The Hill News

Americans across the country were celebrating the first full day of baseball action Thursday, and judging by Twitter, their elected officials were similarly distracted by the return of the national pastime.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) used Opening Day to champion not just the return of baseball but also to praise Major League Baseball and the players union for agreeing to ban on-field use of chewing tobacco. Durbin joined with Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Tom Harking (D-Iowa) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to lobby MLB to ban tobacco last autumn.

Almost #OpeningDayâ€"thanks @MLB & @MLB_PLAYERS for setting a good example for children by banning tobacco on&off field 1.usa.gov/HfdnRf

â€" Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) April 4, 2012

Meanwhile, Rep. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) celebrated the return of his hometown Detroit Tigers to the diamond.

Looking forward to a great season of #Detroit @Tigers Baseball. Everyone excited to see Cy Young winner @JustinVerlander take the mound?

â€" Gary Peters (@RepGaryPeters) April 5, 2012

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