Steinbrenner for MLB Dress Code Czar?

[Unassisted]

http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/pro_baseba...347491,00.html

By George, put Steinbrenner in charge of baseball dress code police
By Bill Valyo
community correspondent
December 30, 2005

There is only one conclusion that can be reached after George Steinbrenner, the owner of the New York Yankees, made Johnny Damon get rid of his beard and long hair before he becomes part of the again new New York Yankees lineup — make him head up the dress code committee for Major League Baseball. Steinbrenner has not been one of my favorite baseball owners. He interferes much too much with the manager. What he does do right, however, is make sure that his team looks good on and off the field.

Baseball players have become sloppy over the years. With all the money the make (yes, I will add this much used phrase), you would think that they could afford a haircut and a shave.

Most teams in the majors are poor examples for the cities they represent. City officials should put in a clause in the contracts they sign with owners when money for a new stadium are bantered about. It should read "we will give you the money, provided that your ballplayers get haircuts and beards removed" and that they set a fine example on and off the field.

Social fashion trends have molded the attitudes of ballplayers throughout the years. It seems that long hair, moustaches, beards, sideburns and goatees are common in lineups today.

In the late 60s and 70s, baseball dress on the field was conservative. Facial hair was out during this period. I remember when Dick Allen, the powerful first baseman, came to Philadelphial sporting a moustache and beard in the 70s. My loyalty to the team took a dip during his tenure with the Phillies.

It was the Cincinnati Reds who tried to enforce a dress code. Long hair was off-limits to the Reds. It was reported that Sparky Anderson, the manager at the time, told Pete Rose to ditch the Van Dyke beard when he showed up at spring training.

When the Reds met the Oakland Athletics in the 1972 World Series, writers dubbed the meeting as "Hair versus Square." The Athletics were the first team to encourage the growing of beards and mustaches, when their quirky owner Charlie O. Finley promoted a scheme and offered each player a $300 bonus to grow a mustache by the time the team photo was taken.

It also was reported that Yankees Dave Winfield, Reggie Jackson and Thurman Munson grew beards in the off season to upset Steinbrenner when contracts were being bargained. In 1976, The Boss had the Yankee Yearbook scrapped because several players were wearing long hair. He even benched Don Mattingly for refusing to have his hair cut.

Handling the dress code for the Major League is right up George's alley. He would put back the lack of class that baseball players have brought to the game.

And while he's at it, there should be a decree issued that all players wear their pants so that there would be at least 10 inches of sock showing. Now that's class!

[harangatang]

What the Red Sox did in 2004 in my opinion was great. The policy of letting the players do what they want allowed them to have fun and ultimately it seemed it made some sort of an impact as they won the WS. Baseball players are people too and alot of times fans of the game don't remember that. I would rather have a WS team full of unshaven and ungroomed players then a bunch of clean shaven and groomed players who can't win the WS with a $200 million payroll.

[Unassisted]

Originally Posted by harangatang

What the Red Sox did in 2004 in my opinion was great. The policy of letting the players do what they want allowed them to have fun and ultimately it seemed it made some sort of an impact as they won the WS. Baseball players are people too and alot of times fans of the game don't remember that. I would rather have a WS team full of unshaven and ungroomed players then a bunch of clean shaven and groomed players who can't win the WS with a $200 million payroll.

I see your point and I know there are others who share that view. But I think that would be a minority view in the Cincinnati market. To expand that a bit, I doubt that giving players unrestrained freedom with dress/hair length/facial hair would work well away from the coasts. Like it or not, there are a lot of people in this country who do judge a book by its cover, and most of them live in middle America.

[Joseph]

And let's also not forget MOST of America is under some form of dress code at work in regard to facial hair and or regular hair.

[blumj]

There's already one "no fun league", we don't really need another. Johnny Damon doesn't even look like Johny Damon anymore, he looks like all the other pinstriped dorks. And with the games lasting 3+ hours with all the pitching changes and everything, the last thing baseball needs is anything that makes it more boring.

[KronoRed]

Originally Posted by Joseph

And let's also not forget MOST of America is under some form of dress code at work in regard to facial hair and or regular hair.

Yeah but apparently sports stars are better then us

[wheels]

This stuff reminds me of John Madden's three rules when he coached in Oakland.

1. Be on Time

2. Pay Attention

3. Play Like Hell

Everything else is just nonsensical window dressing.

They could dress in tu tus and wear high heels for all I care.

[RANDY IN INDY]

Agree, wheels, although the tutu and high heels are a little over the edge for me. :

There is a unique way to express one's self on a baseball field that makes a player stand out and be unique. It far outshines all the long hair, funky beards and baggy pants that anyone can dream up. Any joker can do those things. Use the bat, the arm, the glove, the speed. Guarantee that will get you noticed more than any of the cosmetics.

[steig]

I prefer to be clean cut and shaved each day. However, i don't feel that society should go around encouraging dress codes for how people groom themselves. As long as the players or any worker shows up washed, combed, and wearing appropriate clothing for work. What is going to be next teams or empoyers monitoring the length of fingernails? A beard is just that... a beard, if people have negative images of people with beards or long hair then maybe we should try to help those people accept others. The fans will embrace a winner whether they have long hair or short. In the end all the fan want is to win.

Originally Posted by harangatang

What the Red Sox did in 2004 in my opinion was great. The policy of letting the players do what they want allowed them to have fun and ultimately it seemed it made some sort of an impact as they won the WS.

It's the classic Patton v. Bradlely question; do you stand a better chance of promoting success in an organizaton (be it a baseball team an army or an office) by enforcing rigid discipline or by trusting people to behave appropriately and then giving them the freedom and tools to do so? Obviously George subscribes to the former, while Theo embraced the latter.

Even if someone could crunch numbers and "prove" that a dress code improves a teams winning percentage I'd still probably be against it. I've got a soft spot for the oddballs in baseball, and like it or not, goofy hair and creative whiskers are often part of the package.

[Shaknb8k]

Im torn on this issue. I prefer the clean-cut look. I think it looks more professional. But if in any way that stops a player from wanting to play for the Reds or puts a sour taste in their mouth about the front office (like something else wont) then im against it.

I dont really have a problem with the baggy jerseys. I actually like it because it doesnt get much more old school than that. When I played a few years back I always wore a pair of XXL baseball pants and jersey when i should have wore no bigger than a Large. I wore them to "honor" old time baseball and so when people asked about them could tell them all about Ty Cobb. If im not mistaking Juan Pierre does the same thing to honor the old negro league players.

But when its said and done as long as it is not a slap in the face to the game of baseball then I could care less what they wear, with one stipulation...JUST WIN.

[macro]

Originally Posted by blumj

There's already one "no fun league", we don't really need another. Johnny Damon doesn't even look like Johny Damon anymore, he looks like all the other pinstriped dorks. And with the games lasting 3+ hours with all the pitching changes and everything, the last thing baseball needs is anything that makes it more boring.

You think baseball is boring?

...and don't forget Rick Mahler. If there was ever an argument for letting a man keep his beard, it was him. Yikes.

[macro]

Originally Posted by jregensb

...and don't forget Rick Mahler. If there was ever an argument for letting a man keep his beard, it was him. Yikes.

And don't forget Jim Kern and Jeff Reardon, who also had to do some clipping and shaving before donning the red cap with the wishbone "C".

[RANDY IN INDY]

Mahler didn't look any better with the beard. Was the only guy I didn't like at the fantasy camp. Ugly is as ugly does, and my total perception of Mahler was "Ugly."