HOUSTON.- During his time with the Boston Red Sox, Alex Verdugo frequently played with several flashy chains around his neck. He usually packs at least six for each set of visits and lost count of how many he has. But in his first season with the New York YankeesVerdugo received an order from manager Aaron Boone: only one chain per game.
“It’s been difficult,” Verdugo said. “I’m used to using three or four.”
Verdugo looks different in New York, without multiple diamond necklaces and without his characteristic red beard. The Yankees have a strict appearance policy implemented by owner George Steinbrenner in 1976 that, among other things, limits hair length and prohibits facial hair except for a mustache.
Such measures have been criticized in recent years for limiting the ways in which players can express themselves.
After being traded from Boston to New York in December, Verdugo is abiding by that policy. He only wore a modest diamond-covered chain worth about $15,000 in the series against the Houston Astros.
At the end of the match and before leaving the stadium he was already wearing several more chains than the one he had used on the field. The largest, with thick Cuban links encrusted with diamonds and a huge pendant with the number “24”, also covered in diamonds. The Mexican clarified that he would never use that piece in a game for fear of hitting himself in the face.
The “24” pendant is new for this season, replacing the “99” he wore when playing with Boston. Now that 99 is no longer his number because it is worn by Yankees captain Aaron Judge, he is looking for what to do with the pendant.
Friendly Competition in New York:
“Judgey wants my 99. We’ll see how he does this year,” Verdugo said with a laugh.
Upon hearing Verdugo’s comment, Judge noted, “I have to earn it.”
His favorite jewelry store is in California, near Angel Stadium. Arizona’s Joc Pederson introduced him to the jeweler when they both played for the Dodgers.
Plan to wear the chain without the pendant at some point this season. However, this is not the most special piece in his collection.
“My favorite chain is actually a custom one I made for my mom who was going through breast cancer, but I don’t wear it much because I don’t want to break it,” she said. “She’s cancer-free, but she’s still undergoing treatment. When I’m done everything, that chain will be yours.”
Source: AP
