A now-bearded Aaron Judge really should challenge the Yankees' facial hair policy

Keep the beard, Aaron.

The New York Yankees saw their season end in early October after a loss to the Red Sox in the American League Wild Card, which has given the Yankees roster a solid eight weeks to exercise free will with their own personal appearance.

What a concept!

The Yankees are the lone big-league team to have a policy that bans beards. It’s something they’ve done since the late George Steinbrenner instituted the policy in 1973, and the rule persisted as some long-held tribute to Steinbrenner despite changes throughout the organization. But really, it’s 2021. There’s a different standard now for “professional” appearances, and ignoring that makes the rule a real relic of the past.

What would happen if — say, I don’t know — Aaron Judge showed up to spring training and said he was keeping the beard? Because Aaron Judge has a beard now, and he really should keep the beard.

Aaron Judge easily hits .300 and gets back to the 50 home run plateau with a beard. pic.twitter.com/aAO5LPpZjL

— Mike Dro (@MikeDro_) November 21, 2021

That’s a man who should commit to a beard.

But back to the original question: What could the Yankees really do if a player refused the shave? The short answer is … not much.

The CBA, which is expiring, would protect players from fines or suspensions over beards. The most Yankees manager Aaron Boone could really do is bench a player and frame it as a managerial decision (and everyone would see through that). Outside of that, the entire policy stands on peer pressure and tradition. If a star player like Judge truly wanted to take the policy down — or had teammates join him — the Yankees know there’s not much they could do to stop them.

We’ve seen that realization play out preemptively in the free-agent market. In 2013, the Yankees passed on pursuing notably bearded relief pitcher Brian Wilson because Wilson told the Yankees he would not be shaving.

You can rule out Brian Wilson to the Yankees. Agent tells Brian Cashman that Wilson won't shave his beard. Seriously.

— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) November 13, 2013

General manager Brian Cashman even admitted he ruled out out Wilson because he wouldn’t shave. They wanted to avoid an entire ordeal over the unenforceable policy even if that meant passing up on a potential asset.

And that’s just a ridiculous thing for a front office to take into account when it comes to evaluating players: How attached is he to his beard? That question alone should be enough to get rid of the rule. But Judge can make it happen himself. All he has to do is keep the beard.

It’s been long enough, Yankees.