The Side Line: Canning tobacco in baseball

A group of U.S. senators want to ban tobacco in Major League Baseball and while their focus should probably be on improving our nation, it is time for one of America’s favorite pastimes to lose one of its oldest traditions.

Baseball’s current collective bargaining agreement expires in December; the senators want the players to reach a decision with MLB commissioner Bud Selig who endorsed the ban in March, to ban smokeless tobacco from the game. College baseball started early when they banned tobacco use during championship events in 1990. But, due to 12 years of not enforcing the rule, the NCAA finally adopted a “zero-tolerance” policy in 2002 and umpires are supposed to eject any player or coach using or possessing the substance while on any NCAA facility. This means that the imprinted circle in a players back pocket is enough for them to be removed.

The minor leagues took care of this the smart way and decided that they would assess money from any personnel in the system using tobacco within any facet of the league. Minor leaguers, coaches and umpires can be fined $1000 for using tobacco and are subject to random locker room searches during anytime of the season and at other ballparks, not just their own. There is one major loop hole in the minor league system, usually found in Triple-A and Double-A.

Major leaguers drop down to the minors for various reasons; mostly injury rehabilitation or to get out of a slump. These professionals aren’t in the farm leagues long, but while they are wearing the same uniforms as these young players and being cheered for by the same crowds that are dedicated to the minor league team, they should have to act under all the same rules as the minor leaguers. Professionals who drop to the minors can possess tobacco and are above the authority of the minor league rules. From college to the minors to the pros, these players are all men. Often there are players who get called up to the pros that are younger than some of the guys stuck in the minors.

You’re going to tell one man what they can do while on the job, but let another man in the same profession do the exact thing that you’re denying the other? This is a ridiculous rule. Professional baseball players, along with other pros get paid way too much to play a sport. It should be an easy solution to clear up these issues. The players need to agree with Selig and ban tobacco during games. Chew it on the plane, at home or in the car. But when their on screen in front of millions of fans (lots of children) surely they can break from the disgusting habit so that maybe our nation’s children won’t perceive such harmful filth as the norm.

Posted by Taylor Lamb on Nov 10 2011. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.