The New York Yankees are reportedly considering changing one of baseball’s longest standing uniform policies just to sign one petulant millennial.
According to The Washington Post, Yankees play-by-play man Michael Kay suggested in the most recent broadcast of his radio show that the team revoke its mandatory facial hair guidelines in order to lure Nats right fielder Bryce Harper to the Bronx.
“Nobody from the Yankees has said this,” noted Kay. “I believe that when all this money comes off, they’re going to go after Bryce Harper hard, but I wonder if that’s going to be the seismic breaking point about beards.”
“I think Bryce Harper would have a hard time shaving his beard, and my recommendation to the Yankees,” he continued. “If you’re ever going to acquiesce on it, and Bryce Harper is your stated goal within the organization, change it now so it doesn’t look like you gave in for one guy because he’ll be resented by people.”
Late owner George Steinbrenner instituted the guidelines — which restricts players’ facial hair choices to some upper lip salad — back in the 1970s.
Notable free agents who chopped off beards prior to signing with New York include Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi and Kevin Youkilis.
Harper — the reigning NL MVP — is under contract through the end of the 2018 season, and experts expect his next deal to be one of the largest in league history.