The Big O’s Hair Do’s and Don’ts

The Chicago Tribune is running a story featuring Oscar Gamble and his famous ‘fro. Some Yankees history that I was not aware of:

When the Indians traded him [Gamble] to the Yankees in 1976, Gamble knew it was over. Owner George Steinbrenner’s edict of neatly cut hair was already in place. When Gamble showed up in the Yankees’ locker room, there was no uniform. No haircut, no uniform.

Gamble had a deal to do a commercial for Afro Sheen, but the Yankees won out. A team public-relations official arranged for a haircut. Gamble’s wife cried at the senseless loss.

Steinbrenner paid for the haircut and gave him $5,000 in compensation for not being able to do the commercial.

This is the first that I’ve heard of Big Stein kicking in the five grand. He didn’t have to do that. Cool. With inflation, I wonder what Johnny Damon would have gotten this year – if he had a hair deal too?