For decades, the New York Yankees enforced a grooming policy so strict it could make a military dress code look lenient. Beards? Forbidden. Long hair? Not a chance. It was a tradition born from the iron rule of George Steinbrenner, a man who believed baseball should be played with clean-shaven faces and corporate precision. But one player—armed with a razor-sharp sense of defiance—finally stood up to the outdated decree, proving that winning games mattered more than a fresh shave.

George Steinbrenner took over the New York Yankees in 1973. And right after he took over, he installed a winning mindset. With this mindset came a set of rules that had to be followed by every player on the team. And that rule was the no-beard rule.

Being a businessman, George Steinbrenner felt that this rule would make a good impact on the team. And he was right. Under George Steinbrenner, the Yankees won seven World Series titles. This made them one of the best teams ever.

But now there is one player who has defied this rule, and this can be seen in the Yankees team photo. Devin Williams, a pitcher for the New York Yankees, pushed this rule to the limit. When he appeared for spring training this offseason, he had a sneaky beard that he shaved off before throwing in the bullpen. But this can still be seen in the Yankees team photo.

As this made the news, even Hal Steinbrenner had to acknowledge it. During a press conference, Hal Steinbrenner said, “I did make the decision that the policy that was in place was outdated and given how important it is to that generation and given that it is the norm in this world today, that it was somewhat unreasonable.”

This is one of the biggest non-baseball-related decisions that might have an impact on baseball. The rule that has been in place for the past 50 years has been lifted. This decision came after Steinbrenner said that it has become a norm for people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s to grow a beard. And said that it has become a part of their persona.

With the time changing, the rule will have to evolve too. And that is exactly what has happened at the New York Yankees.

The Yankees, once the gold standard of old-school baseball traditions, have finally conceded to the modern world—one beard at a time. After 50 years of forced clean-shaven conformity, the Bronx Bombers have realized that a little facial hair won’t derail a dynasty. So, while championships are still the ultimate goal, at least now, the Yankees can win with a bit more scruff.

A Close Shave: The players who nearly broke the New York Yankees’ no-beard policy

For decades, the Yankees’ no-beard policy stood as unshakable as their championship banners—until a few daring players decided to test the limits of Steinbrenner’s razor-sharp rule. Some shaved just in time, others begrudgingly conformed, and a few outright refused, choosing their beards over the Bronx. While the Yankees upheld their tradition with military precision, these players proved that even the most rigid rules can be trimmed down over time.

George Steinbrenner enforced this strict rule so that even Yankees legend Don Mattingly had to face the consequences of not following it. Mattingly resisted changing his hairstyle, going against the Yankees hair policy in 1991. At the time, he was the New York Yankees’ franchise player. The result of this pushback? Straight to the bench.

The Yankees made this decision solely because Mattingly had grown hair longer than what was allowed. Don Mattingly received huge media coverage across the nation after this drama with the Yankees. This became even worse when The Simpsons made him a laughingstock after doing a parody of him.

Steinbrenner forced Don Mattingly to cut his hair. And this proved the New York Yankee captain would not escape the team’s strict policies.

Some players refused to remove their facial hair to receive the chance to wear pinstripes for the Yankees. The Yankees initially pursued Brian Wilson, but his face was off-limits for any shaving. The 2013 offer from the Yankees to sign him proved unattractive when Brian Wilson stated his complete disinterest in any Yankees involvement unless they included a razor.

His representative came out and expressed to the media that Brian Wilson would not be cutting his beard. Over this policy, Wilson ended the negotiations with the New York Yankees. This shows that his beard was a part of his identity and was more important than any World Series the Yankees were offering him.

For years, the Yankees’ no-beard policy stood as one of baseball’s quirkiest and most controversial traditions. But after 50 years, even the most stubborn rules must evolve. The Bronx Bombers finally realized that a little facial hair wasn’t going to sink a dynasty—just like Mattingly’s mullet and Wilson’s beard wouldn’t have caused the Yankees to crumble. So now, as the Yankees step into a new era, one thing is clear: they can still chase championships, but at least they won’t be running from a five o’clock shadow.