Bill proposes ban of tobacco at all California baseball fields

A bill will be introduced next week proposing a ban of chewing tobacco at every playing field in San Francisco, including AT&T Park, home of the World Champion Giants,

A bill will be introduced next week proposing a ban of chewing tobacco at every playing field in San Francisco, including AT&T Park, home of the World Champion Giants, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

The measure will be introduced at a Board of Supervisors next week and takes its aim at baseball.

"This will have positive health benefits for our city and for our youth for years to come," Supervisor Mark Farrell said. "It’s time for the city to step up to the plate and ban smokeless tobacco."

The bill, which would also cover the state of California, covers every baseball game or practice that takes place anywhere outside someone's property and would ban all tobacco products, to include smokeless tobacco and electronic cigarettes, wherever an organized game is played.

California has five major-league baseball stadiums, but the bill also covers minor-league parks, college and high school fields and games that are "played in connection with an established league or other association of persons."

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"We ardently believe that children should not use or be exposed to smokeless tobacco," baseball officials said in a statement Tuesday. "And we support the spirit of this initiative in California and any others that would help achieve this important goal."

Smokeless tobacco is already banned in the minor leagues and any change to the rule would have to negotiated with the Major League Baseball players association.

"To force a ban, that’s going to be difficult," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "I’ll say that. (Quitting) is something you have to want to do. I know baseball is doing a great job of trying to keep these guys from doing chewing or dipping. I’m guilty. It’s part of the the game I grew up with."

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