Yankees make the right call in dismissing outdated team rule

After nearly five decades of banning facial hair, the Yankees made the right call. The decision to ban facial hair to begin with always felt forced and unnecessary. 

Maintaining a uniformed look can add a level of professionalism to a team, but the rule against facial hair essentially only limited self-expression. 

Over the years, players who sported long hair or beards were forced to take a trip to their stylist or barber after joining the Yankees. Notably, when outfielder Johnny Damon signed with the team in 2006 after growing out his hair and beard with the Boston Red Sox, he knew he would have to kiss his long locks and facial hair goodbye.

"Mr. Steinbrenner has a policy and I’m going to stick to it," Damon said at the time, referencing longtime team owner George Steinbrenner, who died in 2010.

Per Jorge Castillo of ESPN, "George Steinbrenner, who had a military background, thought regulating players' appearance would instill discipline. The rule was codified before the 1976 season, leaving players with a choice of being clean-shaven or wearing a mustache, and not allowing them to grow hair past their collars."

The ban on facial hair has also cost Yankees at least one free agent. Former All-Star closer Brian Wilson told general manager Brian Cashman in 2013 that he would not shave his signature beard to come to the team. (He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers instead.)

With the outdated rule now a thing of the past, all players, regardless of facial hair style, can join the Yankees without fear of changing their look.