TAMPA, Fla. — The catalyst for the New York Yankees changing their controversial, 49-year-old hair policy was likely when closer Devin Williams spoke with owner Hal Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman last week.
Williams told The Athletic that he approached Steinbrenner and Cashman about his concerns with the policy, which the late George Steinbrenner implemented in 1976 and was unique across American professional sports.
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Williams didn’t like being forced to shave the beard he had for years before he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Yankees this offseason, and he had shown signs of resistance. He wore his full beard to report day and didn’t shave until the morning of the first pitchers’ and catchers’ workout. He wore noticeable stubble in his team photos, although players had been specifically instructed to appear clean-shaven that day.
“It’s not my preference,” Williams said Saturday morning.
One of the most recognizable rules in all of sports is no longer 👀
The New York Yankees announced Friday morning that they will allow “well-groomed beards” moving forward.
Some notable names that were previously impacted by the policy – starting with Devin Williams 🧵 pic.twitter.com/fNnxew7Rok
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 21, 2025
Amending the facial hair policy had been a topic of internal conversation for around 10 years, Steinbrenner said, but it wasn’t until the last few weeks that the owner realized the policy was “outdated.” Steinbrenner said he spoke with team leaders Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton, among others, to gather their thoughts on possibly changing the rule. He also spoke with former Yankees and individuals outside of baseball to get their take on whether the most recognizable rule in American sports should change.
Steinbrenner said an important factor he considered when finalizing his decision was his fear that it could prevent the club from retaining or signing players they wanted in free agency or through trades. Williams is an impending free agent at the end of the season and is widely considered one of the best closers in baseball. He said if the beard policy was still in place when he became a free agent, that would be part of his calculus when deciding if he wanted to be a Yankee long-term.
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“It’s something that I would consider, for sure,” Williams said.
Williams said having a beard is his preferred look, and it’s how he feels most comfortable as an individual. He added that he’ll grow a beard as quickly as he can. Steinbrenner said he learned in his conversations with different people how important having a beard is for men in their 20s, 30s and 40s.
“It is a part of who these younger men are,” Steinbrenner said. “It’s part of their character. It’s part of their persona. Do I totally relate to that? It’s difficult for me. I’m an older guy who’s never had a beard in his life. It’s a very important thing to them, and they feel it defines their character.”
Williams said the facial hair policy is always a conversation topic for players before they join the Yankees and that “some guys aren’t OK with it.” When he heard the news that the Yankees changed the policy, Williams said he was surprised and excited about it.
Yankees captain Aaron Judge, who supports the policy change but won’t be growing a beard himself, said his conversations with Steinbrenner centered around what’s going to help the club win. Would this policy hurt the Yankees from getting players? Would the policy negatively affect a player and their performance? When those questions started popping up in their meeting, they realized change was needed.
But Judge wanted other policies, like the hair-length policy, kept in place. Since getting drafted by the club in 2013, Judge said he enjoys the discipline the Yankees’ rules impart on players and feels like it’s a separator from other franchises and makes the club “a standard.” Judge said he wasn’t aware of the club losing out on players over the years because of the facial hair policy but added that it shouldn’t ever impact the Yankees.
“I feel like, as a Yankee, if that little rule is going to stop you from coming here, then you probably shouldn’t be here,” Judge said Saturday. “A little rule like that is going to stop you from doing your job, then I don’t think — I don’t know. I haven’t heard too much about guys and stopping them from coming here.”
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Cole said Friday that he believes Steinbrenner is looking for any edge he can in the player acquisition stage and doesn’t want to turn anyone away who could be impactful for the franchise.
Now, the Yankees will have a full season to see if Williams’ comfortability in The Bronx could lead to a long-term deal with the reliever.
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(Photo of Devin Williams: Kim Klement Neitzel / Imagn Images)
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