GatewayRedbirds.com

If and when the Cardinals make the playoffs in October, I start a playoff beard. For the first week or so, it's not much of an issue. During the second week, I actually enjoy it a bit, and I think of myself as Indiana Jones back from an adventure or something...a rugged cubicle worker. Then, after two weeks or so, my beard becomes a scraggly uneven mess that reminds me why I don't grow it out normally. Plus, at my age there is now an equal amount or more of gray in the beard, so I think it ages me about a decade. It's patchy in places, seems overly bristly, and causes me strange new discomforts like mustache hair occasionally brushing my nose. I'm ready to be done with it.

And so just when I'm thinking of shaving it off, I remember that last year I shaved it early and then the Cardinals lost three in a row to the Giants. I felt a small bit of blame as the game ended in the pouring rain.

Therefore, I shall soldier through with this frightening facial hair that causes double-takes of non-recognition among acquaintances, excessive laughter among friends, and petrified faces among my children, eager to shave it after the Cardinals hopefully win another title, only to regrow it when the Blues (hopefully) make their run in the spring just to see how much more gray has appeared in the months between.

Like the seasons, my beard marks the passage of time...

I started growing one at the end of the regular season when they made their push towards first place...it made it until the end of game 3 of the NLDS. Figured things needed to be switched up so I shaved that [expletive], it was a pretty good beard but annoyed the crap out of me (and my wife).

I really don't get the wholoe playoff beard thing. Lots of players and seems like lots of fans do it, but I don't get the point. For some reason I want to think the whole thing started with the Astros in 04 or 05.

It's been a hockey tradition for longer than I know. But the first time I remember it in MLB was with the very Canadian Larry Walker when he joined the Cards in 04.

I knew nothing of the hockey tradition. As hockey-crazy as my state is, I can be pretty ignorant of anything hockey related. Do fans do it, too? I can't say I've noticed many hockey-playoff beards, but I could have something to do with the state of the Minnesota Wild the past few years.

I'm sure there are fans that do it as well, but it was made famous by the players.

If we make it to WS and face Boston, you need to shave.

I'm really letting my pubes grow out. Beards not allowed at work.

I shaved the morning of the NLDS Game 1. Haven't touched it since, I look like a lumberjack.

Since I always have a beard does that mean I should shave for playoffs?