Spitting helped some soothe jangling nerves, show contempt or toughness, or just mark their territory like dogs do. It was only a problem when an opponent got in the way of its gravity.

It isn't just baseball, of course. Rough-and-tumble sports like soccer and football embraced the practice at the beginnings of their games, too, and once grabbing a swig of water on the sidelines during a break became available, it practically elevated it into an art form. But don't expect any new masterpieces to flow soon.

With Germany's Bundesliga returning to play this weekend, Michel D'Hooghe, the chairman of FIFA's medical committee, has strongly advised against any soccer league restarting until the fall. But if they do, he wants even the most casual dribble on the pitch punished with a yellow card.