How now mouthbrow? Axford axes the 'stache

The award-winning handlebar mustache that formerly graced the upper lip of Milwaukee Brewers closer John Axford is apparently no more.

After tweeting a picture of his former facial hair laid out in its original arrangement, with the title "#RIP", it appears an era of facial decoration has come to an abrupt close.

The mustachioed Axford was named the Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year in 2011, and according to the American Mustache Institute's website, Axford texted the site yesterday that he shaved the 'stache "for the good of the team." The Brewers are 18-26 this season, and Axford's streak of consecutive saves ended on May 12 at 49, good for fourth-longest in MLB history.

Axford's facial hair had earned quite the following among Brewers fans, and when news of his shaving spread across the Internet, fans reached out to Axford via Twitter — some in outrage, some in sadness, and others in support of the post-'stache era.

Axford even received some Twitter support from Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk, who earned social media buzz after his own hair-related decision in March, when he cut his famously long, blonde locks for his charity, Hawk's Locks for Kids.

The Brewers closer even came out in March in support of proposed legislation by the American Mustache Institute to prove an annual $250 tax credit to mustachioed and bearded Americans.

"I'm just trying to help bearded and mustached fellows, like myself, try to this country a little more handsome and better-looking," Axford said at the time.

But it appears — at least until it grows back — that baseball has lost one of its better mustaches.

"AxFaceKilla," Axford tweeted on Thursday, "December 26, 2011 - May 23, 2012. #RIP"

Follow Ryan Kartje on Twitter.