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Hair-raising! Top five beards for Yankees in 2025
Would Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner go for the James Harden look on one of his players? | Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images

Hair-raising! Top five beards for Yankees in 2025

Ditch the razors and shaving cream, New York Yankees. 

On Friday, the Yankees scrapped their longstanding policy against facial hair, with MLB.com noting the franchise will allow players and uniformed personnel to have "well-groomed beards."

With a new era upon us, here are five looks we want to see Yankees adopt in 2025.

5. James Harden Beard

Harden, the star guard for the Los Angeles Clippers, has arguably the most recognizable facial hair in recent sports history.

Like other looks we'll present, this might push the boundaries of what New York's front office deems acceptable, but players won't know where the line's drawn until they cross it. They might as well go big or go clean shaven.

4. Muttonchops

MLB outfielder Oscar Gamble had the most success of his 17-year playing career with the Yankees, where he played in 1976 and again from 1979-84. During his time in the majors, Gamble had the sport's best hair, complete with a large Afro and muttonchop sideburns.

Muttonchops have grown out of style in the decades since, and it's past time we correct that societal wrong. 

3. Van Dyke Beard

Apologies to anyone sporting this look, but nothing screams "villain" more than the Van Dyke Beard, named after painter Anthony van Dyck. For a team many refer to as the "Evil Empire," is there a better way for the Yankees to lean into their role as baseball's antagonists? We think not.

2. The French Fork

We're all for pushing the envelope. The French Fork might go beyond what the Yankees would call "well-groomed," but if they're giving an inch, players should take a mile, which is also roughly the length of one of these majestic beards.

Check out the two-pronged look, which originated in the Persian Empire and was popularized in Western European culture in France in the 1400s. It's time for it to make a comeback.


Hall of Famer Goose Gossage Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

1. Fu Manchu 

Former Yankees closer Goose Gossage sported this incredible look, which he told TMZ in 2014 he did "to p--- [George] Steinbrenner off."

The Hall of Famer played seven seasons for the Yankees, including six consecutive from 1978-83, during which time he went 41-28 with a 2.10 ERA and 150 saves. He finished in the top five of Cy Young Award voting three times (1978, 1980-81).

We can't argue with those results. More than any other facial hair style, it's time for a Yankees star to bring back the Fu Manchu.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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