In light of the Yankees’ decision to make outfield prospect Clint Frazier cut his hair Friday, this is a good time to revisit a piece from 1991 on the team’s longtime first baseman, Don Mattingly. Then with the New York Times (and now with the YES Network), Jack Curry wrote that Mattingly refused to obey owner George Steinbrenner’s hair policy, so New York benched and fined its captain as a result. That came two months after the Yankees denied Mattingly’s request for a trade. “Maybe I don’t belong in the organization anymore,” a frustrated Mattingly said at the time. “I talked to [general manager Gene Michael] about moving me earlier in the year. He said we’ll talk at the end of the year. Maybe this is their way of saying we don’t need you anymore.” Mattingly added that Michael wanted an “organization that will be puppets for him and do what he wants.” Michael fired back, saying: “He’s the captain and he’s got a big contract. If we asked the captain to get his hair cut, he should get it cut.”
Despite Mattingly’s dispute with the Yankees, he went on to spend the next four seasons with the club before retiring after the 1995 campaign. The Bombers were the only team for which Mattingly played, of course, in an excellent career that began in 1982. As for the Yankees, although Steinbrenner passed away in 2010, his daughter, part-owner Jennifer Steinbrenner, has kept her father’s rule in place, per Billy Witz of the Times. Many, including River Ave Blues’ Mike Axisa, aren’t happy about it.
Here’s more from the Bronx:
- Trade rumors have connected the Yankees and White Sox ace Jose Quintana over the past few months, but no deal is brewing between the teams, reports Curry (video link). Nothing has changed since January for the Yanks, who were then loath to subtract from their loaded farm system to acquire Quintana and remain unwilling to trade a prospect haul for the left-hander as Opening Day approaches.
- The Yankees are reportedly willing to listen to offers for utilityman Rob Refsnyder, and with that in mind, Curry notes that he’s going to have a difficult time cracking their 25-man roster. If New York goes with a four-man bench, odds are it’ll be Chris Carter, Austin Romine, Aaron Hicks and Ronald Torreyes who serve as their reserves, says Curry, who points out that Refsnyder does have a minor league option remaining. Thus, it’s not necessarily a must for the Yankees to trade the soon-to-be 26-year-old.
- Although he missed most of last season with an elbow injury and hasn’t pitched above the High-A level, right-hander James Kaprielian has a chance to end up in the majors sometime this year, according to George A. King III and Ken Davidoff of the New York Post. The 23-year-old, whom the Yankees chose 16th overall pick in the 2015 draft, threw a three-inning simulation game Friday and could make his next appearance in a spring training contest, manager Joe Girardi told King and Davidoff. Girardi believes Kaprielian has “a ton of talent” and will have an opportunity to “move pretty quickly” toward the big leagues if he stays healthy.
Yankees are historic. This is the rules deal with it or be gone. Go enjoy sweet Caroline otherwise
The team itself might be old, but this is the city of the naked cowboy and one of the most leftist in the country. Not saying that because am a Red Sox fan either (another hard left city in Boston), but because rules should perhaps fit the mood of the overall fan base, not how ownership is.
Steinbrener’s might have a LONG history of conservative views, but shouldn’t the rules for the club be more in line with the ppl and especially, the fan’s who pay the ticket prices? NY FINALLY stopped wearing it’s minor league kids a cpl years back from having to wear those mandatory knee high stockings, so progress IS possible.
The overall fan base actually loves the rules and loves the tradition. Speak for Boston please and not NY. Yes the state overall is liberal and much of that is from the city itself with its diverse culture and immigration also the colleges bringing in far left students from all over the country as well. The outside suburbs are not as liberal as you think and that is a big chunk of the fan base.
Your entire post is ludicrous. What do political party affiliations have to do with maintaining appropriate standards of professionalism and organizational culture? Ted Nugent is a right-wing conversative one would hardly describe as clean cut. Nor do I think he cares what you or I think about his appearance. That would make him more of a liberal, according to your shallow, narrow minded thinking.
I don’t think the politics really matter. There are long haired conservatives and short haired liberals. What I find odd is that a club can have rules about it. I think it’s a matter of personal freedom whether to have a beard or long hair, and so long as it doesn’t affect your performance, it shouldn’t matter one bit. All seems a little archaic, and just because it’s old, it doesn’t make it right.
“….but shouldn’t the rules for the club be more in line with the ppl and especially, the fan’s who pay the ticket prices? ”
Ah, yes – the old “let the inmates run the asylum” response. The Yankee grooming policy is a pretty good analogy for U.S. society today. You have one large faction that believes the needs and feelings of the individual are of primary importance, and another that believes that the rules and regulations are for the overall benefit of society and not specific individuals or specific groups. The U.S. goes through cycles like this all of the time (remember the 60’s and 80’s?) but today it’s more complicated because the U.S. has more sub-cultures that demand dominance in our society.
Koz, the problem with that is the players aren’t inmates and it’s not an asylum. Loose clubhouses are better clubhouses.
Hey JohnSilver…..wish you would stop constantly referring to the Yankees as old…..certainly that is something true in the past, but is changing fast as you read this and probably will continue as a strong influx of young talent makes its way on to the major league roster.
According to ESPN and if you believe their stats, the Yankees are the 10th youngest teams out of 30 major league rosters and don’t even count some of the younger players that will undoubtably be given a chance to make an impact in 2017 on the major league level.
While your team Mr. Bosox, are the 15th youngest team out of 30.
So, if you’re going to constantly refer to the Yankees as old, exactly how should you refer to regarding your beloved Red Sox?
One last thought….if the Red Sox indeed lead the division as they are expected to, and if in fact need to plug some holes, do you really think they would do that with rookies or would they probably do that with veteran players as they reach for the brass ring. That would also push them a bit older on the average I bet.
Strictly a comment on age guys as this guy always reflects on NY as the “old” guys of the past.
ONLY RINGS MATTER,
NOT ANTIQUATED, SILLY HAIR RULES THAT NEED TO BE ABOLISHED, ASAP !!
Oh dear, Samson’s locks have been shorn. Career over.
Sweet Caroline sung by Neil Diamond from NY.
Ironic?
They steal a song and they steal Karl Yastrzemski and The Gronk!
Both NYers!
Please white Sox trade Quintana too anyone but the Yankees. We are in rebuild mode still and it makes ZERO sense dealing away a chunk of our farm system for a pitcher who has a ton of innings in that shoulder and by the time the Yankees are ready to truly unseat Cleveland, Toronto, Red Sox, and both Texas teams Quintana which will probably be in two years if all goes well then Quintana will be a 30yo pitcher who relies heavily on perfect control rather then strike outs which in itself is no guarantee for success! Q is a great number two pitcher right now but he has avg stuff and great control so trade him to Houston!
Quintana is much better than average. You don’t follow Baseball closely enough to know this, obviously.
Never once said he was avg. Read my post again. Obviously you don’t read well or you would have understood what I posted.
Quintana has been a solid, reliable starter for 5 years and has excellent stuff. He belongs with the top 10 or 12 starters in the game. He is in his prime and has a team friendly contract. I hope the Sox keep him, but if they don’t it would be a shame to see him sent to NY. I have been a Yankee hater since the 50s, but I have respect for what they have done on the field.
this guy posts the same bs in every post.
FYI – a guy who relies on control not k’s when he pitches alot of innings is the exact OPPOSITE of the type of guy you worrying about as they age.
Esp when he’s a 6-1 22olb rock who puts no stress on his elbow and shoulder,
And it’s doubly laughable when you cite that age concern is that he’ll be all of 30 in TWO & HALF YEARS.
This guy?
This guy is posting facts that Quintana has avg stuff across the board with great control and he is a great number two starter!
If that’s not a fact then tell me what Quintana is?
White Sox fans think they should get the world for him!
Keep him, post on your blogs and email your GM that he needs to stay a white sock!
Enough with your bullshit proposals where you get every teams best three prospects.
Keep him if he is a young ace!
His stuff is well above average. Have you watched him pitch?
I hope the WS do keep him because he is a legit #1 and controlled through the rebuilding period. The Sox are the second team in the second city and don’t get enough press. If Q came up on another club there wouldn’t be a debate about whether or not he’s an ace. Also, Sale cast a pretty big shadow. Now that he’s with Boston, the cy young awards are going to start rolling in.
Why should they not get the world for him? Whether you look at him as a backend #1 or great #2 – personally, I wouldn’t call him an Ace, but I do believe he would be the #1 on a decent amount of teams – he’s a great pitcher. Factor in his age (28), injury history (lack thereof), and unbelievable contract, he is an EXTREMELY valuable piece. How many #1/#2 pitchers with his track record are cost controlled for the next 4 years at the price of a #4/#5 starter?
You got that right Minoso, he had yet another No Decision today pitching for Colombia in WBC. If Jose pitched on Bluejays last 4 years he’d be a multiple yr 20 game winner, I’d bet. Hoping the Sox hold onto Q & Abreu, get a deal done with Frazier & let Todd finish his career here. Hopefully their shopping Melky hard. Trade deadline seems like the best time to maximize on trades for Robertson & Q, both of which Hahn seems intent on dealing. With the amount of good talented ML players Sox still have to deal I’m expecting a quick rebuild by loading up the farm with near MLB ready talent. Keeping at least Abreu, hopefully Frazier too should help these good young players to become pros.
The Yankees won 20 World Series and 29 pennants without the stupid grooming rules.
Majority of those “pennants” were nothing more then division titles
Yes, and now the best teams never win, with these money making tournaments.
The best team won last year.
Ever see Reggie jackson’s afro? i remember it being pretty big.
1st time really remember the hair thing from NY was when they got oscar Gamble and even after he TRIMMED it, the thing poked way out underneath his ball cap.. can still google the thing.
The hair gimmick isn’t nearly as old, or as “solid” as people make it out to be.
The bottom line is can you play the game well enough to win games, the rest is just garbage.
Such a joke, hey I’m in power do what I say, bc hair really matters in sports?
Your our future? Millennials?????
“Mattingly! I thought I told you to shave those sideburns!”
Most business have some sort of dress code in place, and if an employee doesn’t adhere to the dress code, they get reprimanded for it. These ballplayers, at the end of the day, are simply working for a business. They are payed handsomely to do their job, and if that requires a haircut and a shave, then oh well
The difference being that normal employees can leave their business at any time and go work somewhere else. Baseball players – not so much…
Perfectly right. Choice of employment from the beginning of their respective careers (for US born players) Through year 6 and the anti trust exemption alone, which no other large company, nor sport even enjoys alone make that above argument a joke.
See this is why you can’t compare athletes to the real world. Simple fact remains in the real world you usually have to remain presentable, because you are trying to attract business and keep customers. In sports people aren’t going to refuse to buy tickets because Jayson Werth or Justin Turner look like they just came out from under the freeway bridge. And as a Dodgers fan, I love watching Turner play. If you can perform and win that aspect is just characterized as “characters.” Especially since it’s an entertainment business.
I’m also not sure of many companies that can pay thousands of employees below minimum wage, because as it’s characterized in the eyes of the court it’s an ambitious dream. If you were talking about decorum outside the game as citizens then sure. I mean don’t beat women or don’t break the law because the game is still a privilege. But hey maybe that’s why the MLB has some problems connecting to newer generation. Embrace the weirdness and individuals. Market your stars and then who knows maybe this great game will again be the number 1 game.
Hahn should definitely be trying to get a good package of prospects for Quintana, but as a White Sox fan, I’m starting to think that he’s already seen the best offer he’s going to get and just needs to be blown away like he was on the Eaton deal. I think the Sale trade is a win-win, but it looks like the Sox will get the better of the Nats. It’s possible that close division races or surprise contenders could up his value, but I kind of doubt that it would push his value high enough that Hahn gets everything he wants.
I think the hair rule is old and needs to be put to bed. And the Yankees aren’t as great as they once were. They’ve been late to the new way you build teams. They are on the path now. But with so many other teams in High Market regions where a player with long hair can sell himself they will go. With some guys it’s part of their look and persona.
So says the red sock fan. Most people who hate the hair rule are the same people jealous of the Yankee tradition. Why does it bother you so much they the Yanks have a hair code. Move on already.