Okay, so, today I’m diving into something that’s been bugging me for a while. I’ve been watching a lot of baseball lately, you know, just chilling on the couch, beer in hand, and I noticed something. Or rather, I didn’t notice something – no more wads of chewing tobacco in the players’ cheeks! Remember those days? Every other player looked like they were storing nuts for winter.
So, naturally, I got curious. What happened to the good old days of tobacco-spitting baseball players? I grabbed my laptop, cracked open another cold one, and started digging. It turns out, things have changed quite a bit since the glory days of Babe Ruth and his chaw.
Here’s what I found:
Back in 2011, the MLB and the Players Association actually sat down and talked about this. They decided to ban chewing tobacco during games and practices. Yep, you heard that right. No more mid-game tobacco spitting rituals. I guess they were worried about what the kids watching might think. Can’t have little Timmy stuffing his cheek with tobacco because he saw his favorite player do it, right?
Then, in 2016, they took it a step further. New players coming into the league? They’re completely banned from using any smokeless tobacco products. At all! I guess the MLB really wanted to kick the habit, literally. It’s kind of sad when you think about it. Guys like Bill Tuttle and Tony Gwynn, legends of the game, they actually got cancer from chewing tobacco. That’s heavy stuff, man.
But why did players even chew tobacco in the first place? I mean, it’s not like it makes you run faster or hit harder, right? Well, some folks say that it helps keep the dirt out of your mouth when you’re sliding into base. Makes sense, I guess. I also found this old-timer, a former minor-league player, who claimed it helps with focus. He said something about getting more blood flowing to the head.
Now, I’m not saying chewing tobacco is good or anything. But it was a part of the game, you know? Like peanuts and cracker jacks. These days, it’s all about sunflower seeds and this “herbal stuff” that Bryce Harper supposedly uses. Times are changing, I guess.
So, there you have it. My little deep dive into the world of baseball and chewing tobacco. It’s a bit of a bummer that it’s gone, but hey, at least we’re not seeing as many players getting sick anymore. Still, I can’t help but feel a little nostalgic for those simpler times. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go watch some more baseball and maybe crack open another beer. Cheers!
- Major League Baseball has banned the use of chewing tobacco during games and practices.
- New players coming into the league are completely prohibited from using any smokeless tobacco product.
Anyway, I guess that’s progress, right? Healthier players and all that. Still, there’s a part of me that misses those gritty, tobacco-stained days of baseball. But hey, who knows what the next trend will be? Maybe they’ll all be vaping on the field soon enough! Alright, that’s enough rambling from me for today. Time to kick back and enjoy the game. Peace out!
