Former Yankee Criticizes Controversial George Steinbrenner Rule, Will It Impact the Bronx Bombers’ Crucial Off-Season?

The New York Yankees are not only the most prominent team in baseball, but they are also known as the staunchest haters of facial hair. Since being implemented by then-Yankees owner George Steinbrenner in 1976, the facial hair policy has become an indispensable part of the Yankees’ identity. While the team forbids the players from growing facial hairs, some players within the Yankees’ roster do not share the same sentiment.

Most recently, a former New York Yankees outfielder, who played for the Bronx just for one year, poured out his “unpopular take to Yankees fans.”

Former Yankees Outfielder Unveils Bold and Unpopular Take

Imposing restrictions on what grown men are allowed to have on their faces while playing for the team seems rather peculiar. Sharing a similar sentiment, former New York Yankees player Cameron Maybin put forward his point of view behind the infamous facial hair policy.

“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,” Maybin, a former YES Network announcer, expressed in a post on X this Thursday.

Furthermore, the 36-year-old emphasized how the time has come to already let go of such a “wack rule.” “You wouldn’t believe how many quality players just think it’s a wack rule to have. I mean, we’re coming up on 2024; let that go already, and I swear it would be more appealing.” The words that came from Maybin urge one to look back at the intention with which this policy came into play.

While implementing the policy forty-six years ago, George Steinbrenner said, “I’m trying to instill a certain sense of order and discipline in the ball club because I think discipline is important in an athlete.”

Although substantial salaries often grant the power to establish various guidelines, it’s difficult to foresee the advantages outweighing the potential disadvantage of free agents potentially avoiding the team.

Will Free Agency’s Biggest Names Follow in the Footsteps of Defiant Players Past?

Zooming in on this year’s free agency, Maybin said that the Bronx Bombers’ rule can severely hurt the team’s offseason targets. However, there are two sides to this argument.

The Pinstripes latest traded player, Juan Soto, is a clean-shaven player, so it likely doesn’t bother him. Moreover, this also applies to the Bombers’ target, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who also plays clean-shaven. However, on the flip side of it, many players in the past have strongly opposed this rule.

Back in 2015, former pitcher David Price clearly refused to sign with the Yankees due to the same policy. He even went as far as calling this policy “old school baseball.” Similarly, upon departing from the team, former Yankees outfielder Andrew McCutchen criticized the rule, stating that it “takes away from our individualism.”

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Since the Yankees also have such an iconic history, it may not impact players to a large extent. But there may still be stars in the game who wouldn’t adhere to such strict grooming standards to join the team in the near future.

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