The New York Yankees have dropped their long-standing facial hair policy, a rule that dates back to 1976. The team’s new management, led by Hal Steinbrenner, has decided to relax the policy, allowing players and uniformed personnel to sport beards. This change comes after a viral reaction on social media, where fans referenced an episode of The Simpsons featuring baseball legend Don Mattingly.
Mattingly appeared in the 1992 episode “Homer at the Bat,” where he was berated by Mr. Burns for having sideburns that didn’t meet the team’s grooming standards. The rule was a reference to George Steinbrenner’s policy, which required players to maintain a well-kept appearance and no facial hair.
Mattingly played for the Yankees from 1982 to 1995 and had to adhere to the rule throughout his career. In fact, he once clashed with coach Stump Merrill over his mullet hairstyle, refusing to change it and being subsequently dropped from the team.
The decision to drop the policy comes after Steinbrenner admitted that the rule was “outdated and somewhat unreasonable.” He cited feedback from former and current players, as well as fans, in making the decision. The new policy allows for beards but still requires a well-groomed appearance.
Mattingly’s Simpsons cameo is often referred to as one of the best episodes of the show, featuring several famous baseball players at the time. The joke about sideburns has gone viral again after Taylor Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce sported a similar hairstyle, referencing Mattingly’s iconic look in the episode.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/simpsons-star-vindicated-major-policy-152116002.html