If you’ve ever watched a professional baseball game, you’ve probably noticed that players seem to spit quite frequently and conspicuously. But have you ever wondered why this seemingly ingrained habit is so prevalent on the diamond?
From the early days of baseball when players chewed tobacco to keep their mouths moist during dusty games to the modern era of sunflower seeds as a popular alternative, spitting has become a defining characteristic of the sport.
The long-standing relationship between baseball and tobacco sponsorship in the 1920s to 1940s further solidified spitting as a common sight on the field.