The baseball spitting tradition goes back to the 1800s. Players chewed tobacco to build saliva, and used that spit to keep their gloves moist on dusty fields. Tobacco chewing declined after players agreed in 2011 not to chew it in public. Today, players often chew and spit sunflower seeds or gum.

Are baseball players supposed to spit?

During this shortened, subdued season, players will not even be allowed to spit. And if you haven't noticed, baseball games usually feature a lot of spitting. ... Pound for pound, baseball players probably produce more spit than the entire brass section of an orchestra. It's just part of the game!

Why do baseball players spit so much Reddit?

Dusty fields, high levels of hydration, boredom, sunflower seeds and tobacco, and tradition.