. The Yankees want it neat and trim. Mattingly was furious. How concerning is Aaron Judges right hip situation? But one thing we can absolutely count on is seeing Yankee players clean-shaven and also complaints about why this is still a thing. But regardless of the Marlins spendthrift nature, their policy wont last because grown men dont take kindly to these kinds of restrictions of self-expression and identity. Maybe I dont belong in the organization anymore, Mattingly said after his benching. , Ive even talked to some who said thats the only reason they wouldnt want to play for the Reds, referring to their former policy. Oregon State failed to recruit a single black player in 1970. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. While I agree with McCutchens position in general, I dont buy his reasoning. In 2013, the Yankees passed on pursuing notably bearded relief pitcher Brian Wilson because Wilson told the Yankees he would not be shaving. and losers (oh no, Lions) of the 2023 NFL Draft, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Astros RHP Garcia exits Monday's start with an injury, Braves star Acua Jr. leaves game after HBP in shoulder, Phillies star Harper to make return this week, Yankees place Aaron Judge on IL with hip issue, MLB parlay picks, bets, predictions for May 1, Strider's impressive strikeout streak ends vs. Mets. And why not? He also had been a member of the United States Air Force, which similar to other military branches also has an appearance policy. The Yankees want it neat and trim., . The Yankees' facial hair policy might have gotten overruled [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. [25], Sportswriters have criticized the Yankees' appearance policy in recent years as an outdated product of Steinbrenner's time,[26] as well as the limitations that it places on what players the Yankees are willing to take in trades and free agency. David Price. The opposite scenario occurred the next year, when George Bamberger was put in charge of the Milwaukee Brewers and subsequently relaxed the appearance restrictions put into place by his predecessor, Alex Grammas. Were not going to pretend were something we arent. And thats just a ridiculous thing for a front office to take into account when it comes to evaluating players: How attached is he to his beard? The rule was quickly adopted as a club policy. And although the law was more about striking down racist hiring tendencies, an argument could be made that the Yankees are in violation of this law. 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. NEW YORK Chicago White Sox star shortstop Tim Anderson accused Yankees slugger Josh Donaldson of making a racist remark by calling him Jackie Robinson during . McCutchen questioned the New York Yankees ' policy Sunday, saying it "takes away from . 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. David Price made headlines in 2013 when he said he wouldnt sign with the Yankees or any other team that maintained a no facial hair policy. that it is a huge deal. There is nothing more traditional in baseball than the pinstripes yet the Yankees modernized (and monetized) by putting an athletic companys logo across the buttons from the interlocking NY a few years back when MLB reached an agreement for all teams to do so. Wulf: A bigot unwittingly sparked change - ESPN But in American sports, efforts to control grooming habits have a racist history, used by white sporting bodies and coaching staffs to restrict opportunities and control the identities of black athletes. The Awful, Racist History Of The Sports Mascot. The following year, Cincinnati mascot Mr. Red appeared sans mustache in accordance with the new policy. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the baseball responds, especially current and former Yankees. The fight garnered national attention and support from black students and athletes at other campuses. Owner Jeffrey Loria wants to be a puppetmaster, just as George Steinbrenner and Marge Schott and Dee Andros before him, and control the images and identities of his young workers. Yankees grooming policy origins - MLB They can joke about it as long as they do it. I said, What the hell is this? Is it Flowers Day? Legends of the Follicle: The New York Yankees Are Always Impeccably Milton refused to back down and was suspended for a full year and had his athletic scholarship revoked. The deal was for $10 million, a bargain considering the teams previous owner, CBS, had purchased the club for $13.2 million back in 1964. Im a grown man. Being told that hed have to be clean-shaven if he went over to the Yankees, Price responded, I wouldnt stay there very long then. Yankees Mailbag: Automated strike zone & Baders return, The 1998 Yankees Diary: A 25th Anniversary Retrospective. I understand both sides of the arguments. He shaved, thats enough. [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. What standard is being upheld? The Yankees mustache rule falls in line with the organization's policy on long hair. 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. In 2013, the eccentric San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson told the Yankees that he wouldnt shave his magnificent beard, ending any possible talks of him signing with the team. Of course, the Yankees' dim attitude toward facial hair and flowing locks can be seen as symptomatic of baseball's "play the game the right way" ethos, which can often feel racist and inflexible an ethos that Major League Baseball is doing its best to move away from. Steinbrenner quipped that if Piniella could walk on walk on water, he could wear his hair any way he wanted. More and more, baseball is encouraging individuals to express themselves through items like footwear. Could the Yankees successfully defend keeping their policy? NYY Recaps is the most-viewed Yankees podcast on YouTube according to SocialBlade.com. And especially with the team in recent years failing to live up to their potential, its worth debating whether management should let the players be themselves rather than forcing them to conform to a musty old rule. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. The official policy by the New York Yankees states: "All players, coaches and male executives are forbidden to display any facial hair other than mustaches and scalp hair may not be grown. The CBA, which is expiring, would protect players from fines or suspensions over beards. 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. 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. He was right. Anderson says Donaldson made racist remark, MLB investigates No mutton chops. Therefore, the New York Yankees policy is not in violation of the Constitution. First baseman Luke Voit said his teammates grow . The Racist Roots Of Facial Hair Bans In Sports - Vocativ Hodges, I cant let you wrestle, the referee told him. As a well respected and veteran ballplayer, American society is dramatically different. In baseball, not a single player wore a mustache or a beard on the field between 1917 and 1971Dick Allens muttonchops notwithstandingalthough only certain teams, like the Yankees and Reds, had actual policies against facial hair. Well, that is not exactly true. [42], Girardi, who had previously caught for the New York Yankees, decided to implement Steinbrenner's policy when he became the manager of the Florida Marlins in 2006. As owner Charlie Finley knew Jackson wouldnt respond to a direct confrontation, and instead he went so far as to offer a $300 bonus to his players if they grew mustaches, hoping the non-conformist Jackson would be driven to shave. In 1976, Steinbrenner gave an interview with the Times where he clarified his position. Rather than asking him to shave outright, Athletics owner Charlie Finley, knowing that Jackson valued his individuality, encouraged four of his players to grow their own facial hair in the hopes that Jackson would voluntarily shave. Thus, over the past 47 years, players have had no choice to express themselves as it pertains to their facial hair or hairstyle. "[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. Often, they werent aimed at restricting an opposing athlete from competition, as Hodges experienced. As long as were consistent, I think its not that big of a deal.. Powell replied . Plus, if he felt that strongly about the policy, why did he agree to play for the Yanks? We express ourselves in different ways. Andrew McCutchen: Yankees Should Change Their Hair Policy - Insider He stayed on as Athletic Director for another 11 years, and Oregon States futility continued: they wouldnt have another winning season until 1999. Over the years, the hair policy has been amended but still follows the basic . Yankees: What Must Be Done About Hair Policy - Yanks Go Yard A Black Hole Was Simulated And Studied In A Bathtub, Trapped For Hours, Three Young Brothers Rescued After Italy Quake, Chocolate Repairs Damaged Hair At This Salon, This Man Might Love Honey More Than Winnie The Pooh, How One Country Handled Statues From Its Controversial Past, These Bears Were Rescued From Abusive Circuses. Serious question: can someone explain the Yankees "no long hair, no facial hair" policy to me like I'm a five year old? I couldnt do it. Eleven other wrestlerseight black, three whiteshaved off their facial hair at the competition. [20] The next day, the team agreed to allow Mattingly back into the lineup for their game against the Chicago White Sox, and he told reporters that he would likely cut his hair soon of his own accord. I am shocked they have not been challenged on this yet. Rafael Stone, a basketball player for the University of Washington, told a student newspaper, Coaches are trying to mold black athletes into thinking white., In baseball, not a single player wore a mustache or a beard on the field between 1917 and 1971Dick Allens muttonchops notwithstandingalthough only certain teams, like the Yankees and Reds, had actual policies against facial hair. 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. It created a bit of an uproar and the media mocked the team for doing so. During a pregame interview at Comiskey Park in Chicago on July 29, 1938, the WGN Radio announcer Bob Elson asked Powell, a Yankees outfielder, what he did during the off-season. New York Yankees It aint athletic., That year, Andros policy faced its first opposition, from black middle linebacker Fred Milton. Thats the way it is. The Yankees' "appearance policy" has been in force since not long after George Steinbrenner purchased the team in the early 1970s. No beads. Those policies shaving and letting the jersey speak for itself I definitely do think it takes away from our individualism as players and as people, he said. 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. Hodges, sporting a pencil-thin mustache, refused. [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. Notable examples include Randy Johnson, Johnny Damon, Nick Swisher, Jason Giambi, Kevin Youkilis, and Gerrit Cole. 12:39 pm ET. Thats whats up. In 2019 when the Yankees acquired highly-prized ace Gerrit Cole, he had to say goodbye to his beard and long hair. [5] As more of his players grew them, Finley began to like the mustaches, and the 1972 Athletics were soon nicknamed "The Mustache Gang". Im a Christian. Aaron Judge easily hits .300 and gets back to the 50 home run plateau with a beard. Today we could have had Bryce Harper, but he wouldnt shave, so we refused to take him. This changed in 1972, when members of the Oakland Athletics, led by Reggie Jackson, formed The Mustache Gang. Shortly after taking over the Yankees, he decided hed end a tradition of having fresh-cut flowers on employees desks. They were found in violation of equal employment opportunity law after firing a black man for breaking their no beards policy. Andros told Sports Illustrated in 1969, Ive coached 20 years and was never reproached by blacks before. McCutchen opted to shave his entire face, which was a big change for him. Even my daughter, she doesn't want to look at me" pic.twitter.com/V6SvOcsNuC. "i'm so excited to join the @Cubs one of the biggest reasons i chose to come here was the fan base . As mentioned in 2019, New York state passed S.04037 /A.4204, which prohibits employment discrimination based on religious attire, clothing or facial hair. The Yankees organization members could certainly challenge this team rule and would have a strong opportunity to succeed based on this legislation. McCutchen, who had worn long dreadlocks as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, said that if he had been traded to the Yankees during that time, it would have been difficult to part with his hair, "Because that's who I was That's (what) made me Andrew McCutchen. If youre a bigot it will catch up to you and you wont win.. [18] Lou Piniella, meanwhile, once challenged the rule during spring training in Fort Lauderdale, citing that Jesus had long hair. This deeply-felt pressure was expressed in the song, Almost Cut My Hair sung by David Crosby, Steven Stills, Graham Nash, and Neil Young on their 1970 Dj vu album. I woke up this morning, got a shave and came here. Steinbrenner has been dead now for 12 years, but his fingerprints remain all over baseballs most storied team. Subscribe to join the community for game reactions, prospect news and. Milton was. 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. The Yankees went to 3 straight WS and won 2 of them with a bunch of players with facial/long hair. [16], The Yankees' appearance policy has also led to clashes between management and players who refuse to conform to Steinbrenner's standards. I get that being clean shaven could be looked upon as more professional, I even had the same appearance policy in my high school. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. 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. 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. Although the episode aired after Stump Merrill benched Mattingly, the Simpsons showrunners said that the sideburns storyline was recorded beforehand, and that the storyline was based on Al Jean's grandfather, who held his own strict appearance policy. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & resort (KS). Mattingly was benched by the Yankees in August of 1991 over his refusal to get a haircut; his brown hair, according to the AP, drops over the collar and is cropped closely at the sides. Thats what made me Andrew McCutchen.. Isnt baseball supposed to be a team game? He wrote down their numbers and told each one to cut his hair. 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. Tim Grierson is a contributing editor at MEL. 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. Steinbrenners military background is often cited as the reason why he didnt want long hair or beards, and certainly for generations of baseball fans the Yankees who dont put their players names on the back of their jersey, suggesting that the team is greater than the individual have resembled a tight ship, at least in how they present themselves to the public. The Marlins have actually tried this tactic beforethey had a no facial hair policy in 2011 that was swiftly overturned once they hired the goateed Ozzie Guillen as their manager. 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. Soon, the mandate came down, leading to a policy that continues to this day: 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. I got involved., Steinbrenner was just as proactive when it came to personal grooming. Were starting it in our minor league system. Only to have to stripped when he went to the Yankees. Not that superstars wouldnt test the owners patience. [4], In 1972, Oakland Athletics player Reggie Jackson appeared at spring training sporting a full beard. [39] Although no member of the Reds had sported facial hair since 1902, general manager Bob Howsam put a formal ban into place in 1967. He seems to be one of the first "star" players to call out the Yankees antiquated facial hair policy. Weve seen players like Jason Giambi, Randy Johnson, and Johnny Damon all shave their facial hair and get clean haircuts when joining the Yankees. Clearly, the Constitution grants individuals the right to have facial hair and choose their hair length. Simply put, the logic and reasoning behind implementing the appearance policy by Sir Steinbrenner are no longer valid today. The rule states that players cannot have any facial. The enforcement of a professional look and a my way or the highway attitude appeals to conservative ideals. This isnt the military. The New York Yankees hair (or otherwise known as "appearance") policy has been a talking point ever since it was enacted back in 1973. New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Guardians: Series Preview. In 1969, Andross Beavers went 6-4, their fifth consecutive winning season. And Loria, should he keep this policy, shouldnt be surprised when his young players choose not to be treated like puppets and tell him no when they finally get a chance to choose their employers. ", "Andrew McCutchen says Yankees' haircut policy should be addressed", "Pirates' McCutchen sheds locks to benefit charity", "Yankees' beef with Clint Frazier's hair symbolizes what's wrong with baseball", "Yankees Outfielder Clint Frazier Makes Sure Hair Is A Non-Issue", "Frazier 'excited' to join Cubs, trolls NYY hair policy", "Hair today, gone tomorrow: Frazier trims locks", "Once banned, Reds now embrace facial hair", "The goatee that forever changed the Reds", "With slugger Vaughn aboard, Reds rescind facial hair ban", "Girardi decrees no facial hair for Marlins", "Marlins require players to shave facial hair", "Don Mattingly's Marlins Take A Lesson From Mr. Burns and Ban Facial Hair", "Marlins avoid hairy situation, soften beard policy", "Derek Jeter: Marlins can have 'well-groomed' facial hair", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=New_York_Yankees_appearance_policy&oldid=1149457763, This page was last edited on 12 April 2023, at 11:02. I loved him, but for what I wanted, he didnt fit with me. For more information, please see our It is growing a beard. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Even MLB Networks advanced stat king thinks Yankees Don Mattingly deserves Hall of Fame, Aaron Judge choosing Giants over Yankees would have nothing to do with Robinson Can, Alek Manoah calling Gerrit Cole worst cheater in baseball history is a take from Planet Neptune, Yankees fans are deluding themselves with 1990s nostalgia, Yankees remarkable blowout stat proves 2022 playoffs will be tense. Upon his arrival to New York, McCutchen (like all other New York Yankees organization members), was required to shave his face outside of a mustache. Would the Yankees void a deal if the baseball equivalent of James Harden, someone like San Diegos Fernando Tatis Jr. or Torontos Vladimir Guerrero Jr., refused a request to trim his hair and shave? Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ had hair down to the middle of his back, and it didnt affect the way he went about his work. According to Pinella, Steinbrenner in response showed him a nearby pond, commenting, Its about seven to eight feet deep. But when the New York Times reported the sale of the Yankees, Steinbrenner was modest about his ambitions. The most Yankees manager Aaron Boone could really do is bench a player and frame it as a managerial decision (and everyone would see through that). So be it, Cole said shortly after joining the club. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Im afraid Im going to look 16, he said. , Our concern was to keep the proper image of major league players before young fans especially. Although MLB never instituted such a policy, there was concern baseballs conservative white fanbase would react poorly to facial hair, whether it was worn as an expression of black power, anti-war sentiments, or general disobedience. We all know what it is. Ranking every NFL team's 2023 draft class from 32 (sorry, 49ers) to 1 (whoa, Colts), Kentucky Derby 2023: post position draw results and morning line odds, Ranking all 32 current NHL away jerseys, from worst to best, The Brewers' Willy Adames got ejected after a blatantly spiteful sequence from umpire Adam Beck, Kentucky Oaks 2023: Post position draw results and morning line odds, Every 2023 Kentucky Derby horse name, ranked, 13 Winners (Bill Belichick!) Bearded Aaron Judge should challenge Yankees facial-hair policy - USA Today Ron Schwane/Getty Images. However,the Dominos pizza chain found out in 1991that it is a huge deal. 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. Maybe they want an organization that is full of guys who are puppets, Mattingly said, Maybe I dont fit into the organization anymore. [13] The strict grooming requirements of the baseball club have led to several instances in which a player known for his long hair or beard on his former team becomes clean-cut upon signing with the Yankees. The court threw out the complaint relying on the premise that, No such right[s] exist for private-sector workers.. But perhaps the most memorable occurrence was Johnny Damon, the heart and soul of the scruffy Boston Red Sox team that came back to beat their hated rivals the Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series, who joined New York soon after. Not only has the rule been looked at distastefully by the media and some in pinstripes, but also players on other teams and in free agency. The fight. He did it all himself, Martin told the press. I assume the silence is over concern that the conversation could move into a truly hairy area like, is your team planning to play without a shortstop this year? Players such as Andrew McCutchen and Clint Frazier have critiqued the policy after leaving the Yankees, while both Brian Wilson and David Price have voiced their refusal to join the team as long as the appearance policy remains in place.