Red Sox Beards Shaved After World Series Win, Why?
The famous Red Sox beards are being shaved after their World Series win. But some fans might wonder why they’d do this, especially considering it’s no shave November.
As previously reported by The Inquisitr, the Red Sox World Series win caused a Boston riot.
The Red Sox beard became a symbol representing team solidarity as they went from the worst team in the MLB to winning their third World Series title in 10 years. First baseman Mike Napoli was on the first players to start the Red Sox beards trend, so he explained how it came to happen:
“It started in spring training. Me, Jonny (Gomes) and (Dustin) Pedroia were just messing around, saying we were going to grow it out all year. And it just seemed like everyone jumped on.”
The Red Sox beards were triggered by a brutal 2012 baseball season where the Sox finished last place in the AL East for the first time since 1992. During the 2013 MLB season Sox players would celebrate by tugging on each other’s beards. Some fans would wear fake Red Sox beards in order to celebrate the rising red tide.
Mike Napoli’s facial hair was considered the “gold standard” for a Red Sox beard. But some players like Red Sox outfielder Quintin Berry only had a few wisps of hair on his chin after three weeks, but he blames his genetics, saying, “My mama did it to me.”
But Jonny Gomes says the quality of the Red Sox beards don’t matter as long as a player tried:
“We don’t vote on it. It’s either have a beard or don’t have a beard. We’re all tied for first.”
Considering how famous these Red Sox beards have become you’d think there would be an outcry when any player in the team decided to go smooth-skinned.
The shaving event sponsored by Gillette doesn’t affect all the Red Sox players, though. Only World Series Most Valuable Player David Ortiz and outfielder Shane Victorino have chosen to have their Red Sox beards shaved on Monday. They will be joined by bullpen policeman Steve Horgan and a lucky Sox fan chosen from social media.
There’s been no official word on whether the rest of the team will keep their Red Sox beards except for a tweet claiming they’re waiting to find a charity event:
Middlebrooks said the Red Sox will wait to shave their beards. They're trying to find a charity they can do it for.
— Jason Mastrodonato (@JMastrodonato) November 2, 2013
The Red Sox should donate those beards to Coats for Kids.
— Bill Weir (@BillWeirCNN) October 31, 2013
But then again these plans may not affect all the Red Sox players:
With the exception of a few guys who are getting married this offseason, many of the Red Sox players plan on keeping their beards.
— Joe McDonald (@JoeyMacHockey) October 30, 2013
Do you think the Red Sox beards should be shaved at all?
