Throughout history empires rise and empires fall. The Romans, the Ottomans, the Persians. When these empires are peaking it’s inconceivable to think about a world where they can’t just flex their muscles—or wallets—and reign supreme. In the moment, it’s difficult to cite any one incident as the first domino. Normally we need the benefit of hindsight to determine it. However, when the last domino falls it is much more obvious to notice. The fall of the Berlin Wall, the Sack of Constantinople, or the deposition of Romulus Augustulus by Odoacer all were clear indicators that the mighty had fallen—permanently. This morning news came across my desk and I believe it’s safe to say another empire has toppled: The New York Yankees.
Growing up in the northeast a boast of “27 rings!” would often echo through hallways and social media feeds. Two words I was far too familiar with after my Phillies succumbed to Yankees in the 2009 Fall Classic. As the years pass the cries were heard less and less and became muffled by the sounds of banging trashcans among other things. In the 2020’s—nearly 10 years after their final title—the “27 rings!” crowd was almost non-existence and a battle cry that used to unite New Yorkers slowly turned to a call for help hinged on nostalgia and the memories of yesteryear. The last time I ever heard it muttered before leaving New York City was from a geriatric who had escaped the local nursing home. Funny enough the old man could only remember a few Yankee titles. Not due to any memory loss but simply due to the fact that even this decrepit old man had only lived through a handful of these “27 rings”.
What could this news have been to mark the end of an era? The abolishment of the beard rule. For years iconic owner George Steinbrenner implemented a rule designating that no Yankee shall don a beard for any reason at any time. The well groomed mustache was the lone facial hair exception. A rule so posh that it was a perfect anthropomorphization of New York City. A sort of were-better-than-you-and-we-know-it statute that could only be pulled off by a team like the Yankees. The fans bought in—which isn’t hard to believe. We’re talking about a fan base who treats pinstripes like medals of honors that must be earned through years of service and success. Any additional pillars to prop up these already smug fans will have them chomping at the bit.
A casual baseball watcher likely never even noticed that Yankee players never had beards. An overall inconsequential rule with no impact to the balls thrown or bats swung—so what’s the big deal? The beard rule elevated the Yankees to baseball royalty. To be so powerful and so respected that the rule was not only followed strictly but enthusiastically by any player lucky enough to be wanted by the Yankees. That’s what being a Yankee used to mean. When Curt Flood revolutionized player’s rights in 1970 players instantly took ahold of the driver seat in contract negotiation. Players took back the power. They chose where they played, they chose if they were traded, they had the final say. In twenty-nine out of thirty cities at least, but not New York. The Yankees were so respected that they were the lone team that still called all the shots. Great players didn’t decide to the play for the Yankees. The Yankees decided if great players were great enough to play for them.
The stripping of this rule from Yankee law is a self-admission that they’ve lost their luster. They fall back to the pack. A place where Yankee fans never thought they’d be. They are amidst their longest title drought since games have been televised. Their MVP and superstar made a mind-numbing error in the World Series loss last season. The best young player in baseball helped get them on the doorstep of championship before leaving for the cross-town rivals over a 3% difference in salary—turns out Monument Park and the Bleacher Creatures aren’t as highly regarded as we thought. It no longer means something to be a Yankee, at least any more than it means to be a Mariner or a Tiger. The beard rule was the final separator, a standard reserved only for the most esteemed. The difference between being “a professional baseball player” and being a “Yankee”.
You’ll still see the Yankees as the most valued franchise, the Yankee hat isn’t going out of style anytime soon, but today something has fundamentally changed. The worst part about all this for Yankee fans? They know I’m right. They know it’s true. It’s been a slow steady fall from the baseball heavens but today is the line of demarcation. The day Yankees became ‘just another baseball team’.
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