Steinbrenner responded to this critique by pointing at a nearby swimming pool and saying, "If you can walk on water, you can wear your hair any way you want. Sorry, this post was removed by Reddits spam filters. Andrew McCutchen criticizes Yankees' hair policy: 'It takes away from McCutchen opted to shave his entire face, which was a big change for him. It was enacted in 1973 after George Steinbrenner saw his players with hair down to their numbers.. 1, Bobby Murcer; No. More and more, baseball is encouraging individuals to express themselves through items like footwear. If they cant, well get rid of them.. I dont like to say anything about it at all. Lou Pinella, who joined the club in 1974, playing for them for the next 10 years, supposedly told the owner, I dont understand, Mr. Steinbrenner, what long hair has to do with your ability to play baseball. Dmitri Young, a black outfielder with the Reds when Vaughn signed, told CBS News, Ive even talked to some who said thats the only reason they wouldnt want to play for the Reds, referring to their former policy. Mattingly refused, and was effectively benched because of it. Could the Yankees successfully defend keeping their policy? The Yankees return home from their road trip in last place. The most recent instance came earlier this month, when the club announced they were trading for New York Mets relief pitcher Miguel Castro. Steinbrenner, who had previously spent time in the United States Air Force and adhered to their strict grooming standards,[9] became incensed when, during the Yankees' Opening Day game against the Cleveland Indians, his players removed their baseball caps for "The Star-Spangled Banner" and subsequently displayed their shaggy hair. But in American sports, efforts to control grooming habits have a racist history, used by white sporting bodies and coaching staffs to restrict opportunities and control the identities of black athletes. In 2013, the eccentric San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson told the Yankees that he wouldnt shave his magnificent beard, ending any possible talks of him signing with the team. 7 Hal McRae; 1976 Topps; Some will argue that when sideburns meld into the mustache they become something altogether different; regardless, Hals hirsute hammers were Hall-of-Fame-worthy; #Royals pic.twitter.com/nOGdheURHp, The 1970s was an era of incredible facial hair in baseball, perhaps best embodied by Rollie Fingers, whose handlebar mustache was a thing of beauty.