The Senators called for a “prohibition on the use of all tobacco products at games and on camera at all Major League ballparks,” in the letter, which was published on Senator Lautenberg’s website. They believe that the youth who watch their heroes on the diamond could not only mimic their batting stance, but also their tobacco habits.
“Major League ballplayers who use smokeless tobacco at games are providing a celebrity endorsement for these products, encouraging many young people to try smokeless tobacco,” the Senators said in a press release.
The letter was sent on the eve of Game One of the World Series in which the Senators argue millions of children will be exposed to players tobacco use. Tobacco use, however, is not something new in baseball. According to quit.net, a stop smoking website, tobacco has been in baseball since its inception in 1847, with chewing tobacco being the most popular early. As death rates climbed, many players switched to cigarettes as a “safer” alternative, but chewing tobacco stayed in the game.
The 1950’s saw smoking again peak as the preferred tobacco of choice for baseball players, much like the rest of America. When the dangers of cigarettes emerged in the 1970’s, players decided to switch to snuff dipping, which is what many players use today.
This is the second time Senators Lautenberg and Durbin have brought up this issue, although earlier in the year it was directly to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. The Commissioner said that he will propose the ban in the new contract.
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