DUNEDIN, Fla. — Devin Williams hated the Yankees ’ grooming policy, then after the star closer was forced to shave for the first day of spring training, he and his beard got a reprieve from owner Hal Steinbrenner on Friday.

The team is ending its longstanding policy on facial hair and will allow “well-groomed beards moving forward,” Hal Steinbrenner said.

For half a century, players on the New York Yankees were not allowed to have beards. Now, the team is lifting the decades-old facial hair policy and allowing for “well-groomed” beards.