Clay Holmes knew the day would arrive, but this soon? The Mets pitcher — sporting a neatly trimmed beard — indicated he was caught by surprise Friday to learn his former team, the

Former Yankees closer and current Mets starter Clay Holmes discussed his old team's decision to relax its facial hair policy.

Google a photo of Clay Holmes as a Pirate, and you’ll see a pitcher with medium-length hair spilling out the back of his baseball cap, plus a bushy brown beard and mustache. Like so many players over the years,

The Yankees finally got rid of their no-beard rule after Clay Holmes went to the Mets and finally grew his out.