John Axford Cuts His Hair, Donates It to Charity

This has not been a good year for Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher John Axford. As the team’s closer in 2011, Axford was 2-2 with an ERA of 1.95, 46 saves and only 2 blown saves in 74 games.  This year, the Brewers’ bullpen as a whole has imploded, and Axford is no exception.  This year, he’s 3-6 with a 5.04 ERA and seven blown saves already.  He lost his job as the sole closer as the Brewers went to a closer by committee approach.

Axford has been famous for his mustache, goatee, and longish hair appearance.  This year, he grew his hair out to about shoulder length and has been getting heat from some fans on social media and elsewhere because of it  (hint:  his hair length has nothing to do with how he’s pitched this year, people).  Then on July 30th, Axford abruptly cut his long locks and adapted a much shorter look.  He explained on Twitter:

For all the people that kept giving me crap about my long hair…I was growing it for a reason bigger than myself and any baseball streak!

I was growing it out to eventually donate it and help those children and their families who are less fortunate.

So I’m happy to say that I have 8-12 inch ponytails ready for donation to @LocksLove. And my head never felt better!

No hair don’t care

Locks of Love provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children who have suffered hair loss due to illness or long term medical treatment.  Here’s a tip of the baseball cap to Axford.