Cardinals Players Have Dipped Their Last Dip In Wrigley Field

I hope whomever had to break the news to Carlos Martinez let him down easy.

Chicago has become the 4th city in the United States to ban smokeless tobacco in professional stadiums, joining Los Angeles, Boston and San Francisco.

And yes, that includes the players.

From the Sun-Times:

The Chicago ban is a big victory for the so-called “Knock Tobacco Out of the Park” campaign sweeping the nation.

It’s aimed at reversing persistent use of smokeless tobacco among teenagers — and a troubling rise among high school athletes — at a time when there has been a dramatic decline in the teen smoking rate.

The ban is scheduled to begin 90 days out from it’s passage on MAR 16, so on or about JUN 14 2016.

The Cardinals don’t play in Wrigley Field until JUN 20. Unless they plan on breaking law, they have dipped their last dips in the friendly confines.

WATCH: Cubs' Maddon not happy about Chicago's new tobacco law https://t.co/uRvWjBYdad pic.twitter.com/dPJ7ElshWF

— FOX 32 News (@fox32news) March 17, 2016

Now, I have no idea how this is actually going to be enforced. But ESPN has reported that the fines, while not all that expensive for professional athletes, will also not be something where they can totally dismiss them:

A first offense will result in a fine of not less than $250, then $500 for a second violation and not less than $2,500 for each additional violation that occurs within one year of the first offense.

I’m sure some old-timers are either going to gamble on not getting caught or they’re going to start swallowing.

Sorry for the visual.

Anaheim, San Diego, Oakland and New York are all considering similar legislation for smokeless tobacco. Dipping – long a part of baseball- has most likely reached tipping point and is on its way out of the game.

Photo: SI