Over the years, beards have become a prominent staple among athletes in their respective sport.
Whether it be postseason tradition, or simply personal preference, the trait is hard to miss. In many cases, athletes who perform at a high level are beloved and recognized not only for their play, but for the facial hair as well.
Every sport has at least one popular player with an epic beard. Houston Rockets star James Harden would be foolish to ever shave, while San Jose Sharks veterans Joe Thornton and Brent Burns were widely recognized for their facial hair during the team's playoff run in 2015-16.
With the Fall Classic upon us, here are the five best beards from MLB's postseason:
Dallas Keuchel, Astros
Known across baseball for his facial hair, Keuchel went beardless in his first two major-league seasons from 2012 to 2013. His choice to grow it out has coincided with elite-level performance - much like Harden, his Houston counterpart. For Keuchel, the left-hander emerged as a force in 2014, winning a Cy Young award the year after and helping guide his team to the American League Championship Series in 2017.
Justin Turner, Dodgers
Nicknamed "RedTurn2" for his ginger hair, much like Keuchel, Turner's breakout arrived around the same time as his lustrous beard and long hair.
Barely recognizable during his early years with the Baltimore Orioles, Turner started to entertain the idea of growing it out amid his tenure with the New York Mets. Since signing with the Dodgers in 2014, Turner's not only established himself as one of baseball's best third basemen, but an athlete with a distinct beard and a knack for performing in the clutch.
Charlie Blackmon, Rockies
If you aren't familiar with the Rockies, chances are you would have no idea who Blackmon was if you saw a picture of him in 2011. In fact, the Rockies center fielder went without facial hair for several years. It wasn't until 2014 that Blackmon decided to give his beard a shot.
He's accrued 14.8 WAR since - 10th in baseball among active outfielders - while hitting .308/.366/.512 with a 119 wRC+. This season, with the beard looking better than ever, he performed to a career year, hitting 37 home runs and guiding the Rockies to their first postseason appearance since 2009.
Archie Bradley, Diamondbacks
Unlike any of the aforementioned players, baby-face Bradley ditched the clean shaven look just this year. Joining others on this list, the beard has led to success.
Drafted seventh overall by the D-Backs in 2011, Bradley made his debut in 2015 but failed to make his mark as a starter, combining to a 5.18 ERA in 34 starts in two years. He transitioned to the bullpen in 2017 and lo and behold, found his niche on the mound - and in the grooming department.
After pitching to a 1.73 ERA in 63 regular-season games, Bradley's memorable postseason moment was his RBI triple in the National League wild-card game against the Rockies.
Jayson Werth, Nationals
Of postseason's bearded brothers, few can match Werth's distinguished look. While father time has caught up to the 38-year-old, his beard game remains on fleek.
When Werth signed with the Nationals in 2010, he arrived with nothing but a soul patch. Since then, the outfielder has seen steady progression in length and beard density, all the while growing out his hair in the process. With Werth hitting the free-agent market this offseason, his time in D.C. could come to an end, but his beard will live forever.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
