October 19, 2011   U.S. senators and health officials are taking on a baseball tradition older than the World Series itself: chewing tobacco on the diamond. With the World Series to begin Wednesday between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers, the senators, along with health officials from the teams’ cities, want the players union to agree to a ban on chewing tobacco at games and on camera. A letter was written to union head Michael Weiner and signed by Democratic Senators Dick Durbin of Illinois, Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, and Tom Harkin of Iowa. The letter noted that millions of people will tune in to watch the World Series, including children. With baseball’s current collective bargaining agreement expiring in December, the senators, some government officials, and public health groups want the players to agree to a tobacco ban in the next contract. “Such an agreement would protect the health of players and be a great gift to your young fans,” the senators wrote.

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