But Gwynn, a 2007 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, was addicted to chewing tobacco like so many other 20th century baseball figures, and he ultimately passed away due to salivary gland cancer in 2014 at 54.
Advertisement
Monday afternoon, White Sox left-hander Chris Sale was named the AL’s starting pitcher for the 2016 All-Star Game.
It is unclear whether Gwynn’s tobacco use was the cause for his cancer and ultimate death. With his beloved Padres hosting the MLB All-Star Game this year, we’re seeing proof of that once again.
Sale took it a step further after the press conference was over: “To say he saved my life, I don’t think it’s an understatement”.
“He made a very big impact on my life”, Sale said. “I remember seeing that and being so shocked”.
“I quit that day [he died] and haven’t touched it since”, Sale told reporters Monday. He was a larger-than-life person.
Gwynn’s use of smokeless tobacco has been much publicized, and in May, his family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the tobacco industry, alleging the industry turned him into a “walking billboard” for the product. “I learned a lot, how to be not only the best baseball player, to be a real pro, but also to be, hopefully, a good human being”.
Advertisement
Sale and Johnny Cueto, the San Fransisco Giants’ righter hand pitcher have been announced as starters for the Tuesday’s All-Star game.
