Major League Baseball teams have banned their players from dressing as women in a bid to end "offensive" behaviour.

The sportsmen have long been expected to dress up in fancy dress to celebrate their joining the team full time.

In September eight "rookies" with the New York Mets team all dressed as women, donning short dresses and wigs to prance before the cameras.

But on Monday details of a new sport-wide collective bargaining agreement were published, which bans the costumes.

Teams are prohibited from "requiring, coercing or encouraging" players from "dressing up as women or wearing costumes that may be offensive to individuals based on their race, sex, nationality, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or other characteristic."

Yet some of the Mets players spoke of how much they had enjoyed the September celebration.

"For me, it was a team bonding experience," said Brandon Nimmo, one of the players.

"I just really enjoyed it. I think it brought the team closer together, have a little fun together."

Josh Satin, who with his fellow 2013 "rookies" dressed as bridesmaids, said it had been an opportunity to get to know other members of the team.

"It was one of the days I had the most fun in my career," he said.