Tuesday, February 16, 1999
Vaughn, fans win: Schott lifts hair ban
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Greg Vaughn
|
SARASOTA, Fla. — When the Reds report for spring training today, they won't have to slash their sideburns or whittle their whiskers.
Club owner Marge Schott lifted the team's ban on facial hair — in place since 1967 — responding to outfielder Greg Vaughn and scores of fans who backed the new Red's bid to keep his beloved goatee.
Mr. Vaughn, the slugging outfielder obtained Feb. 2 from San Diego, had insisted he would not shave his goatee and indicated he would file a grievance with the Players Association — a maneuver insiders predicted would succeed.
The acquisition of Mr. Vaughn, who hit 50 homers last year, has seeded widespread hopes among the Reds that they can become contenders after finishing fourth in the NL Central Division with a 77-85 re cord a season ago.
“America is a free country,” pitcher Denny Neagle said. “People can do and choose whatever they want, so I guess the same thing should be (done) in baseball. If you want to wear a beard, go ahead; if you don't, who cares?”
Mrs. Schott could not immediately be reached for comment, but said in a statement that she called Mr. Vaughn and told him he could keep his goatee “as long as it was neatly trimmed.”
Said Mr. Vaughn, “My family and I appreciate Mrs. Schott's decision to relax the policy. I wasn't trying to rewrite any rules. I'm just more comfortable with my facial hair. My main focus now is getting ready to help this team compete for a division championship.”
Clean-shaven Neagle, the left-hander acquired from Atlanta in November, joked about the repeal.
“I was going to show up with my bleached blond hair and a black beard and really go against the flow,” he said. “Now that they've lifted (the ban), I'll probably shave twice a day now.”
General Manager Jim Bowden said Mrs. Schott was responding to fans who deluged the Reds with an “astronomical” number of letters, phone calls and e-mails supporting Mr. Vaughn and calling for an end to “what was a very archaic rule.”
Readers of the Enquirer's Web site voted 237-39 in favor of lifting the ban. (Story | Reader comments).
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