"Honestly never knew this was a thing": Fans react hilariously as the New York Yankees remove the beard ban after 49 years

Baseball is an all-American sport, and many baseball fans (especially the baseball fans since birth) know the ins and outs of the game—team rules included.

In a sudden turn of events, fans of the New York Yankees woke up to the news that their favorite baseball team has removed the beard ban after 49 years—and the fans, especially the newer New York Yankees fans, were surprised to learn that the Yankees had a bizarre rule like that. (via @BleacherReport/X)

It seems that this was not common knowledge, going by the comment by a user (via @JBolone/X)

"Honestly never knew this was a thing"

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The Yankees fans' hilarious reaction to the removal of the beard ban

Surprised fans took the news of the New York Yankees' beard ban hilariously, saying that they never knew such a rule existed in the team's history!

Other baseball fans poked fun at the removal of the beard ban, saying that all the New York Yankees players will grow out their beards just like the NBA's most devious guard, James Harden! (via @CGBURNER/X)

Baseball fans were also confused as to why there is a beard ban for the New York Yankees, implying that the rule is kinda weird.

"Why were beards banned anyway?" one Baseball fan asked (via @BronGotGame/X)

Some New York Yankees fans also joked that maybe the New York Yankees removed the beard ban because they saw their player, Devin Williams, looked like a kid from a small baseball league after he had shaved his beard!

"They saw Devin Williams pull up and mistake him for a 12 year and said that’s enough let’s change the rule," one New York Yankees fan suggested (via @DavetheKing_1/X)

Some New York Yankees fans were also sad that the beard ban was removed, saying that the ban sets apart the New York Yankees' players from different teams' players.

"I always kind of liked this weird rule about the Yankees," another New York Yankees fan said (via @ChargersMuse/X)

Some X users also trolled the removal of the beard ban announcement, saying that they feel like they are in a Parks & Recreation episode!

"This sounds like one of those laws in Pawnee from Parks & Rec.!" an X user remarked (via @sidelineffpod/X)

Other X users are also disappointed about the removal of the New York Yankees' beard ban, saying that they have ruined their 49-year-old tradition.

"Why ruin tradition?" another X user commented (via @districtupnxt/X)

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Why did the New York Yankees have a beard ban?

If you're still confused as to why the New York Yankees have a beard ban, we're here to explain it! It's mostly because of their former owner, George Steinbrenner, believing "neatness" would showcase the professionalism and discipline of the team. The beard ban took effect in 1976 and continued to honor that rule until now.

Hal Steinbrenner, George's son and now the owner of the New York Yankees, removed the beard ban, saying that without the beard ban, they can entice star baseball players to join their team because winning is more important than the beard ban.

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Traditions are important to a team's history, but if the team's tradition is getting in the way of excellence, it's best to remove it and to replace it with a much better tradition that can benefit all the people on the team!