Marlins adopt policy of no facial hair under Mattingly

JUPITER, Fla. - For the first time in his major league career, Don Mattingly's team has a policy of no facial hair.

And as the Miami Marlins' new manager, he's the one enforcing the rule.

The Marlins allowed players to have beards the past two years, but that has changed under an organizational policy adopted after Mattingly was hired.

"Initially not too many guys were happy about it," said reliever Mike Dunn, who shaved off his goatee before reporting to spring training. "You can fight it, or you don't. Obviously I shaved, so it's OK."

Mattingly said Sunday he didn't care whether players were allowed to have beards, goatees or mustaches, but supported the new rule.

"Guys will whine," Mattingly said Sunday. "Some guys like it, some guys won't. As long as we're consistent, I think it's not that big of a deal."

Mattingly wore a mustache when he was an All-Star first baseman for the Yankees. In 1991, he was benched for refusing to cut his hair, and says his complaint was that the rule was not being enforced equitably among everyone on the team.

Many Marlins sported facial hair last season.