A nearly 50-year-old policy, banning beards on Yankee players, is now a thing of the past.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner announced the decision Friday, saying the rule established by his father, George Steinbrenner, was "outdated" and "unreasonable." He said after speaking with current and former players, he gained insight into how important it was for players in today's generation to be able to express themselves with facial hair.

There is a limit as beards must be well-groomed, and the team's policy on hair length remains intact.

It was the talk of Yankees fans today at Hunts Hair Styling in Locust Valley.

Owner Brian Basile says beards have become both popular and fashionable, and says Yankees players can have beards and maintain the team's image.