The Best Moustaches in Baseball: Part Two
Many heroic male figures throughout history have used their facial hair to persuade, inspire and seduce legions of followers and admirers. Since the dawn of time, mankind has used many forms of facial hair to not only express themselves, but provide a sense of identity.
One of the greatest forms of said facial hair is the moustache; and no group of warriors have displayed the characteristics of a fine ‘stache better than the men (and occasionally hormonally imbalanced women) of professional baseball.
In honor of Movember in which men across the world unite in growing moustaches to raise money for Prostate Cancer, I have decided to delve into the art of facial hair for part two of The Best Moustaches in Baseball.
ADVERTISEMENT
This year’s version covers some ‘staches that may have been omitted from last year’s list or have just recently left their stamp as some of the best cookie-dusters in baseball.
Keith Hernandez
Before I knew Keith Hernandez the baseball player, I knew him as the guy who allegedly spit on Kramer and Newman. His two-episode stint on Seinfeld not only solidified himself as one of the coolest moustache-clad men in the majors who may or may have not banged Elaine Benes.
Sal Fasano
During his illustrious career, Sal played for ten different teams and along the way he made a lasting impression on almost every city that he played in. As Blue Jays fans, we had the pleasure of watching Fasano work his magic in a Blue Jays uniform during the 2007 season.
Al “The Mad Hungarian” Hrabosky
Not only was Hrabosky’s facial hair mean looking, just take a look at his name. It’s basically the baseball version of Vlad the Impaler or Atilla the Hun. Hrabosky followed in the footsteps of legendary closers like Rich Gossage and Rollie Fingers as having a badass ‘stache.
Ross Grimsley
Grimsley is the whole package – sporting a moustache and an afro that would make even the Ladies Man Leon Phelps jealous, Grimsely wasn’t just a looker. In 1978, his 20-11 record garnered him a seventh place finish in the AL Cy Young voting.
ADVERTISEMENT
Jeff Kent
I’ve always said that if Jeff Kent could moonlight as a police officer if he ever felt the need to take up a second job. Now that he’s retired, you just might see Jeff Kent responding to a domestic dispute, or making a cameo appearance in a Super Troopers sequel near you.
Reggie Jackson
Not necessarily most revered for his prowess in the facial hair department, Mr. October still contributed towards the moustache culture with his classic but cool addition to the list. Did his stache help him hit three home runs in one game? No – but he looked damn good doing it.
So there we have it folks – part two of the best moustaches in baseball. Feel free to cast your vote on your favourite soup strainer below. The wondrous thing about the world of moustaches is that just like the hairs themselves, the history of moustaches in baseball only continues to grow as the years pass.
Al “The Mad Hungarian” Hrabosky, how could I vote for anyone else?
Where is Sparky Lyle???
I had to vote for Keith Hernandez, simply because of his Seinfeld cameo.
"I'm Keith Hernandez."
Where is Catfish Hunter?
Scott, I'm with you on this one – Hrabosky is my favourite on this round. He looks like somebody you definitely don't want to meet in a back alley.
Peter D, I have to plead ignorance on this one – but I've actually never heard of Sparky Lyle's stache until you mentioned it. He will certainly be up for consideration when I do Part Three.
eyebleaf, the cameo on Seinfeld brought the Hernandez stache to the masses. I don't think I would know about him otherwise.
No arguments with any of these, however Bill Buckner should get an honorable mention.
Catfish Hunter and Billy Buckner most certainly deserve honorable mentions here.
That just goes to show you how vast and deep the history runs related to moustaches in baseball. I will unquestionably have to do a Part Three to this series!
Fuck you guys for ignoring Jimmy Acker and his well kept stylings. I refuse to vote.
Fair enough Ack, fair enough.
Now that you've mentioned Acker, I'm thinking there are almost enough players to do a list comprised entirely of Blue Jays moustaches.
That would include Rance Mulliniks, Cito Gaston, George Bell, Dave Winfield, and basically anybody else from the roster between the years 1980 and 1993.
Hrabosky for the win!! I'd never even heard of the guy. I love the sideways glance in his photo. It's like somebody's going to break with his car and he's going to fuck them up!
I may have noted in the past – watched a game once where Mulliniks spat and got some of it caught on his stache – it appeared then that he noticed it on the big screen because he looked up, stopped, and turned aside to wipe his sleeve across his face.
And check out the 82 or 83 Topps cards of Buck Martinez — definitely worth including.
Matthias, neither had I under I put together this list. Hrabosky is one mean-looking dude.
QJays, that's one of the side effects of sporting a stache – it's almost inevitable that something will get left behind. I can believe that actually happened to Mullinkis though.
Buck Martinez will also be up for consideration on the next list …
While Hernandez had a good moustache, it won't be enough to sway me to help him move. Hrabosky on the other hand…Not too many can pull that off. It is quite impressive.
Finally, some meaningful baseball discussion.
HLF, how can you not vote for The Mad Hungarian? His nickname enough convinced me to vote for him. I just realized he actually has a bar in St. Louis named after him too – Al Hrabosky's Ballpark Saloon.
Mattt, I'll get to some hot stove stuff later this week, but once in a while it's nice to take a break from all that free agent/trade talk and honour our moustache forefather's.
I didn't mean that as a slight. I'm with you on taking a break from the heavy conversation/writing that has been caused by our Toronto Blue Jays.
No worries! There's always time to talk 'staches, whether it's the off season or not. Always a newsworthy topic at The Blue Jay Hunter!
definitely HERNANDEZ
here's why:
http://www.imkeithhernandez.com/
I haven't seen that movie yet, but I fully intent on watching it soon.
Hernandez definitely gets bonus points for that!
you gotta check it out
it's crazy