Players on the New York Yankees won’t have to worry about trimming their sideburns anymore.

Team chairman Hal Steinbrenner made a surprise announcement Friday morning during spring training that the Yankees have altered their longstanding facial hair and grooming policy.

Steinbrenner said he spoke to many past and present Yankees players to get their feedback on the policy that has been in place for decades.

“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,” Steinbrenner said in the statement.

“It is the appropriate time to move beyond the familiar comfort of our former policy.”

Late team owner George Steinbrenner, Hal’s father, enacted the policy and for years players who once sported long hair or beards elsewhere, such as Johnny Damon and Alex Verdugo, were suddenly short-haired or clean-shaven after they donned the pinstripes.

The policy was even spoofed in the iconic “Homer at the Bat” episode of The Simpsons in 1992. Mr. Burns kicked ringer Don Mattingly off the power plant’s softball team for not shaving his sideburns, despite the fact he didn’t have any. While leaving the field, the long-time Yankees player, who had once been benched in real life for growing a mullet-like hairstyle, quipped: “I still like him better than Steinbrenner.”

The alterations to the policy already appear to be in place as relief pitcher Devin Williams, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers during the off-season, was sporting stubble in his player headshot.

Will other teams with longstanding (and perhaps antiquated) facial hair policies that fear the beard follow suit?

Over to you, Lou Lamoriello.