Latest news with #HomerattheBat
The Independent
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Simpsons star ‘vindicated' after major policy change
Former Simpsons guest star and baseball icon Don Mattingly will be feeling vindicated after his former team changed an infamous facial hair policy. Mattingly appeared in the 1992 Simpsons episode 'Homer at the Bat' which saw him berated by Mr Burns who consistently told him to 'get rid of those sideburns'. Burns never clarified exactly what he meant by sideburns leading to Mattingly completely shaving both sides of his head, resulting in a bizarre haircut. The scene briefly went viral again in 2024 after Taylor Swift's boyfriend, Travis Kelce, sported a similar hairstyle. The joke was a reference to a policy enforced by former New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who required his team's players to maintain a well-kept appearance and no facial hair. The Yankees are now run by Steinbrenner's son, Hal, inheriting control of the team after his father died in 2010. On Friday (21 February), the team announced that the policy was being redacted, with Steinbrenner admitting that the rule was 'outdated and somewhat unreasonable'. 'In recent weeks I have spoken to a large number of former and current Yankees – spanning several eras – to elicit their perspectives on our longstanding facial hair and grooming policy, and I appreciate their earnest and varied feedback,' Steinbrenner said in a statement. 'These most recent conversations are an extension of ongoing internal dialogue that dates back several years. 'Ultimately the final decision rests with me, and after great consideration, we will be amending our expectations to allow our players and uniformed personnel to have well-groomed beards moving forward,' he added 'It is the appropriate time to move beyond the familiar comfort of our former policy.' On X/Twitter, fans reacted with references to the Simpsons episode. One person asked: 'How does this policy affect sideburns?' A second fan added: 'DON MATTINGLY… vindicated!' A third, quoting Mr Burns, joked: 'Mattingly! I thought I told you to GROW those sideburns! You're off the team! For Good!' Mattingly played for the Yankees between 1982 and 1995 and had to adhere to the rule, which was first introduced in 1976, throughout his entire playing career. In 1991, Mattingly did clash with Yankees coach Stump Merrill, who told him to cut his mullet hairdo otherwise he wouldn't play. The first baseman refused to change his hair and was subsequently dropped.' During his Simpsons cameo, Mattingly joked that despite being cut from Mr Burns's team he still preferred him to Steinbrenner. 'Homer at the Bat' is still regarded as one of the best Simpsons episodes and featured many famous baseball players from the period including Darryl Strawberry, Jose Canseco, Ken Griffey Jr and Steve Sax.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Yankees amend long-standing facial hair policy, will now allow 'well-groomed beards'
The New York Yankees have amended their long-standing facial hair policy and will now allow for "well-groomed beards," owner Hal Steinbrenner announced on Thursday. "In recent weeks I have spoken to a large number of former and current Yankees — spanning several eras — to elicit their perspectives on our longstanding facial hair and grooming policy, and I appreciate their earnest and varied feedback," said Steinbrenner in a statement. "These most recent conversations are an extension of ongoing internal dialogue that dates back several years. "Ultimately the final decision rests with me, and after great consideration, we will be amending our expectations to allow our players and uniformed personnel to have well-groomed beards moving forward. It is the appropriate time to move beyond the familiar comfort of our former policy." The rule had been in place since the 1970s when George Steinbrenner and former manager Billy Martin instituted the "Neatness Counts" policy, which forbid beards, longhair and sideburns. Mustaches were allowed. Over the years players who sported long hair or beards were forced to trim them upon joining the Yankees. When Johnny Damon signed with the team in 2006 after growing his hair out with the Boston Red Sox, he understood he was going to have to visit a barber before donning the pinstripes. "Mr. Steinbrenner has a policy and I'm going to stick to it," Damon said at the time. On the flip side, players have refused to sign with the Yankees due to the policy. Former closer Brian Wilson told general manager Brian Cashman in 2013 that he would not shave his beard to come to the team. New Yankees closer Devin Williams appears to be the first beneficiary of the amended policy after he was spotted with a light beard in his official team photo after growing it out fuller while with the Milwaukee Brewers. Mattingly! I thought I told you to trim those sideburns! — Simpsons Quotes (@Simpsons_tweets) October 3, 2024 The antiquated Yankees' policy turned into comedic fodder over the years, maybe most notably during the 1992 "Homer at the Bat" episode of "The Simpsons" where Don Mattingly gets kicked off the Springfield power plant softball team by Mr. Burns after failing to shave his (non-existent) sideburns — a bit inspired by a 1991 dispute the former first baseman had with ex-Yankees manager Stump Merrill, who threatened Mattingly with a benching until he cut his hair.
