David Ortiz, Shane Victorino get beards shaved off for charity

World Series MVP David Ortiz needed encouragement to keep from shaving his beard this season. Boston Red Sox teammate Shane Victorino struggled just to grow his.

Neither of them had a problem with ridding themselves of the facial hair Monday during a charity event to benefit victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. The so-called shave-off was sponsored by Gillette, which donated $100,000 to the One Fund.

Bushy beards became a signature look for the champs this year after outfielder Jonny Gomes and first baseman Mike Napoli encouraged the rest of the team to stop shaving during spring training and throughout the season.

“Mike Nap said, ‘You touch that [beard] one more time and we’re going to have to need a new DH,’” said Ortiz, who emerged from the barber’s chair with a nicely trimmed goatee.

Big Papi also couldn’t resist teasing his freshly shaved teammate.

“He looks like he’s in fifth grade. You going back to school?’” Ortiz said to Victorino. “Mine will grow very fast. I don’t think I’ll have any problems letting it grow. I don’t know about this guy.”

“It was a battle,” Victorino admitted of growing the facial hair. “We fought to get that beard.”

One person who didn’t have any trouble growing his now-famous beard was Boston Police Officer Steve Horgan, who gained notoriety after being photographed in the Fenway Park bullpen with his arms in the air celebrating Ortiz’s grand slam in Game 2 of the American League championship series while Detroit outfielder Torii Hunter flipped over the fence.

Horgan also had his beard removed during Monday’s shave-off and joined Ortiz in re-creating the infamous pose.

“I started it a week before the playoffs,” Horgan said of his full beard.

ALSO:

Baseball had its moments in 2013

Dodgers have many worries, but insider trading isn’t one of them

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is ‘open-minded’ about contract talks