FATAL CHEW

Tony Gwynn, baseball great died Monday. He was only 54 years of age. Cause of death was mouth cancer. Tony chewed tobacco for his entire career which lasted 20 years. He spent this entire career at San Diego. 3141 hits, 8 batting titles, 15 times an all-star.

Smoking tobacco was banned in the dugout many years ago, but lined up in the dugout are several players, many Seattle Mariners, with big lumps of chew in their cheeks. This poor example is even made worse due to baseball players being  much more visible than other sports.

You see teen ball players with a Skoal ring in their back pocket constantly. This imitating sports stars is endemic with young people. While smoking has become less common year after year, this killer is demonstrated by super stars in baseball.

It is past time for baseball to outlaw chewing tobacco on the field and in the dugout. Gwyyn's death is a common one. Little known cancer of the mouth is just as dangerous as smoking. If baseball were to outlaw the public chewing at games, Gwynn's death will not have been in vain.