Yankees change infamous facial hair policy: Players can now have ‘well-groomed beards,’ Hal Steinbrenner says

Beards are no longer banned in the Bronx. The New York Yankees announced Friday morning that they are altering their longstanding facial hair policy. Players and uniformed personnel will now be allowed to have “well-groomed beards,” team chairman Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. The Yankees previously had an infamous policy that mandated players could have mustaches but no other facial hair. That policy was put in place by former owner George Steinbrenner, Hal’s father, in the 1970s.

Here’s Hal Steinbrenner’s statement on the change:

“In recent weeks I have spoken to a large number of former and current Yankees — spanning several eras — to elicit their perspectives on our longstanding facial hair and grooming policy, and I appreciate their earnest and varied feedback. These most recent conversations are an extension of ongoing internal dialogue that dates back several years. 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. It is the appropriate time to move beyond the familiar comfort of our former policy.”

The Yankees’ “appearance policy” also states that players cannot have hair that goes past their collars. That part of the policy appears to be unchanged. 

CBS Sports will have more on this story soon.