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Aaron Boone Reacts To Yankees Changing Facial Hair Policy

Originally posted on The Spun | By Kameron Duncan | Last updated Feb 21, 2025 11:55 AM ET

The New York Yankees are making a major change to their organization, and they'll be ending a policy that has stood for nearly 50 years.

On Friday, Yankees chairman Hal Steinbrenner announced that the team would be ending the long-standing facial hair policy instituted by his father George back in the 1970s.

"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," Steinbrenner said.

"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."

Statement from Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner on the alteration of Yankees facial hair policy: pic.twitter.com/UdEuAg3gZy
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) February 21, 2025

The policy caused several players to undergo drastic changes after being traded to the Yankees or signing with them in free agency. Johnny Damon, Gerrit Cole and Andrew McCutchen were among those who transformed after donning the pinstripes.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked about the change to the Yankee tradition, and he is certainly in favor of it.

“I think it was time for this," Boone said, according to Yankees writer Bryan Hoch.

Aaron Boone on the facial hair policy change: “I think it was time for this.”
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) February 21, 2025

In Friday's statement, Steinbrenner noted that "these most recent conversations [with former and current Yankees] are an extension of ongoing internal dialogue that dates back several years."

Fans and journalists have criticized the Yankees' facial hair policy for years. Players - like former World Series-winning relief pitcher Brian Wilson - have refused to sign with the team because of it.

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 03: A detailed view of New York Yankees batting practice prior to the American League Wild Card Game against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium on October 3, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

McCutchen expressed regret over having to cut his hair to play for the Yankees, only to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies the following season.

“Because [my hair] was who I was. That was how I expressed myself. That’s (what) made me Andrew McCutchen. That’s how people noticed who I was. It made me unique,” he said in 2020.

"I just feel like these things should be things that people take at heart and realize we have a way of expressing ourselves in different ways. I feel like maybe there should be some change there in the future.”

Five years later, that change has come. The Yankees are entering a new era when it comes to personal expression for their players, and the team's manager is all for it.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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