All-Star starter Chris Sale says he stopped dipping the day Tony Gwynn died

Joe Rodgers

All-Star starter Chris Sale says he stopped dipping the day Tony Gwynn died image

The All-Star Game is back in San Diego, this time without hometown hero Tony Gwynn, who died in 2014 from salivary-gland cancer that was blamed on his smokeless tobacco use.

Although Mr. Padre had a profound effect on the game with his 3,141 hits and lifetime batting average of .338, his death was a catalyst for this year's AL All-Star starting pitcher, Chris Sale. The southpaw said during a media availability on Monday that he stopped dipping the day Gwynn died (June 16, 2014). 

MORE: Classic photos of Tony Gwynn

"He made a very big impact on my life," Sale said. "I chewed tobacco from 2007 until the day he passed away. I remember seeing that and being so shocked. I mean he was a larger-than-life person and was an inspiration to the game for many, many people for a lot of different reasons.

"But I quit that day and haven't touched it since. So in a sense, I owe him a huge thank you for not only myself but for my family and hopefully I can maybe sway somebody in the right direction like he did for me."

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While an estimated 30 percent of MLB players use smokeless tobacco, 10 of 30 MLB stadiums and teams will have smokeless-tobacco bans in place next season as lawmakers continue to ban tobacco use from sporting venues. 

For Sale's teammates and crosstown rivals, the Cubs, a new Chicago law banning all smokeless tobacco products at U.S. Cellular Field and Wrigley Field and all other sporting venues goes into effect Tuesday. 

 

 

 

Joe Rodgers