Baseball’s Love Affair With Sunflower Seeds

There’s no denying that sunflower seed eating in baseball is a solid tradition. Maybe it’s the slow pace of the game, the nervous energy in the dugout, or a learned behavior from watching baseball players over the decades eat sunflower seeds. Whatever it is, it’s a tradition we embrace.

Thanks, Reggie.

The story goes that baseball players were chewing sunflower seeds back in the 1950s, but it was Reggie Jackson who made it popular in 1968.

Era of Birdseed

By 1980, sunflower seed eating and hull spitting had become so popular that grounds crews were complaining. Claude Osteen, St. Louis Cardinals pitching coach at the time, called it the “era of birdseed.”

MLB Says, ‘No More Chew’

In 2011, it was decided by Major League Baseball and the players’ union that baseball players who chewed tobacco would be more discreet about it. As a result, even more baseball players took up the sunflower seed habit. A much healthier habit at that.

Why Isn’t Everyone Eating Seeds?

It’s estimated that 70% of Major League Baseball players chew gum or eat sunflower seeds during the game. (We’d like to know what the other 30% is waiting for!)

Dreaded SSF

In 1995, the first case of Sunflower Seed Finger (SSF) was reported in the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society newsletter. Apparently, a Philadelphia Phillie pitcher kept sunflower seeds in his pocket. In between pitches, he would dig in his pocket for a seed, which resulted in a finger injury.

Ouch.