Watch one entire game of Major League Baseball and you will most likely see at least one player with a “dip” in their mouth. Major leaguers either use dip tobacco, chewing tobacco, or just constantly spit all the time.
Baseball has a high usage of smokeless tobacco amongst their players. It has been estimated that 33 percent of the players in the MLB use chewing tobacco.
Tobacco has been synonymous with baseball for a very long time. Baseball is an outdoor sport that requires a lot of physical fitness. So many baseball players choose to chew tobacco rather than smoke it, in order to stay physically fit. Not to mention, there are plenty of open places to spit while outside.
In fact, Babe Ruth died from throat cancer possibly linked to chewing tobacco in 1948.
As children and young people watch these games, they most likely either ask their parents or friends what is in their mouth. Some may already know that it’s tobacco. These children will see their favorite players do it and think that chewing tobacco is cool.
Young people are especially impressionable during their pre-teen and teenage years. This is also the time of their lives that they are most likely to first try chewing tobacco.
There are even some myths about chewing tobacco among teenagers and young people. Some popular myths are that chewing tobacco makes someone play better, or that tobacco is cool because the professionals do it. So when these adolescents enter into high school, they will most likely try tobacco because they have seen their favorite professional athletes do it.
On Wednesday April 9, 2008, I went to the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins game. At this game, I saw a perfect example of the chewing problem in the MLB. It was the ninth inning and I was bored because the Sox were losing by seven runs, so I decided to walk around and stand by the White Sox bullpen. In the front row, behind the bullpen, were a group of high school boys that were yelling to the Sox closer Bobby Jenks.
“Hey Bobby, what are you dipping?” They yelled at the top of their lungs.
The young men didn’t mention anything about his pitching game; they were only interested in his favorite tobacco flavor. Jenks pulled his tin out of his back pocket and whipped it up to the front row. Three of the boys fought over it and finally one came away with the tin. He gave all of his friends high fives, and everyone was excited for him.
This is an example how much people look up to their favorite athletes, and even their bad habits.
So what do you think?
Should chewing tobacco be banned for MLB players in order to prevent young people from trying it?
Or is it not a big deal that they use smokeless tobacco?
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2 months ago
Not a healthy habit by any stretch
2 months ago
That's the problem with personal freedom, it's just so damaging to children.
2 months ago
how are u going to comment about if baseball players have chewing problems when you chew yourself! Yes i know for a fact that you use chew less tobacco.
from 2 months ago
Yes i do. but it's not about if i chew. its about being a bad influence for young children. who are you anyway foxy?
2 months ago
This whole issue boils down to parenting, I guess. I can't claim to know anything about it, being 19, but if I had to guess, wouldn't it be the parents responsibility to sit their kids down and tell them that chewing tobacco is bad for them, just in the same way they would with cigarettes or something like that?
2 months ago
You can't ban it.. There will be a huge outcry... I do think it would be better if it was left out of the game.
I have a friend on a baseball team. I know for a fact he has at least tried it...
If major leaguers didn't do it, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't.
2 months ago
on my college team there are about 7 out of 30 kids who do not chew. 7. even one of the coaches chews and snags lippers off of kids on the team when he can. its no more dangerous than kids drinking underage or anything in that nature. it is on the parents. if they allow their child to chew or drink then its their fault. not baseball players. just because david wells threw his perfect game hungover (or still drunk) didn't mean kids were going to go get wasted before their starts to throw perfect games. it boils down to parenting and not professional baseball players. and being 21, i have and anyone over 18 has any right to chew if they so choose to since it's legal for them. its not like jenks was shooting roids in the pen and the boys asked him what kind of steroids he was using and then tossed them a vile. parents parents parents.
2 months ago
i am one of the kids that got that tin from bobby jenks and that shit was awesome. and you yelled to him first that you chew Kayak grape.. "what do you chew bobby?'' then he showed the tin. you make us sound like bitches in this article when you no damn well u wanted that tin and that was sweet as hell.
from 2 months ago
I'm not trying to make you guys look bad at all, I was showing an example of how influential professional athletes can be to the fans, myself included.
2 months ago
Haha I know i wanted that tin. I'm just sayin it's a problem.
2 months ago
I kinda wish I did chew, then I could blame others for my own behaviour.
2 months ago
The only problem I would have is if they banned the fans from using chew even though many players use it all game. They have an entire smoking ban inside the Progressive Field in Cleveland. We used to have an area but no longer. Using chewing tobacco be disgusting to some but there is no evidence for second hand spit. As always, it's up to the parents to control their kids.
Where's my tin of Scoal Mint?
2 months ago
Sad and irresponsible adult modeling his drug addiction as if it was something his young fans should do as well, even providing them with the drug. The MLB ought to impose consequences on players for doing so.
from 2 months ago
Haha, he wasn't tossing syringes into the crowd loaded with dope... Take it easy... Drug addiction?? Little overboard..
2 months ago
I think that Bobby Jenks is not setting a good example for those teenage boys. I think MLB should ban the use of chewing tobacco by its players. Babe Ruth is a great example of how his chewing tobacco made him a throat cancer victim. Another baseball player, may not as well known, Bill Tuttle was also a victim of throat cancer due to chewing tobacco. There is a poster of Bill Tuttle in a before and after sillhouette. The picture on the left shows Mr. Tuttle posing for a baseball card with a wad of chewing tobacco on the side of his mouth. The picture on the right shows Mr. Tuttle after having surgery. His face is unrecognizable because his face is swollen, his jaw distorted, and eyes are also swollen. Maybe the MLB, who use chewing tobacco, and impresssionable high school athletes should take a look at the poster and maybe they will think differently and quit using chewing tobacco.
2 months ago
"As children and young people watch these games, they most likely either ask their parents or friends what is in their mouth. Some may already know that it’s tobacco. These children will see their favorite players do it and think that chewing tobacco is cool."
I think this paragraph is bull shit. Anybody so impressionable is pretty moronic in the first place, kid or not. When I was 4 years old I knew better than this. This is such stereotypical, speculative literature. Bold claims with no depth.
It's a simple matter of natural selection. Maybe this is why there are fewer and fewer decent baseball players. They are killing there kind by chewing.
from 2 months ago
I was not saying it was the only reason that these children would possibly decide to dip someday, but it could have an influence on that decision. Just like Michael Jordan endorsing basketball shoes. Children look up to their favorite athletes and will do what they do and wear what they wear. It could even be something subconscious for the individual when they get into the high school age. They may not specifically think "oh i'll try this because so and so does it." They may try it because it gives off good feelings of watching their favorite players play when they were younger. It's a subconcious thing sometimes. Study some Psychology Bruce.
from 2 months ago
I still strongly disagree. You are saying that the influence of watching someone you admire chew tobacco would take precedence over all of the blatant warnings that every living person with access to tobacco products is subjected to?
You should probably work on your psychology skills too. It's possible that such things have an influence in development and social psychology. I wouldn't argue that, but I'm just saying that it comes down to a simple decision that, the person alone is responsible for.
What I'm calling bull-shit on is the idea that we should hold in any way hold an athlete accountable for this. Fuck that, everyone is responsible for their own actions.
from 2 months ago
I am not holding the athlete responsible at all. I am saying that people look up to them and what they do. end of story.
2 months ago
As a chewer for 3 years now (started while playing baseball for my college), chewing is definitely a gross habit. It's not healthy either, so why do I do it? It's very addicting, when I'm at the bars, sometimes I'll have a cigarette with someone, but I never get addicted. Anyway, I don't chew because big leaguers do, though some kids do, I started chewing because I only put a "dip" in whenever I was up to bat, take the edge off a little. When I bought my first can, I knew I was addicted, and I quit for a couple months before, but it just keeps coming back to me. Now, should it be banned? I don't think so, chew is easy to cover up anyway to where they would do it. The thing is, these kids choose who their role models are, nobody chose mine for me. But good article.
2 months ago
I do not think that the MLB should ban chew because of the outcry among the players. I however think that it should be banned. The decision should be up to each team and their organization. Just like the Yankees want their players to look "professional", i think it is the decision of the team. If banned by certain teams there should be some therapy or something to make sure that players that have the habit can quit effectively.
2 months ago
those teenage boys he threw it to were 18 so it was legal and it doesn't make a difference
2 months ago
Cmon guys... These are grown men.. People grown can make whatever choice they want.... If baseball were to ban chew because it's a bad example, I want the beer ads gone too...Fast food ads too..... Hey lets make them eat spinach, fruits, and vegetables at the ballgames as well... All those hot dogs, nachos and soft pretzels can cause obesity and heart disease... I understand the message and thought behind it, but I think my opinion is obvious.....
2 months ago
I do belive that that it is a issue, but banning it from the majors isnt fair either.... they are not hurting anybody else but themselves, but yes i do agree that it does influence young teens. I myself was influenced by this and i do chew too... but i also do try to watch who i chew around in case there a young teens there. i know how bad it is to chew and i wouldnt sugest it to anybody!!! and chewing is baseball and eveybody knows that.... so all in all U CANT BAN IT but i do agree wit this
2 months ago
Well heres the problem, a high percentage of players chew for the simple fact that it relaxes them when they are on the field so they aren't tense and don't feel pressure. Is it healthy? of course not. It's part of the game and always has been so it would be very difficult to ban from Major League Baseball.
2 months ago
The Minnesota Twins coaching staff does not allow chew in the clubhouse or on the field. It would be disgusting to get that on the artificial turf since it wont be washed away by rain or sprinklers. Thats why Doug Mientkiewicz always had such a huge wad of gum in his mouth when he was a Twin. They had to do something, since they couldn't chew, might as well chew gum.
2 months ago
Wow that's pretty interesting ravuth. True though i guess that would not be good on the turf.
2 months ago
MLB players who chew tobacco aren't setting a good example for the youth out there. Sure, they are good at their profession. Chewing tobacco is unhealthy and can lead to a variety of health problems. MLB players are adults, however, so it's hard to do anything about it. Banning chewing tobacco from the MLB won't stop players from continuing to do it.
from 2 months ago
I agree, Leanna. Nothing will stop the players from chewing, but it can be "altered". Like Ravuth said, the Twins ban chewing tobacco in the 'Dome because of the artificial turf. If every team had that kind of turf, they would turn to chewing gum.
$10 says that Wrigley Chewing Gum is hoping for that...
2 months ago
Andrew, I completely agree with what you said. Wrigley would be so happy because almost all of the MLB players would be chewing gum. Wrigley's would be making some money.
2 months ago
Hold on a second guys:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE0D7123CF937A25750C0A96F948260
If Don Zimmer isn't chewing, it must not be cool anymore. Can someone please stop by the cool kids table, and let them know that wrapping chaw with bubble gum isn't hip anymore?
2 months ago
You can't? I disagree. So what if there is a huge outcry? Professional athletes get paid so much $$$$. If one or two refuse to sign contracts because they "can't" stop chewing for a few hours, there will be thousands of qualified athletes standing in line behind them to take their place.
Furthermore, someone should report this adult for endangering the welfare of a minor by giving them an addictive substance that kills half its regular users, and he should be suspended.
2 months ago
Come on Jeffrey, you know that is the silliest argument ever. Obviously tobacco is in a totally different realm than foods and drinks that can be safely used in moderation. Tobacco cannot ever be safely used; it can cause disease even in small amounts. Science has proven that over and over again.
2 months ago
I know how bad it is. But I do play college baseball and I would have to say that about 1/3 of the team dips or chews. What college baseball does is that it bans it from the games. If you are caught with tobacco in, you and your coach are thrown out of the game. It has become part of the game for some reason. I know that there were at least 4 or 5 kids that showed up to college never having used tobacco once and now they are addicted to the stuff. I don't know if they should go as far as to ban it from professional baseball because it is their choice and they do know the dangers of it.
13 days ago
Anybody heard of Lenny Dykstra? Yeah, he was pretty old school; dipped all the time while he played. Lost his whole flippin' jaw as a result, too. Looked like Quasimodo or something before he died. From a more personal perspective, I quit the stuff (chew) back about six years ago after I kept getting these insane acid bumps and mouth sores. Plus, it made my salivary glands do really weird and painful things. The problem becomes that every time you get a new bump or sore, you have to wonder -- "Is it the "C" word this time?" Leukoplakia is the forerunner to oral cancer, and thankfully, after going through about a pouch a day for four years, I didn't have any. Just a whole load of other oral issues: cavities, tooth decay, etc. I even had to have a root canal -- now that was fun. No matter how well you brush and floss, the stuff still takes its toll.
from 1 day ago
are you that dumb...dykstra didnt die you dumbass
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