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When ballplayers return to Miller Park in the spring, they likely won't be able to chew tobacco in the dugouts.
City council members in Milwaukee voted to ban all forms of smokeless tobacco from city sporting venues Tuesday by a 14-1 margin, and the ordinance will now go in front of Mayor Tom Barrett for final approval. That would mean anyone caught using on stadium grounds -- including players and coaches on the field and fans in the parking lot -- faces a ticket of up to $250, although a first offense will only draw a warning.
The alderman that proposed the ordinance says baseball was the clear target, and the legislation was drawn up with area kids in mind:
Milwaukee is the 12th Major League city with this type of ban, including Chicago, New York and Los Angeles among others.
Former Brewers owner and MLB commissioner Bud Selig is considered another big supporter of the ban. Mayor Tom Barrett is expected to sign off on the ordinance, which would then take effect in December.