Boston could ban smokeless tobacco at Fenway Park
Following in the footsteps of San Francisco, the city of Boston could look to ban the use of smokeless tobacco in its parks...including Fenway Park.
According to the Boston Globe, these changes could come into effect as soon as next April:
Mayor Martin J. Walsh on Wednesday is expected to announce plans to prohibit use of the smokeless products at the city’s baseball parks and other professional and amateur sports venues.
Walsh said he will file an ordinance with the City Council next week that would impose the ban starting April 1, 2016.
Smokeless tobacco has had a long history in baseball, but its negative repercussions have become more pronounced in recent years.
Last season, Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn lost his bout with salivary gland cancer attributed to chewing tobacco use.
Curt Schilling has recently revealed that he has undergone extensive radiation treatments to his fight with oral cancer.
The Boston Globe also noted that in an informal survey of the Sox players, 21 of 58 players in spring training admitted they use some form of smokeless tobacco.
(h/t Boston Globe)
