Steinbrenner had made his name in the shipping industry, dabbling in Broadway as well. section: | slug: andrew-mccutchen-criticizes-yankees-hair-policy-it-takes-away-from-our-individualism | sport: baseball | route: article_single.us | Who has a mustache on the Yankees? Why Matt Carpenter's facial hair NYY News: Judges hip may send him to IL; Franchy demoted, Yankees 2, Rangers 5: No deGrom, no problem for Texas. No long hair. Thats what made me Andrew McCutchen.. You want them to be able to represent themselves and their families and the organization. The Yankees are the lone big-league team to have a policy that bans beards. 17, Gene Michael; and No. 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. How about the august stadium? Well, that is not exactly true. But one thing we can absolutely count on is seeing Yankee players clean-shaven and also complaints about why this is still a thing. They certainly would have a case. When he told the team that he would not shave, they crossed him off the list. [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. 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. Just back from a vacation and, well, look at that, still in a lockout. As #Movember comes to a close, we remember the #StacheSquad! 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. In the meantime, baseball fans will continue to be bewildered by the sight of formerly hirsute players signing up with the Yankees, only to reemerge as strangely baby-faced individuals. Mattingly ought to know that. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Most teams did not formally adopt any grooming or personal appearance policies until the 1970s, as earlier social customs meant that players were generally clean-shaven. Players like Derek Jeter were ubiquitous every October, their clean-shaven countenances serving as the face of baseball for a decade. Anderson says Donaldson made racist remark, MLB investigates 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. Its something theyve done since the late George Steinbrenner instituted the policy in 1973, and the rule persisted as some long-held tribute to Steinbrenner despite changes throughout the organization. He also had been a member of the United States Air Force, which similar to other military branches also has an appearance policy. It is one thing for a free agent to sign with the Yankees, know the policy and agree to accept it. They were found in violation of equal employment opportunity law after firing a black man for breaking their no beards policy. I havent shaved in like 10 years, but you know what? 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. They wanted to avoid an entire ordeal over the unenforceable policy even if that meant passing up on a potential asset. It wasnt until 1968, the, first year over 15 percent of Major League Baseballs players were black, and over 25 percent were men of color, that the leagues executives considered a league-wide ban on mustaches, beards, and extreme sideburns.. Reply . Steinbrenner wanted the Yankees to adopt a corporate attitude. What does that mean? Serious question: can someone explain the Yankees "no long hair, no 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. Don Mattingly Refuses Hair Cut, Gets Ovation After Benching! ), 1. (Never mind that it also opens the Yankees up to derision, like in this great Onion piece headlined Yankees Eliminate Longstanding No Pubic Hair Policy.) Plus, theres an open question concerning what would happen if current Yankees simply refused to shave. Johnny Damon, the dude had the sickest flow and beard with the Red Sox. "[32] (McCutchen would cut his dreadlocks off on his own accord in 2015 for charity while still with the Pirates. The following year, Cincinnati mascot Mr. Red appeared sans mustache in accordance with the new policy. Ill try to explain it to them at a meeting. '"[37], Around the time of Steinbrenner's edict, personal grooming policies among MLB teams greatly varied based on the personal preferences of managers. N. Frazier tweeted a photoshopped image of him in a Cubs uniform Tuesday, expressing his excitement to join the organization, while also poking fun at the Yankees' hair policy. Why Was A Gay Writer Denied Cat Adoption? 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. [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 next year, seven of Oregon States 18 black athletes transferred, including four of the six football players. [38] The terms of Steinbrenner's appearance policy, meanwhile, were inspired by that of the Cincinnati Reds, who forbid their players from growing their hair past their collar or sporting any form of facial hair besides short sideburns. But when the rule was enacted, Steinbrenner said he wanted to adopt the corporate attitude. But Judge can make it happen himself. It was outdated 30 years ago when Don Mattingly was benched for an August 1991 game because he refused a directive from above (George Steinbrenner was suspended, but it was clearly from him) to shorten the length of his hair. He looked noticeably different when he reported to the Yankees: how it started how its going pic.twitter.com/uVL2OhbI5A, Its taken as a given that if the Yankees pick you up, whether through a trade, the draft or in free agency, youre trimming your facial hair. The moustache and beard are historical and valid external signs of black manhood and black culture, a writer for UCLAs black student newspaper, Nommo, wrote in support of Miltons cause. Marlins stud pitcher Jose Fernandez wasnt thrilled with the change. Lets not forget about the Stache Squad in 2015. With the Yankees again the sports dominant club, high-profile free agents came clamoring, resulting in a series of lucrative contracts and the repeated weirdness of, say, seeing Randy Johnson shaving to comply with the teams policy. That was volunteered to me during our conversations, that the beard stays on.. In 1983, Steinbrenner ordered that Goose Gossage remove his facial hair. Yankees: Here's How NY Newspapers Covered George Steinbrenner's Death 10 Years Ago. Weve seen that realization play out preemptively in the free-agent market. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. 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. 28, Sparky Lyle. PFB is a genetic disorder, almost exclusively affecting black men. 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). [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. In April 1977, Dock Ellis was traded to the Oakland Athletics after he wore an earring while on the pitchers' mound. The Yankees should get rid of their facial hair policy as a matter of improving player confidence. 1 Example as to why the Yankees old fart facial hair policy needs to end forever. 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. Rafael Stone, a basketball player for the University of Washington, told a student newspaper, Coaches are trying to mold black athletes into thinking white., TFW someone asks you to get rid of your facial hair. But Steinbrenner didnt want that hippie-ish nonsense infecting the Yankees. WWESubway By The Numbers: A Vocativ Investigation. But more symbolically, one of his rules continues to be upheld to this day: If youre a New York Yankee, you cant have long hair and you cant have a beard. But Im trying to instill [a] certain sense of order and discipline in the ball club because I think discipline is important in an athlete. Cledwyn Musipa, a co-author who graduated in adult nursing from Middlesex University London in 2019, now works as a critical care nurse in a hospital in the South . The CBA, which is expiring, would protect players from fines or suspensions over beards. This isnt the military. Simply put, the logic and reasoning behind implementing the appearance policy by Sir Steinbrenner are no longer valid today. Andrew McCutchen criticizes Yankees' hair policy: 'It takes away from 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. But when Hodges took to the mat for his first match of the NCAA Championship tournament, the referee stopped him. Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen thinks the Yankees should phase out their policy regarding how players must wear their hair. Thats whats up. (In fact, he ended his career in 1986 rather than agreeing to shave it off to be a member of the Cincinnati Reds, which didnt allow facial hair.) Andrew McCutchen: Yankees' hair policy "takes away from our So without free agency or trades to focus on, I have decided to tackle a really big issue. 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 below the collar. And in this age, doesnt it now feel like the crisis you can see heading toward town, so if you can avoid it, why not? Now the beard issue is dead. 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. And Mattingly took the policy with him to the Marlins. Aaron Judge easily hits .300 and gets back to the 50 home run plateau with a beard. Maybe that wont matter for the Marlins, a team too cheap to make waves in the free agent market anyway. Legends of the Follicle: The New York Yankees Are Always Impeccably Groomed, And Why It Matters Crown Shaving Co Spend $75 or more and we'll ship it for free (Canada & U.S. only, discount applied at checkout). He was a real heartthrob type of guy. It created a bit of an uproar and the media mocked the team for doing so. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. If youre a bigot it will catch up to you and you wont win.. There is no direct correlation between having a haircut that could pass Marine inspection and winning. The most infamous incident involving the Yankees and facial hair happened in 1991. Exclusive: Nurses call for an end to 'hair racism' in the NHS "[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. pic.twitter.com/aAO5LPpZjL, Mike Dro (@MikeDro_) November 21, 2021. Therefore, the New York Yankees policy is not in violation of the Constitution. It's something they've done since the late George Steinbrenner instituted the policy in 1973, and. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Void in ONT. I couldnt do it on some of these teams I hear about. On Thursday, newly acquired Billy Butler made his Yankees. Is this something the Yankees really want to defend in 2022? Were starting it in our minor league system. The policy came from then-franchise owner George Steinbrenner, who believed that regulating his players' appearance would instill a sense of discipline. 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. 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. 1, Bobby Murcer; No. What would happen if say, I dont know Aaron Judge showed up to spring training and said he was keeping the beard? The Yankees aren't saying you can't have certain long hair styles (like dreads) but you can have others. Does Hal Steinbrenner want to be the guy who gives the order if, say, Aaron Judge or any Yankee decides to carry his offseason beard into spring training? The Awful, Racist History Of The Sports Mascot. After that point, individual managers began to tighten or relax their teams' grooming standards as they saw fit. 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? McCutchen calls playing for the Yankees "an honor," but he also believes it's time for the policy to end. As a well respected and veteran ballplayer and someone who drew accolades for his clubhouse presence while with the team, his opinion would have carried weight. Should the Yankees now adopt to modern times? Over the weekend, news broke that the MiamiMarlins will be instituting a no facial hair policy. We've received your submission. In 2019, the State of New York passed a law that banned employment discrimination on the basis of hair. Employers, school officials, and prison administrators have given a number of reasons for regulations determining hair length and hair styles; among them are identification, safety, hygiene, and appropriateness., However, Major League Baseball franchises, such as the New York Yankees would not fall under a governmental objective or legitimate business. Furthermore, the rights of uniformed governmental officers, such as the police or those in the military, differ significantly from other public employees (or, for that matter,the average citizen)., Nonetheless, private organizations or companies, like the New York Yankees, can set limits on grooming, dress attire and even facial hair. 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. During an appearance earlier this week on The Sports Bubble Podcast, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen discussed his short stint with the New York Yankees in 2018, and the discomfort he felt with the franchise's famous appearance policy. Maybe this is their way of saying we dont need you anymore. Mattingly relented and got his haircut the next day, but the incident was infamous enough to be mentioned in the great 1992 episode of The Simpsons, Homer at the Bat.. Here's a picture of Aaron Judge with facial hair : r/NYYankees - Reddit 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. When Munson ended his facial-hair protest, manager Billy Martin (who apparently had appealed to his catcher to get a trim) tried to downplay what had become a bit of a local news story. But this battle has already been fought and won by previous athletes of color who showed the simple yet profound power of standing up and saying no.. 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. No mutton chops. Of course, the Yankees dim attitude toward facial hair and flowing locks can be seen as symptomatic of baseballs 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. . Most players over time, however, have succumbed to the clubs edict and have agreed to cut their hair. But is this a case the Yankees want to risk? 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. 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 the way it is. Does Putins $4 Billion Super Bridge Into Europe Violate Law? The First Amendment, guarantees freedom of expression to individuals in the United States. Generally speaking, though, highly paid professional baseball stars had enough leverage to win the right to wear their facial hair as they pleased. Who Did It: Cam Newton Or Some White Quarterback? that it is a huge deal. If the argument to keep Yankee players in uniform clean-shaven is tradition based, then I would ask about that uniform. Mustaches, however, are permitted as an exception. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & resort (KS). The Yankees Hair & Beard Policy | History of the Yankees The Yankees want it neat and trim. Mattingly was furious. 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 policy states: "All players, coaches and male executives are forbidden to display any facial hair other than mustaches (except for religious . 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. 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. The. and our "[12] Steinbrenner argued in 1978 that the policy was not specifically about a distaste for long hair and more about "trying to instill a certain sense of order and discipline" that he believed was important for athletes to maintain. They can joke about it as long as they do it. Andrew McCutchen: Yankees Should Change Their Hair Policy - Insider Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) November 13, 2013. Thus, over the past 47 years, players have had no choice to express themselves as it pertains to their facial hair or hairstyle. Well, he wanted the team to be looked at as more professional and stand out almost as if they were the military. Even my daughter, she doesn't want to look at me" pic.twitter.com/V6SvOcsNuC. 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. Is it Flowers Day? Maybe this is a way of saying I dont fit in, The Marlins employ mostly young, cheap talent. This is now 2020 and American society is dramatically different from the way it was in 1973, almost 50 years ago. If we can get them to feel that way and think that way, fine. As Sheryl Ring wrote in 2019, New York state passed a new law (S.04037 /A.4204) that forbids discrimination as it pertains to facial hair; in addition to the state law that prohibits employers from regulating hair styles/length (A07797A). 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.. 15, Thurman Munson; No. Because that was who I was. Sylvester Hodges had a chance at a NCAA wrestling championship in 1969. You can rule out Brian Wilson to the Yankees. Would they really want to be seen as an organization that would go to a grievance against a player over hair facial or long? And why didnt he complain once he was with the Bombers? George Steinbrenner has a policy and Im going to stick to it, he noted. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. , Oregon State University head coach Dee Andros considered sideburns and beards and sandals without socks to be dirty, smelly, unappetizing. Andros, known as The Great Pumpkin for the combination of his roly-poly 250-pound frame and Oregon States orange colors, said of facial hair, It aint neat. Andrew McCutchen made an important comment on the Yankees restrictions against individualism. I get that being clean shaven could be looked upon as more professional, I even had the same appearance policy in my high school. Even then, the Yankees' facial grooming policy had become mainstream enough to be lampooned by an animated television sitcom. Steinbrenner's policy remains in place after his death, and has led to a number of dramatic appearance changes for players who come to the Yankees from other teams, such as Oscar Gamble, as well as pushback from players who prefer long hair and beards. Plus, if he felt that strongly about the policy, why did he agree to play for the Yanks? Lou Pinella, who joined the club in 1974, playing for them for the next 10 years, supposedly told the owner, I dont understand, Mr. Steinbrenner, what long hair has to do with your ability to play baseball. Theyll joke about it, but sooner or later well get it ingrained in them. For me, when I was on the Pirates and me having my dreadlocks, Id be lying to you if I said if I got traded over to the Yankees and they said you gotta shave your hair for me, that would have been a very tough thing to do. Tune in tomorrow for Chapter 13 of As the World Turns., Dirt Dogs: Charlie Hustle and Thurman Munson#Yankees #TheBronxZoo pic.twitter.com/3bW680IBUd, But future sagas with other players were inevitable.