Page 19 - atoday
P. 19
SPORTS A19
Tuesday 1 March 2016
Big Dippers pass laws. We expect that minor leagues. There is no In this Sept. 20, 2013, file photo, Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty
our players will comply with ban on dipping in the ma- Baker sits in the dugout before a baseball game against the
Continued from page 17 those laws.” jors, and the issue is certain Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh.
Said new Dodgers manag- to be discussed in upcom-
Washington Nationals man- er Dave Roberts: “I support ing labor talks between Associated Press
ager Dusty Baker was a big it.”“Like it or not, players are MLB and the union on the
dipper for a long time. He’s role models, and we have contract that expires Dec. In their letter, MLB and the Steinberg, director of the
cut back over the years, a platform as coaches and 1. union said it would pro- Rutgers University tobacco
but still might pop in a pinch players. So if that’s the law, Going back more than a vide “nicotine replace- dependence program,
when games get tight. then we definitely support century, even before Bull ment therapy products to had previously been hired
“It’s a bad influence for the it,” he said. Durham tobacco signs those players who wish to as a consultant to help
kids. Big time. I’ll say that. Similar legislation has been were plastered all over use them as substitutes. A players develop a treat-
But also they’re adults, too, proposed in New York City, outfield walls, baseball was shipment of various prod- ment plan, if they wanted.
at the same time,” Baker and both the Mets and filled with pictures of play- ucts including lozenges, Toronto Blue Jays manager
said. Yankees say they back ers with a chaw in their gum, and patches will be John Gibbons applauded
“We’ll see,” he said. “My such a ban at their parks. cheek. sent to each club free of the effort to cut down on
daughter used to put water In Toronto, a city legislator Buchholz did take a break, charge in spring training, chaw. He quit a couple
in my can and put it back said Monday that he plans for a while. and throughout the 2016 years ago after Hall of Fam-
in my truck. Or my son, he to pursue a ban that would “I stopped in the offseason season.” er Tony Gwynn - a career-
has lip check - ‘Get it out, cover the Blue Jays’ sta- and baseball, it goes along The letter included a re- long dipper - died at 54 of
Dad!’” dium. with the territory for me,” minder that Dr. Michael salivary gland cancer.q
Local laws will prohibit the The letter being distributed he said. “It’s not a good
use of all tobacco products to players on 40-man ros- habit.”
at Fenway Park, Dodger ters and teams this spring Over the years, in collec-
Stadium and AT&T Park says: “Please note that tive bargaining, MLB and
this year, meaning players, these are city ordinances the union have tried to low-
team personnel, umpires and not rules established er that profile.
and fans. The letter advises by Major League Baseball. Players, managers and
the same ban will take ef- However, the commission- coaches now can’t stick
fect at every California er’s office will be monitor- tobacco tins, cans or
ballpark in December. ing players and club per- pouches in their pockets
“Major league players are sonnel for compliance with when they’re on the field
citizens,” Commissioner the regulations.” or in plain sight of fans. No
Rob Manfred said last week Smokeless tobacco isn’t wads stuck in the mouth
in Arizona. “Municipalities permitted throughout the during TV interviews, either.