One of the last vestiges of the George Steinbrenner era is finally over. The internal rule (this Ruth built) which denied New York Yankees players the right to carry the beard on baseball diamonds of the 1970s is finished and sprinkled, a bit like like The boss se, who died at 80 in 2010. This is the latest decision showing that the new boss, George’s son Hal, who has ax the 49 -year -old rule on Friday, will do everything he can to differentiate himself from the old boss, his father.
“In recent weeks, I have spoken to a large number of old and current Yankees – covering several eras – to arouse their perspectives on our longtime hair and grooming policy, and I appreciate their serious and varied comments », Steinbrenner said in a press release. “These most recent conversations are an extension of the current dialogue that dates back several years.
“In the end, the final decision rests with me, and after a great consideration, we will modify our expectations to allow our players and our uniform staff to have well -maintained beards. This is the appropriate moment to go beyond the familiar comfort of our old policy. »»
It is a reasonable decision of HAL, even if it can lead some fans to deplore that the Yankees are no longer the yankees. And these fans, which surface after each mini-fire sequence, can actually have a point. After all, Hal does not go stupidly like a drunk sailor. Hal does not treat Managers and Directors General Like Tinder Dates. Hal did not do Illegal campaign contributions to seated presidents. Hal did not send an uncompromising character linked to the crowd to follow the Aaron judge to dig up the dirt, As his father did to the Dave Winfield franchise player. Hal has not yet almost canceled dental insurance for its Yankee Stadium employees. Hal did not threaten Move the team in New Jersey Whenever something is wrong with their new stadium. Hal does not replace the Managing Director and exchange his best prospects for whims. Hal does not ask his managers to play each of the 162 games of the regular season as an NFL match, because George obsessed with football has always wanted. And Hal did not ask his equipment manager to refuse a uniform to one of his players until they shave their Afro, As was done for Oscar Gamble in 1976. Neat hair was also part of the rule.
And now Hal will not force her The players to shave, just because his father may have wanted to hide daily chaos occurring in and around the Yankee Stadium by forcing her Men in a shaved, Prim, appropriate and professional look. Talk about irony.
If anything, it is astonishing that in this era of Instagram individualism, where everyone tries to appear different, despite the research mainly of the same thing, that the rule to keep the ball players of the Bronx lasted So long. Now, for more clarity, if you think you will see long, gruff, winding, Brian Wilson type beards Flirt with diamond dust so early, guess again. Remember that Hal says that beards must be “well maintained”.
Why now? Well, this decision is also proof that the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York dishes have exceeded the Yankees. You may be able to institute juvenile policies on your ball club when you have the highest payroll in baseball, decade after decade. But when this is no longer the case, players can be less inclined to endure such nonsense. If you are a bearded ball player with a similar offer from Queens or Chavez Ravine, well, you are much less inclined to sign in the Bronx.
Devin Williams is an example. The closest, which is now known for its beautiful beard as much as its fast ball, was very unhappy to have to shave when it arrived in Tampa where the Yankees train every spring. Williams, who was acquired by New York of Milwaukee this offseason, is a free agent after this year. So why is a guy so in love with his thick and rich beard, who is clearly miserable and who clearly slipped thatched in his photo just two days ago, will come back to a ball club that put it naked for everyone to see? Answer? It would not do it, and that is precisely why it is a business movement more than anything else.
The RPEAL of this Boss era rule means that we will never get these small rebellions of the Yankees who gave us the Fu Manchu style mustache from Goose Gossage, which it became “to piss Steinbrenner”, and we will not see anything resembling The Don Mattingly moment of Simpson. The shocked transformations, like Johnny Damon as a “silly” Red Sox star with long hair and long hair, towards the Voltiger with a clean Wall Street, and the brutally wild cut of the Wonderful Mulet of Randy Johnson, are also Absent for good.
Instead, Yankees fans will now look at and wait all growth signaling the ultimate overthrow: Aaron Judge as a bearded baseball threat, striking cleaning in the Bronx.
