10 Most Awe-Inspiring Sideburns in Baseball History

Baseball players, nowadays at least, are all about their appearance and trying to look their best before the game, during the game, and after the game. 

Facial hair has been a big part of the history of baseball, whether it be nicely groomed or all over the place. In the past, many players didn't care what they looked like and would have long beards and crazy hair. With the exception of Brian Wilson, most players in the past decade have stayed away from looks like this.

Here's a list of some of the best, worst and coolest sideburns in baseball's history.

Don Mattingly

Career Stats: 14 seasons, 1 MVP, 6-time All-Star, .307/.358/.471, 222 HR

Now Don Mattingly never truly had good sideburns, or anything worth noting at least. However, he was portrayed in an episode of The Simpsons where he wasn't allowed to play unless he shaved his sideburns. Back in the real world, he did refuse to shave something, but it was his mullet, not his sideburns. He was benched by the Yankees until he eventually shaved it.

Sideburns Grade: C-

Joe Mauer

Career Stats: 8 seasons, 1 MVP, 4-time All-Star, .323/.403/.471, 84 HR

The Twins' catcher/first baseman is known throughout baseball as having the best sideburns in the game. The reason why? They've been groomed well and look absolutely perfect. Mauer is a spokesperson for Head and Shoulders, but Gillette should be calling him soon.

Sideburns Grade: A

Jayson Werth

Career Stats: 9 seasons, 1-time All-Star, .264/.360/.464, 140 HR

Jayson Werth might have the best style for sideburns, constantly shaving in a way to make them look appealing. In the picture to the left, Werth has shaven to make them look like strips. If he took as much time in the batting cage as he does shaving, maybe he'd do a little better on the field this season.

Sideburns Grade: A

David Ortiz

Career Stats: 15 seasons, 7-time All-Star, .283/.378/.544, 378 HR

David Ortiz, Big Papi, also keeps his sideburns well groomed but in a different way than those of Mauer. Ortiz usually makes his sideburns very thin and long, going down all the way to his mouth. The picture to the left is an interesting shot of Ortiz, as he's sporting sideburns that go from skinny at the top to wide at the bottom.

Sideburns Grade: B

Koji Uehara

Career Stats: 3 seasons, 5-9, 3.13 ERA

Uehara, although not having the best pitches, does have some interesting sideburns. They run straight down, not leading to his chin. This isn't a very popular look here in the United States, but maybe it is in his native Japan. 

Sideburns Grade: B+

Dustin McGowan

Career Stats: 5 seasons, 20-24, 4.80 ERA

Now these are interesting. Dustin McGowan wins the best sideburns by a player in Canada. Even though only the Blue Jays play in Canada, this is a big honor. In the picture to the side, he is going with the chops look, which isn't seen too much anymore, but props for giving it a shot.

Sideburns Grade: A-

Ozzie Smith

Career Stats: 19 seasons, 15-time All-Star, .262/.337/.328, 28 HR

Yes, this is the same Ozzie Smith. This is his rookie card, when he played for the Padres; he probably never would've been signed had he been drafted by the Yankees. Is he for real with those? Did he really think this was a good look? Thankfully his sideburns didn't affect the voters when they voted him into the Hall of Fame. Maybe they should look into including appearance in their votes.

Sideburns Grade: B+

Jeromy Burnitz

Career Stats: 14 seasons, 1-time All-Star, .253/.345/.481, 315 HR

Dustin McGowan must have been taking notes off of Jeromy Burnitz as there are several similarities. Burnitz's sideburns are a little shorter and don't curve into his chin, but they are just as disgusting.

Sideburns Grade: C

Jonathan Broxton

Career Stats: 7 seasons, 2-time All-Star, 25-20, 3.19 ERA, 84 Saves

Jonathan Broxton has some of the cooler sideburns in the game today. He has them shaved inward, but closer to his mouth than his chin. I'm pretty sure he is the only one with this look, at least in baseball. The now-Royals closer should take some more time at the gym than in the bathroom grooming his facial hair.

Sideburns Grade: B-

Paul Blair

Career Stats: 17 seasons, 2-time All-Star, .250/.302/.382, 134 HR

If George Steinbrenner didn't allow Don Mattingly to have a mullet, what in the world would justify letting Paul Blair keep these disgusting sideburns? All he needs to do is shave them off; it takes 30 seconds. He could've done it between at-bat or outs!

Sideburns Grade: C+