Among the bills signed by Gov. Jerry Brown over the weekend ahead of the Sunday night deadline to act on legislation was California’s push to ban the use of chewing tobacco in all California ballparks, from Little League to San Diego State to Petco Park and Dodger Stadium.

Citing the death of Tony Gwynn – who has said he believed his “dipping” led to the cancer that led to his death in June 14 – Assemblyman Tony Thurmond, D-Richmond, introduced the bill in February as a means to discourage youth from following in the footsteps of Major League role models who still continue a habit that’s often difficult to kick.

“This might be one additional piece to the legacy of a great player like Tony Gwynn,” Thurmond said in February. “People can think that because of his advocacy and his honesty and his courage that we might prevent (chewing tobacco) from impacting future young people and athletes.”

Chewing tobacco has been banned in the minors since 1993 and MLB players cannot carry tobacco products in uniform when fans are in the ballpark, according to MLB rules. Though league executives have pushed for a formal, all-inclusive ban – like the one now adopted in California and in various cities recently – the player’s union argued against it passionately in the most recent collective bargaining session.


The topic figures to come up again when MLB and the union sit down after the 2016 season.

“I think you’ll have some issues with some players that personally want to make that choice,” Padres right-hander Ian Kennedy told the Union-Tribune in February. “I think it does take away some rights of ours. I personally don’t chew, dip or smoke or anything like that, but I know there’s a lot of players that do and still do and they know the consequences of it and still choose otherwise. That’s the way they grew up.”

The ban will go into effect before the 2016 season, though lawmakers have acknowledged that without a provision for enforcement it will rely on self-policing.

“The question we’ve been asked is are we going to have police officers walking around checking lips, and no, that’s not the case,” Thurmond’s chief of staff told the Associated Press on Sunday. “It’s going to be left to the team and the league.”


Reached by the Union-Tribune this week, a spokesman for the MLBPA declined comment. Though the Gwynn family has yet to weigh in on the matter, the Padres – like the Dodgers after Los Angeles banned chewing tobacco – appear ready to fall in line.

Their statement:

“The Padres stand with Major League Baseball in supporting the spirit of the ban, and we intend to comply with all applicable laws regarding the use of smokeless tobacco on the field and in our ballpark. At this point, it is too early to comment on enforcement, but we will work closely with MLB as it continues discussions with the Players Association to determine a course of action.”