Congressman urges Giants, Rangers to skip smokeless tobacco during World Series

smoking player

A congressman is calling on the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers to tell their players not to use smokeless tobacco on the field or in the dugout during the World Series.

New Jersey Democrat Frank Pallone, chairman of the House Health Subcommittee, says he’s concerned about free advertising baseball players give the tobacco industry and “the influence this exposure has on young people.”

On Monday, Pallone sent letters to Rangers President Nolan Ryan and Giants President Larry Baer, telling them a “ban of smokeless tobacco while players are in uniform would be a great service to this country.”

At a House hearing in April, Pallone urged baseball and its players to agree to bar major leaguers from using chew, dip or similar products during games.