Lance McCullers’ New Silver Hair is Glorious and Everything That’s Right About the World: Astros Pitcher’s Wife Kara is All In on New Look, Manager Not So Much
BY Chris Baldwin // 05.02.18Astros pitcher Lance McCuller's new silver hair is certainly dramatic. (Photo by F. Carter Smith.)
Lance McCullers Jr. is going silver — and it’s everything you’ve dreamed of. And more. The Houston Astros’ curveball artist, the 24-year-old who treats Twitter like it should be treated (like a lark), now has silver hair.
Don’t think bad grandpa. Think silver-haired superhero. Maybe Silver Surfer. For McCullers is not sporting gray locks. This is true silver.
The look’s been on full display in the clubhouse the last few days, but it hasn’t received much public exposure (baseball caps provide good camouflage). But PaperCity contributor F. Carter Smith was able to snap one of the first good photos of McCuller’s new hair during a pregame National Anthem (check out the photo above this story).
On Thursday afternoon when McCullers takes the mound in the series finale against the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park, the whole world will see. Silver Man goes center stage to close the ultra-intense American League Championship Series rematch. In fact, he’s the only thing standing between the Astros and a Yankees series win after back-to-back 4-0 New York shutouts.
And you didn’t think the hair was important?
Yes, everyone is talking about Astros closer Ken Giles punching himself in the face — and breaking out their best Fight Club references — at the moment. But that will change by tomorrow afternoon.
McCullers’ new hair is even getting an international audience. With McCullers facing off against Yankees pitcher Masashiro Tanaka, the game will be shown live in Japan. Expect Silver Man to be a huge hit there too.
Not that McCullers much cares about the reaction — outside of a special audience of one.
“My wife was on board and that’s all I needed to hear,” McCullers says.
Going silver this seriously is no easy task. Not if you want to do it right. McCullers needed to spend a total of six hours in a salon chair to complete the transformation. Four hours for the initial appointment. Two hours for the follow-up finish. All with McCuller’s chosen stylist Eric Vaughn, the owner of REV Salon.
Hey, no one ever asked Michelangelo how long it took him to complete David. Geniuses are often misunderstood in their own time. And McCullers and his new hair are certainly getting some of that.
Take Astros manager A.J. Hinch, who has decidedly gray (not silver) close-cut hair.
“No good comments,” Hinch says when asked about the Astros’ new Silver Man. “I got an opinion… it’s a lot to look at. I like it pretty well when he has his hat on. You can get gray hair for free, you know?”
Those 43-year-olds just don’t get it.
McCullers is about to get a whole lot of extra attention — and maybe it’s perfect timing to do some good. For McCullers is teaming up with Astros teammates Jose Altuve and Dallas Keuchel on the Team Up for Kids and K9s fundraiser at Tootsies on May 17. The first Team Up for Kids and K9 event last year, dreamed up by Lance McCullers and his wife Kara, raised more than $100,000.
This may be a Silver Fox. McCullers does just like to change things up. He first toyed with the idea of going silver in spring training.
As for the any nickname that will go with the new hair?
“I’m sure Twitter will work it out,” McCullers deadpans.