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Baseball players, chewing tobacco and cancer

Tony Gwynn, shown in 2006, died in June 2014 from complications related to cancer of the salivary gland. He blamed chewing tobacco for his disease.

Tony Gwynn, shown in 2006, died in June 2014 from complications related to cancer of the salivary gland. He blamed chewing tobacco for his disease.   (Chris Park / Associated Press)

Notable players who died from cancer or who say they got cancer from the use of chewing tobacco.

Curt Schilling

Curt Schilling, shown in 2001, was diagnosed with mouth cancer in February 2014 and said of chewing tobacco: “I’ll go to my grave believing that was why I got what I got.” He is cancer free today.   (Amy Sancetta / Associated Press)

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth, a heavy user of chewing tobacco, died in 1948 of throat cancer.   (Nat Fein / Associated Press)

Brett Butler

In 1996, Butler was diagnosed with cancer in his right tonsil and in lymph nodes in his neck. He blames his use of chewing tobacco. Butler, shown back with the Dodgers in 1997, is cancer free today.   (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

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