The New York Yankees will have a new look after the team jettisoned its ban on facial hair, which had been in place since the 1970s. "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,

Acquired from Seattle before the 2005 season, Johnson trimmed his shoulder-length hair and was clean shaven when he reported for spring training. Owner George Steinbrenner greeted him by saying: “Glad you’re here. Glad you’re cleaned up, and glad you’re here.”

With the Yankees preparing to play their first game of spring training, the owner announced that players can wear “well-groomed beards moving forward.”