Congress is trying to create a ban that will prohibit the use of smokeless tobacco, or better known as chewing tobacco, in Major League Baseball. Steroids have already been banned, what’s going to be next after smokeless tobacco? Over the counter medicines? Why not focus on more important issues such as unemployment and the war that needs to be brought to a conclusion?

Expanding on the topic of smokeless tobacco, though, it is not harmful to be chewing tobacco while out on the field. However, Congress does not want chewing tobacco to be used during any game. It has already been banned for any player to smoke tobacco while in view of the public or in uniform.

Yesterday, a hearing was held by three high up individuals of superior organizations where they urged that smokeless tobacco be banned in the Major Leagues during games. Collective bargaining would have to be utilized and the actual ban would have to be agreed upon before it can take effect. In the minor leagues, where this ban is already set into place and has been since the year 1993, collective bargaining isn’t required so it was easy to pass. Honestly, it was a surprise when they were able to ban such a thing from the Minor Leagues and to still have the ban hold true to today is also surprising.

Honestly, if you ask me, I don’t see the harm (other than long-term diseases and illnesses but isn’t that the players choice not ours?) using chewing tobacco during the game, but there are already two individuals that agree that smokeless tobacco is actually harmful. The MLB executive Robert Manfred as well as the Players Association, David Prouty, chief labor counsel. This is something that they have both agreed to speak about in future negotiations, as it is a consideration.

The current labor agreement is set to expire next year, 2011, in December. Will we be waiting until then for a final answer on the ban of smokeless tobacco?

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