Skip to content
 
Uni Watch

Lip Service

By
razor.gif

What does a DH do with all that time in between at-bats? If he’s Jason Giambi, he shaves off his mustache.

Or at least that was the case on Monday night, when someone apparently informed Giambi that DH doesn’t stand for “demonstrably hirsute.” Check out his plate appearances: In the 1st inning he had that gross little ’70s porn star mustache that he’s been wearing this year. Same thing in the 3rd inning. But in the 5th inning, whoa — not a whisker in sight! Feeling a bit drafty on the upper lip, Jason?

I know of only one other instance of a player shaving during a game (although I bet there are others): Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, better known as the Bill Buckner Game. A young Roger Clemens was the Red Sox starter that evening, and he took the mound with some clearly visible stubble, including some nascent sideburns. But later on, after he’d been removed from the game and then returned to the dugout, his face had undergone a transformation. Still, Clemens shaved after he’d left the contest, which makes his in-game grooming less remarkable than Giambi’s.

The Yankees, of course, have banned beards throughout the Steinbrenner era. Willie Randolph brought that rule with him to the Mets last season but has allowed beards this year. The Reds used to ban facial hair too, but that changed back in 1999 when they acquired Greg Vaughn, who successfully pleaded with ownership not to make him shave his beard because, he claimed, his children wouldn’t recognize him anymore.

I wrote a little something about facial hair, including a timeline of notable whisker-related moments, back in Uni Watch’s Village Voice days. You can read that piece here.

Meanwhile, if Giambi doesn’t already have a razor endorsement deal, his agent ought to get on the phone with Gillette or Schick right now.

Uni Watch News Ticker: Our discussions of accents and other diacritical marks on nameplates has led Jeremy Brahm to find two players who wear an æ ligature: Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Kristofer Hæstad. And then there’s Fredrik Strømstad, whose got one of those empty set ø characters. … Uni Watch gets name-dropped in this eBay listing, posted by reader Drew Samuelson. … Every now and then you see a player whose pants are pulled so far up that you can see the white name tag on his socks. But it never looks like anything’s written on the tag, so why is there in the first place?

 
  
 
Comments (73)

    Hey paul, just wanted to tell you what a great thing u got goin here! And this is my first comment post thingymabobber. I think you should hold some contests, like the youngest fan!( which i mihgt win since im only 15) or sumthink like that!

    any ways thanks, Jamie

    i can remember once when Dirk had a scraggly mop in the first half, then emerged from the locker room after halftime with a freshly buzzed head courtesy of Eddy Najera. i think it was in Utah during the 2000-01 season.

    On days when he was starting, Turk Wendell used to brush his teeth between innings in the dugout water fountain.

    Funny thing about facial hair, Paul…find me a referee that has any (besides hockey). I think Johnny Grier might still have his mustache. Tim McLelland always had the mustache, but he shaved it off this season. I did see an umpire this past week who looks like he’s growing a Fu Manchu and sideburns, but I can’t remember who it was.

    I never liked the “must be clean-shaven” rule. I’m not sure who started it. I ref 3 sports, and until I’m told directly from my organziation presidents, my beard and sideburns stay.

    Ever notice that Giambi always has that ‘I just finished running 10 miles in 100 degree heat’ look to him?

    For a guy who mostly just bats, he’s one ‘Sweaty Betty’. Even his hair is always greasy looking.

    He’s also one of the growing number of players who tucks his jersey in, but keeps it loose enough that you never see his belt. David Wright also does this. It’s the not tucked in but tucked in look.

    Former Oakland and Seattle relief pitcher once took the mound with half a beard. I believe he was forced to shave the rest off during the game, because it was distracting the hitter.

    Go A’s

    [quote comment=”7657″]Former Oakland and Seattle relief pitcher once took the mound with half a beard. I believe he was forced to shave the rest off during the game, because it was distracting the hitter.

    Go A’s[/quote]

    Oops. Forgot to mention his name … Bill Caudill.

    Lew Ford of the Twins did the same thing as Giambi last year. He DH’d with a goatee early in the game and came back later with a naked chin.

    If my recollection is right, Ford pulled a boneheaded baserunning gaffe and Ron Gardenhire chewed him out a bit after returning to the dugout. My guess was that Ford thought he was out of the game because of it.

    I’d look it up on Batgirl.com, but I have to work.

    Just speculation (and someone may know for sure), but I have a feeling Clemens shaved in preparation for the ’86 Red Sox locker room celebration that never happened.

    If anyone can find a picture of Ohio State’s Kicker, Aaron Pettrey, he had a pretty weird looking face mask.

    [quote comment=”7650″]Hey paul, just wanted to tell you what a great thing u got goin here! And this is my first comment post thingymabobber. I think you should hold some contests, like the youngest fan!( which i mihgt win since im only 15) or sumthink like that!

    any ways thanks, Jamie[/quote]
    Sorry dude. I’m 13

    Or at least that was the case on Monday night, when someone apparently informed Giambi that DH doesn’t stand for “demonstrably hirsute.” Check out his plate appearances: In the 1st inning he had that gross little ’70s porn star mustache that he’s been wearing this year. Same thing in the 3rd inning. But in the 5th inning, whoa — not a whisker in sight! Feeling a bit drafty on the upper lip, Jason?

    These are classic transformations of the body’s folical systems when one is detoxifying from anabolic sterioids and growth hormones… so it’s not the razor but rather the syringe…

    T.

    The problem is not with the color of the shorts, but that someone might actually buy used gym shorts. Ewwwww!

    Here is an article from the Hartford Courant about Giambi – apparantly he shaved mid-game to try to stop his slump… Didn’t work though – a bigger O’fer…

    Use this code for links: link

    Actually, Giambi did (or maybe still does) have a contract with a razor company. Unfortunately, I can’t remember which one, buy it was for a disposable type and at the end of the commercial we would “throw” the razor towards the camera. It was obviously computer generated since the razor stopped just before it hit the screen so you could get a good look at it. I haven’t seen the commercials at all lately, so I don’t think he still has a contract.

    [quote comment=”7652″]On days when he was starting, Turk Wendell used to brush his teeth between innings in the dugout water fountain.[/quote]
    He brushed his teeth because he would eat licorice between innings. Just another one of Turk’s quirks.

    The Diamondbacks are reportedly planning a change in uniform colors for next season, apparently dumping their purple, teal, copper and black scheme for one that will include something called “Sedona Red” and a “sand” hue.
    — Arizona Republic

    I don’t know why people are so grossed out about used gym shorts on eBay… From my understanding, you can purchase almost the same thing from vending machines all over Japan!

    I’d just like to say that being back at College has severely limited my UniWatch time…sitting in my 3-walled prison at my summer internship allowed ample time for posting and enjoying all your posts…i guess i may have to sacrifice some drinking to keep up with you all

    [quote comment=”7648″]Jason Kendall has done the shave between innings thing before, most recently mentioned in this article.
    link

    This was about the funniest game I watched on tv so far this year. The tv crew kept cutting back to Kendall at the start of each inning just to see what he had gotten up to in the clubhouse. I don’t remember the exact innings, but I think that after the 3rd, Kendall went from full beard to goatee plus ‘stache; then after the 5th, he lost the goatee but kept the ‘stache; and towards the end of the game he was clean shaven. The tv announcers (as well as my buddies and I) were cracking up. Kendall kept looking around the bench to see what kind of reaction he was getting, while trying to keep his poker face on. Very funny, and GO A’S!

    Did anyone else see link on Page 2 today? Talk about a uni-no-no. Bethanie Mattek’s outfit (scroll down) looks like it belongs in an ancient Greece Olympic tennis tournament.

    [quote comment=”7667″]Or at least that was the case on Monday night, when someone apparently informed Giambi that DH doesn’t stand for “demonstrably hirsute.” Check out his plate appearances: In the 1st inning he had that gross little ’70s porn star mustache that he’s been wearing this year. Same thing in the 3rd inning. But in the 5th inning, whoa — not a whisker in sight! Feeling a bit drafty on the upper lip, Jason?

    These are classic transformations of the body’s folical systems when one is detoxifying from anabolic sterioids and growth hormones… so it’s not the razor but rather the syringe…

    T.[/quote]

    that’s clever…

    Why is ESPN allowing someone else to write about link? I thought that was Paul’s job.

    Maybe it has to do with the fact that it’s tennis and they aren’t exactly wearing Unis. Whatever the reason is – I don’t like it!

    [quote comment=”7665″][quote comment=”7650″]Hey paul, just wanted to tell you what a great thing u got goin here! And this is my first comment post thingymabobber. I think you should hold some contests, like the youngest fan!( which i mihgt win since im only 15) or sumthink like that!

    any ways thanks, Jamie[/quote]
    Sorry dude. I’m 13[/quote]

    In any case, it’s great to see young people learning about the way uniforms should be

    [quote comment=”7670″]Actually, Giambi did (or maybe still does) have a contract with a razor company. Unfortunately, I can’t remember which one, buy it was for a disposable type and at the end of the commercial we would “throw” the razor towards the camera.[/quote]

    I vaguely remember this. I think he lost that contract after his grand jury testimony was leaked. Endorsements dropped like flies: Arm and Hammer, Nike, and Pepsi. I can’t find anything that says he ever even HAD a razor deal, but I somewhat remember it.

    Also, I never liked the idea of athletes hawking products that have nothing to do with their sport. Like Piazza’s Pert Plus commercials back in the day. Or even that classic Mean Joe Greene Coke commercial. The only one I can think of that I kind of understand is Nolan Ryan’s arthritis (or was it just pain relief?) commercials. That dude hurt all over for years and everyone knew it. No one would have ever known Piazza had dandruff. Just never sat well with me. Then again, I hate corporations and their logo feces in every capacity.

    [quote comment=”7671″][quote comment=”7652″]On days when he was starting, Turk Wendell used to brush his teeth between innings in the dugout water fountain.[/quote]
    He brushed his teeth because he would eat licorice between innings. Just another one of Turk’s quirks.[/quote]

    As a long suffering Cubs fan, (and quite frankly Turk didn’t help matters), I remember him jumping over the foul lines on the way to and from the mound, brushing his teeth between innings, he was a member of “The Chain Gang”, and I believe he had other rituals like walking a lap around the mound after a strikeout. And it was always BLACK licorice. However reports of him worshipping “JoBu” with Cerrano from “Major League” were vastly exaggerated.

    [quote comment=”7687″][quote comment=”7671″][quote comment=”7652″]On days when he was starting, Turk Wendell used to brush his teeth between innings in the dugout water fountain.[/quote]
    He brushed his teeth because he would eat licorice between innings. Just another one of Turk’s quirks.[/quote]

    As a long suffering Cubs fan, (and quite frankly Turk didn’t help matters), I remember him jumping over the foul lines on the way to and from the mound, brushing his teeth between innings, he was a member of “The Chain Gang”, and I believe he had other rituals like walking a lap around the mound after a strikeout. And it was always BLACK licorice. However reports of him worshipping “JoBu” with Cerrano from “Major League” were vastly exaggerated.[/quote]
    The one I liked was that if the umpire threw him a new ball instead of the catcher he wouldn’t catch it but trap it with his chest like a soccer player. And of course his uni # 99

    [quote comment=”7689″][quote comment=”7687″][quote comment=”7671″][quote comment=”7652″]On days when he was starting, Turk Wendell used to brush his teeth between innings in the dugout water fountain.[/quote]
    He brushed his teeth because he would eat licorice between innings. Just another one of Turk’s quirks.[/quote]

    As a long suffering Cubs fan, (and quite frankly Turk didn’t help matters), I remember him jumping over the foul lines on the way to and from the mound, brushing his teeth between innings, he was a member of “The Chain Gang”, and I believe he had other rituals like walking a lap around the mound after a strikeout. And it was always BLACK licorice. However reports of him worshipping “JoBu” with Cerrano from “Major League” were vastly exaggerated.[/quote]
    The one I liked was that if the umpire threw him a new ball instead of the catcher he wouldn’t catch it but trap it with his chest like a soccer player. And of course his uni # 99[/quote]

    By the way, did I mention that his Chain was made of the claws of animals that he’d killed? It’s hard to see but this is the best link I could find. Also in that picture is his habit of HURLING, not dropping or even tossing the rosin bag to the ground. Also he had this funky thing with the return throw from the catcher. If the catcher was squatting, Turk would stand. If the catcher was standing when the ball was returned Turk would squat. He was definitely one strange character

    [quote comment=”7689″]And of course his uni # 99[/quote]

    Which was also worked into his contract. There were as many nines as possible. (link; scroll down to “By the Numbers section.”) Another quirk: the slamming of the rosin bag. And not only was he a member of the chain gang, but his chain was comprised of the bones of animals he had personally killed. Weird dude, but effective for two years before his body –mysteriously– broke down.

    [quote comment=”7653″]Funny thing about facial hair, Paul…find me a referee that has any (besides hockey). I think Johnny Grier might still have his mustache. Tim McLelland always had the mustache, but he shaved it off this season. I did see an umpire this past week who looks like he’s growing a Fu Manchu and sideburns, but I can’t remember who it was.

    I never liked the “must be clean-shaven” rule. I’m not sure who started it. I ref 3 sports, and until I’m told directly from my organziation presidents, my beard and sideburns stay.[/quote]

    Jim Joyce wore a fu manchu last season, I assume he still does, but I don’t have anything to back this up. Here’s his MLB profile: link

    For those of you not familiar with Joyce, he is quite possibly one of the loudest umpires in the game. When he’s working behind home plate, he’s one of the few umpires who still calls ‘ball’ or ‘strike’ loudly enough for everyone on the field and seated in the sections behind home plate to hear him. When he calls a strike, he is known for yelling out ‘ssstriiiiiiiike’ every single time.

    link had his number written on the white part on his stirrups last season. Paul actually mentioned this on the ESPN column.

    [quote comment=”7653″]Funny thing about facial hair, Paul…find me a referee that has any (besides hockey). I think Johnny Grier might still have his mustache. Tim McLelland always had the mustache, but he shaved it off this season. I did see an umpire this past week who looks like he’s growing a Fu Manchu and sideburns, but I can’t remember who it was.

    I never liked the “must be clean-shaven” rule. I’m not sure who started it. I ref 3 sports, and until I’m told directly from my organziation presidents, my beard and sideburns stay.[/quote]

    There’s an umpire who has a big mustache – Al Clark maybe if he’s still umpiring. The late Eric Gregg used to have one too.

    [quote comment=”7673″]I don’t know why people are so grossed out about used gym shorts on eBay… From my understanding, you can purchase almost the same thing from vending machines all over Japan![/quote]

    That doesn’t make it less gross.

    [quote comment=”7688″]Do you guys know anything about link

    They are coming to Baltimore this weekend and I’m trying my hardest to get on the O’s fan’s team![/quote]
    Yeah, it’s actually the second season of it. I’ll be at the game in Baltimore on Friday, so maybe I’ll run into them.

    Too bad Giambi didn’t keep growing out the ‘stache. Would have bene great to get a little Rollie Fingers-action going on the ends there.

    I wonder if the Yankees would allow him to grow a mustache Dr. Z-style (from those Doge-Chrsyler-Jeep commercials)?

    [quote comment=”7692″][quote comment=”7653″]Funny thing about facial hair, Paul…find me a referee that has any (besides hockey). I think Johnny Grier might still have his mustache. Tim McLelland always had the mustache, but he shaved it off this season. I did see an umpire this past week who looks like he’s growing a Fu Manchu and sideburns, but I can’t remember who it was.

    I never liked the “must be clean-shaven” rule. I’m not sure who started it. I ref 3 sports, and until I’m told directly from my organziation presidents, my beard and sideburns stay.[/quote]

    Jim Joyce wore a fu manchu last season, I assume he still does, but I don’t have anything to back this up. Here’s his MLB profile: link

    For those of you not familiar with Joyce, he is quite possibly one of the loudest umpires in the game. When he’s working behind home plate, he’s one of the few umpires who still calls ‘ball’ or ‘strike’ loudly enough for everyone on the field and seated in the sections behind home plate to hear him. When he calls a strike, he is known for yelling out ‘ssstriiiiiiiike’ every single time.[/quote]

    My favorite umpire for loud strike calls – OF ALL TIME – Dutch Rennert – it was almost like Naked Gun when he’d call strikes. He’d take a step back while yelling “STRIIIIIIIKE” and crouch and point his finger toward the dugout and yell out “ONNNNNNNNNNE”. Oddly enough, I never saw anyone argue with him over strikes and balls.

    sorry everyone, been on vacation, still am as a matter of fact, but as I was watching the san fran/reds game today, i noticed that the giants starter, Jonathan Sanchez, had a flag on his glove. I think it was Puerto Rico since that’s where he is from. Don’t know if anyone else saw this, but he’s in the club now too. sorry no pics, too lazy to grab the digital camera.

    i don’t remember turk ever starting a game for the mets. maybe with another team, but definitely not the mets. turk’s famouse necklace also featured the teeth of said dead animals. and his contracts always ended with some variation of 99.

    shame that giambi got rid of the stache. it was the only likable part of the guy.

    [quote comment=”7701″]i don’t remember turk ever starting a game for the mets. maybe with another team, but definitely not the mets. turk’s famouse necklace also featured the teeth of said dead animals. and his contracts always ended with some variation of 99.

    shame that giambi got rid of the stache. it was the only likable part of the guy.[/quote]

    Turk started 6 games for the Cubs in the ’93 and ’94 seasons. After that he was strictly used as a (comic) relief pitcher.

    I remember seeing something on an old TWIB tape I had of bloopers that had Calvin Schiraldi of the Red Sox shaving after throwing a horrible inning in relief. He came off the mound, shaved, and went back out for the ninth, sending the side down in order and picking up “the save with the shave.”

    [quote comment=”7661″]Just speculation (and someone may know for sure), but I have a feeling Clemens shaved in preparation for the ’86 Red Sox locker room celebration that never happened.[/quote]
    Most pitchers shower up after they are removed. Since it was the World Series, Clemens just put on a clean uni and came back to the bench for any possible celebratory events.

    Usually they just hang out in the clubhouse.

    [quote comment=”7672″]The Diamondbacks are reportedly planning a change in uniform colors for next season, apparently dumping their purple, teal, copper and black scheme for one that will include something called “Sedona Red” and a “sand” hue.
    — Arizona Republic[/quote]

    I think I may have read something about that before, lol.

    Shame that Giambi went clean. That guest spot on “Reno 911” must have fallen through.

    I find it funny that all facial hair is banned, but the Boss makes the exception for the cop-stache.

    [quote comment=”7704″]Most pitchers shower up after they are removed. Since it was the World Series, Clemens just put on a clean uni and came back to the bench for any possible celebratory events.[/quote]

    Just found this on Wikipedia (which isn’t the most reliable source, but still): “All season long, Roger Clemens followed a routine of not shaving on days he pitched. He shaved soon after being removed from Game 6, hoping that he would look good for the ultimately aborted Red Sox post game championship celebration. Several Mets noticed this and became angered by it.”

    Check out this iPod nano holder I got for when I run and lift, it’s made by Nike, if you couldn’t guess.

    Link

    [quote comment=”7708″]

    Just found this on Wikipedia (which isn’t the most reliable source, but still): “All season long, Roger Clemens followed a routine of not shaving on days he pitched. He shaved soon after being removed from Game 6, hoping that he would look good for the ultimately aborted Red Sox post game championship celebration. Several Mets noticed this and became angered by it.”[/quote]

    Clemens still sticks with this ritual. He always has at least a day-old beard when he pitches. He started Game 4 in the ’99 series, but I couldn’t find any pictures to see if he shaved for the celebration that year.

    Clemens shaved off his stubble after coming out of games when he was with the Yankees. I remember the Cards announcers commenting on this when he appeared clean shaven in the dugout after coming out of what would be his 300th win.

    From this afternoon’s SportsCenter, during a highlight of Shawn Green making a highlight play in the field and, predictably, his (black) hat falling off:

    “Shawn Green can’t keep his hat on. Either his hat is enormous or his head’s too small.”

    This yeah, in Minnesota, Dodgers catcher Russell Martin started with a full beard, then came up to bat his 2nd at bat and had a moustache, grounded out, and his next two at bats were clean shaven. There was some banter between broadcasters Steve Lyons and Charley Steiner about it, with Lyons saying “there weren’t any hits left in it!” about 7 times.

    [quote comment=”7712″][quote comment=”7708″]

    Just found this on Wikipedia (which isn’t the most reliable source, but still): “All season long, Roger Clemens followed a routine of not shaving on days he pitched. He shaved soon after being removed from Game 6, hoping that he would look good for the ultimately aborted Red Sox post game championship celebration. Several Mets noticed this and became angered by it.”[/quote]

    Clemens still sticks with this ritual. He always has at least a day-old beard when he pitches. He started Game 4 in the ’99 series, but I couldn’t find any pictures to see if he shaved for the celebration that year.[/quote]

    Curt Schilling does something similar, if not the same.

    Also, Giambi’s contract was with Schick, if I remember correctly.

    I am watching the Pirates/Cubs game tonight and they just announced the future addition of a patch on the Pirates uniforms which will honor Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O’Connor who passed away this past weekend from brain cancer. It will be a black circle with “Bob” in gold letters. It will be worn on their left chest until the end of the season.

    The front of the Pirates’ unis will be pretty busy since the All-Star logo remains on the right chest.

    I’m pretty sure Giambi got that contract with the razor right after he was traded to the Yankees. Everyone knows about the Yank’s stipulations so it fit nicely: a high profile player needed a certain product because of an event in his career.

    Here’s Turk Wendell’s link. It lists some of his eccentricies.

    [quote comment=”7674″]I’d just like to say that being back at College has severely limited my UniWatch time…sitting in my 3-walled prison at my summer internship allowed ample time for posting and enjoying all your posts…i guess i may have to sacrifice some drinking to keep up with you all[/quote]

    It’s for the best…

    The small block on the socks is intended to write your number on. Socks anymore are put on the laundry loop with the rest of your personels (sliding shorts, jock strap, undershirt etc.) by means of a stringing them through a short elastic loop with a closure that tightens with a clasp. The problem is that the socks don’t dry all the way so players end up with one wet ‘stripe’ in their socks. Allowing them to dry freely gets them all the way dry, but is troublesome for the clubby if the numbers aren’t on them. What’s it matter anyway since most ball players don’t show their hose?

    [quote comment=”7724″]I’m pretty sure Giambi got that contract with the razor right after he was traded to the Yankees. Everyone knows about the Yank’s stipulations so it fit nicely: a high profile player needed a certain product because of an event in his career.[/quote]

    Giambi was a free agent. The A’s thought about a trade near the 2001 trade deadline, but didn’t go for it.

    [quote comment=”7703″]I remember seeing something on an old TWIB tape I had of bloopers that had Calvin Schiraldi of the Red Sox shaving after throwing a horrible inning in relief. He came off the mound, shaved, and went back out for the ninth, sending the side down in order and picking up “the save with the shave.”[/quote]

    If Calvin Schiraldi shaved each time after throwing a terrible inning, I bet he link after his game on October 25, 1986.

    gotta give some love for the teen readers out there–i’m 18.

    random note–on my little league team in 7th grade, our entire team wore our pants at our knees with socks showing up our calves. albeit with socks (not stirrups), i gotta admit it looked damn good.

    props to anibal sanchez on his no-no against the d-backs today (musta been the purple jerseys), but i can’t stand that link look!

    note: the “pajama” link is NOT a picture taken during the game he pitched the no-hitter against arizona, but he wore his pants the same way

    Here’s Turk Wendell’s link. It lists some of his eccentricies.

    It’s funny how Turk’s then controversial comments re: Bonds and Sosa are dead on.

    I love the shoutout to paul in the eBay auction… as much as i love lukas’ writing, if i do ever meet him in person i’m going to have to wear purple just to annoy him. :P

    [quote comment=”7681″]Why is ESPN allowing someone else to write about link? I thought that was Paul’s job.

    Maybe it has to do with the fact that it’s tennis and they aren’t exactly wearing Unis. Whatever the reason is – I don’t like it![/quote]
    My thoughts exactly, has ESPN lost the plot?

    [quote comment=”7695″][quote comment=”7673″]I don’t know why people are so grossed out about used gym shorts on eBay… From my understanding, you can purchase almost the same thing from vending machines all over Japan![/quote]

    That doesn’t make it less gross.[/quote]
    True, but knowing Japanese men, the used gym shorts in question might belong to teenage girls.

    as of may of this year Jim Joyce still had his fu manchu. link comment=”7692″][quote comment=”7653″]Funny thing about facial hair, Paul…find me a referee that has any (besides hockey). I think Johnny Grier might still have his mustache. Tim McLelland always had the mustache, but he shaved it off this season. I did see an umpire this past week who looks like he’s growing a Fu Manchu and sideburns, but I can’t remember who it was.

    I never liked the “must be clean-shaven” rule. I’m not sure who started it. I ref 3 sports, and until I’m told directly from my organziation presidents, my beard and sideburns stay.[/quote]

    Jim Joyce wore a fu manchu last season, I assume he still does, but I don’t have anything to back this up. Here’s his MLB profile: link

    For those of you not familiar with Joyce, he is quite possibly one of the loudest umpires in the game. When he’s working behind home plate, he’s one of the few umpires who still calls ‘ball’ or ‘strike’ loudly enough for everyone on the field and seated in the sections behind home plate to hear him. When he calls a strike, he is known for yelling out ‘ssstriiiiiiiike’ every single time.[/quote]

    “Paul Lukas said:

    Just found this on Wikipedia (which isn’t the most reliable source, but still): “All season long, Roger Clemens followed a routine of not shaving on days he pitched. He shaved soon after being removed from Game 6, hoping that he would look good for the ultimately aborted Red Sox post game championship celebration. Several Mets noticed this and became angered by it.”

    Clemens still sticks with this ritual. He always has at least a day-old beard when he pitches. He started Game 4 in the ‘99 series, but I couldn’t find any pictures to see if he shaved for the celebration that year.

    Curt Schilling does something similar, if not the same.”

    Paul et al.:
    It’s a long-standing baseball tradition for the starting pitcher not to shave on the day of his start. Granted, guys now don’t necessarily follow traditions, but this pitch-with-stubble thing has been done by many, for a long time. In her book about Sandy Koufax, Jane Leavy talks about Koufax and Drysdale both coming to the ballpark unshaven for a big game for which the starter hadn’t been publicly announced (or even announced to Drysdale, the way she tells it). If one of them had shaved, the whole world would have known that the other was definitely the starter.

Comments are closed.