Ex-Red Sox Drops Shocking Reaction To Updated Yankees Policy
The New York Yankees, after nearly five decades, got rid of an outdated and ridiculous policy and announced the end of the organization’s clean-shaved, short-haired requirement for all players and coaches.
New York’s players, coaches and other uniformed team members are now allowed to sport “well-groomed” beards and hair. This long-overdue policy change impacted countless players throughout generations of Yankees baseball, including former Boston Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon, who was best known for his long hair and long-bearded look. So it was shocking once the two-time World Series champion came out and addressed the updated policy in disagreement, calling for it to remain the “same.”
“Wow,” Thomas said on NESN’s “Boston Has Entered The Chat” podcast. “I’m a little shocked by that. I would be fuming. I’d be like, ‘What!’ But he’s like, ‘Nah, it’s cool. You should keep it in place.’ That’s crazy. … That’s a bad take, Johnny. What is this?”
Thomas added: “I figured he would feel a type of way with this news.”
Damon spent four seasons with the Yankees, slashing .285/.363/.458 with 77 home runs and 296 RBIs. The stint in pinstripes came immediately after a four-year run in Boston. The 51-year-old helped the organization defeat the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2009 World Series to capture its 27th Commissioner’s Trophy — the last won by the Yankees. However, whether or not Damon agrees with New York’s progressive approach in uplifting its nonsensical rules or not, Yankees players will be allowed to let their beards and flows grow moving forward.
Watch the full episode of NESN’s “Boston Has Entered The Chat” here: