"The old rule was very archaic” - When Reds GM Jim Bowden opened up on the ‘hair policy’ clause that barred him from changing things
The Cincinnati Reds have been one of the most important franchises in MLB history with the club's origins dating back to the late-1800s. Even though they have only won five World Series titles, they have been a staple of professional baseball for over 100 years.
Despite their status in baseball history, the Reds have not been exempt from questionable decisions and club rules. One such policy dated back to 1967 when former general manager Bob Howsam introduced a rule that all members of the team couldn’t have facial hair and needed to remain clean-shaven.
However, after decades of the no-facial hair policy, club president Marge Schott decided that enough was enough. Prior to the 1999 season, Schott removed the policy, which allowed new All-Star outfielder Greg Vaughn to keep his trademark goatee.
After the decision, then-general manager Jim Bowden spoke of the policy, which he did not agree with but was unable to change on his own accord. He had a clause in his contract that restricted him from removing the facial hair policy.
"The old rule was very archaic," Bowden said.
Although he felt that the rule was dated, he credited the Reds fanbase for applying pressure and making their thoughts of the long-time rule clear.
"They wrote letters, made phone calls, sent electronic mail, and it was overwhelming what the fans wanted," Bowden said.
The Cincinnati Reds are not the only club that had a facial hair policy in place
Although policies about players having facial hair might sound bizarre to some fans, the Reds are not the only team who at one point had a rule against it. Teams such as the Arizona Diamondbacks and Miami Marlins have had such rules in place, however, the most famous is that of the New York Yankees.
Started back in the 1970s by owner George M. Steinbrenner, the Yankees implemented not only a strict facial policy but long hair as well. Steinbrenner said that the rule helped enforce a sense of "discipline" in the clubhouse. Even after his death, the club has maintained this rule to this day.