12/21/24
April 14, 2010
Congress Looks into Smokeless Tobacco in Baseball: A House subcommittee on health is holding a hearing today on the use of smokeless tobacco by Major League Baseball players. One-third of players use it, according to research, despite the fact that the league claims it discourages the practice. "Like many generations of Major League baseball players, I started using spit tobacco because I saw other players doing it and I thought it was part of being a Major League player," Joe Garagiola testified. "I would like to see the Major League players agree to the terms of the Minor League Tobacco Policy, which bans Club personnel from using and possessing tobacco products in ballparks and during team travel."
I'm all for a ban on it as well. Maybe if the players are spitting less, it will speed up the game!
posted by dviking at 05:31 PM on April 14, 2010
I'm not sure how to feel about this. I'm all for not peddling tobacco products to kids, but I'm also for protecting what little freedom we have left. And chewing tobacco should be a personal choice, as you're only hurting yourself. I think we overdid it with the smoking bans all across the country.........and I hate smoking.
Being that these players are "role models", maybe it falls into a different category. Personally, though, I'd chew anyway. You don't have to have a huge dip....or even spit.
posted by kcfan4life at 05:39 PM on April 14, 2010
Given that most workplaces ban smoking or restrict it to designated areas, I see no reason why the MLB couldn't ban its personnel from smokeless tobacco when they are at work or traveling for work. They influence kids by using it while they play. When I lived in Burleson, Texas, as a middle schooler, half the boys I knew on sports teams used chewing tobacco. Some had it on them so much it wore a ring into the pocket of their jeans.
posted by rcade at 10:45 PM on April 14, 2010
rcade, did the kids that weren't really "cool" enough to actually chew, put empty cans in their pockets just to wear that ring into their jeans?
I hear stories of that.
posted by dviking at 11:00 PM on April 14, 2010
Oddly enough, when I was in middle school, I was accused of having a can of chew in my pocket because of that ring shape. The true source: my retainer case. Way cooler.
posted by boredom_08 at 11:32 PM on April 14, 2010
boredom, I too was super cool that way (of course I was also stupid enough to smoke).
I'm sure that many would see it as an invasion of players' privacy, but MLB should ban it. I guess if players cry foul, they could grandfather the existing users so that it's gone in a few years. Employers can ban booze and smoking as well as drug test, so there really is no reason that employees should claim a right to use a drug, legal or not, in the workplace.
posted by tahoemoj at 01:21 AM on April 15, 2010
Given that most workplaces ban smoking or restrict it to designated areas, I see no reason why the MLB couldn't ban its personnel from smokeless tobacco when they are at work or traveling for work.
Not the same thing. They ban smoking indoors because it smells and the second hand smoke.
posted by jmd82 at 08:47 AM on April 15, 2010
Some had it on them so much it wore a ring into the pocket of their jeans.
I always thought actually dipping was secondary to this Mark of Coolness. You could achieve the same with Bubble Tape, if necessary.
posted by yerfatma at 08:54 AM on April 15, 2010
They ban smoking indoors because it smells and the second hand smoke.
But, workplaces have all kinds of rules. This would be like the NBA's dress code. MLB choosing to show a positive image and set a good example.
posted by bperk at 09:31 AM on April 15, 2010
jmd82, my employer doesn't allow smoking anywhere on their property, in fact they'll send you home, without pay, if you show up smelling like smoke.
posted by apoch at 09:32 AM on April 15, 2010
They ban smoking indoors because it smells and the second hand smoke.
And chewing tobacco requires its users to spit brown balls of goo all the time.
posted by rcade at 09:41 AM on April 15, 2010
And chewing tobacco requires its users to spit brown balls of goo all the time.
Not entirely true. They make those little pouches in several flavors that don't require you to spit, and folks wouldn't even know you're chewing. Realistically, anyone that's chewed for any length of time can swallow the juice anyway......unless you're putting half the can in your mouth like some of these guys do.
I've had the habit for 32 years now, and if someone forced me to quit abruptly, I don't know how I'd handle it. I just don't view it as the same as smoking. I chew all day at work and no one would have any idea if I didn't want them to know.
posted by kcfan4life at 09:51 AM on April 15, 2010
I stand corrected. I did not realize they had become spitless.
posted by rcade at 09:58 AM on April 15, 2010
When I lived in Burleson, Texas, as a middle schooler, half the boys I knew on sports teams used chewing tobacco. Some had it on them so much it wore a ring into the pocket of their jeans.
Ahh. The good old days.... Most of those boys still have that ring in their much larger versions of Wranglers now.
Realistically, anyone that's chewed for any length of time can swallow the juice anyway......
Yeah, but that first time you accidently swallow the whole chaw can scar you for life.
posted by mjkredliner at 10:00 AM on April 15, 2010
I just don't view it as the same as smoking
Isn't that kind of the point of the ban? I know you didn't say "I think it's safe," but the fact is that people do see snuff as a safe alternative to smoking, and when they see athletes (o.k.-ballplayers) doing it, it reinforces that belief. I sympathize with the addiction; I smoked for over fifteen years before quitting. But maybe something like an outright ban would be just the kick in the ass you needed to get rid of the stuff.
They ban smoking indoors because it smells and the second hand smoke.
The "why" doesn't really matter, does it, as long as there is a "why"? The point was that employers can ban things from the workplace, and all they really need is a recognizable reasonable purpose (protection of employee health, reduced medical insurance cost, image, etc.), which there seems to be.
posted by tahoemoj at 10:08 AM on April 15, 2010
I've had the habit for 32 years now, and if someone forced me to quit abruptly, I don't know how I'd handle it. I just don't view it as the same as smoking. I chew all day at work and no one would have any idea if I didn't want them to know.
MLB won't force players to quit. They just won't be able to do it at the ballpark. If some players were able to do it such that no one would ever know, then I suppose they won't get caught doing it.
posted by bperk at 10:28 AM on April 15, 2010
They ban smoking indoors because it smells and the second hand smoke.
Beware the dangers of second hand chew.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 12:10 PM on April 15, 2010
Reminds me of the time my junior team coach had to take an umpire to the hospital (foul ball broke his nose) and we all busted out the dip while he was gone (very anti-dip he was). I wasn't pitching that day (I usually pitched) and was at third when an opposing batter smacked one right in our pitcher's kitchen (Dave was his name). Dave avoided getting redecorated by the baseball, but in the process swallowed his chaw. I came over to the mound after the play to tell him how bad he looked on that, but quickly decided not to after seeing the look on his face. After about 30 seconds of sweating, Dave redecorated the diamond (and my cleats) in an involuntary fashion.
Cue ten other 12 year olds spitting, digging and getting every shred out of our mouths. A chorus of spitting.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:57 PM on April 15, 2010
Realistically, anyone that's chewed for any length of time can swallow the juice anyway
I have chewed for nearly 18 years now, I still can not swallow the, er juice. I will get sick almost immediately.
Beware the dangers of second hand chew.
We (my friends and I) used to call that an A.B.C. dip. Already Been Chewed. That would occur when for any reason, your dip was cut short, so one would put whats in their mouth back into the can to save for later. This was never a problem until someone would ask to bum a dip. At that point, you'd have to release the ABC condition of your can.
posted by BoKnows at 01:02 PM on April 15, 2010
I don't know. Granted chewing tobacco isn't the prettiest stuff or the nicest habit, but don't we still have us a pretty good recession going on? Foreclosures have surged to a 5 year high, the jobless rate nationally is still hovering around 10% (a lot higher in my state), banckruptcies are going up, and all this fucking congress can focus on is godamn chewing tobacco in baseball?
posted by irunfromclones at 04:08 AM on April 16, 2010
Congress is clueless on issues having to do with the economy and recession and unfortunately have no solutions or answers. This is why they will look towards dealing with an issue like tobacco chewing in baseball. Ban (or limit) the use of the product in sports and they can actually see one of their decisions doing something. After this I fully expect them to look at the negative impact of not using a protective cup in baseball.
posted by dyams at 07:45 AM on April 16, 2010
The House subcommittee on health doesn't have jurisdiction over jobs and foreclosures. I think the other subcommittees can continue to work even when the economy is in the crapper. And these subcommittees hearings on sports have been amazingly effective at getting sports leagues to change their ways.
posted by bperk at 08:10 AM on April 16, 2010
Good, I hope this prompts MLB to do the right thing and ban it. It is a nasty and dangerous habit.