BOSTON (Reuters) - Boston Mayor Marty Walsh on Wednesday took on one of baseball's oldest traditions, saying he planned to ban chewing tobacco at the century-old Fenway Park and all other sporting facilities in the city starting next year.
Flanked by former Boston Red Sox pitcher and cancer survivor Curt Schilling, Walsh said the link between tobacco use and cancer was indisputable and ball players from the sandlot to the big leagues should set an example by giving up the habit.
"Boston loves baseball and ballplayers are our kids' heroes," Walsh said, standing by home plate at one of the city's busiest youth baseball diamonds.