1963 or 2011 Old Milwaukee Tellin' It Like It Is

Here's an Old Milwaukee ad from 1963 that tells you; "Now at games end, refresh with one beer brewed to complete your leasure enjoyment."

Could they run this ad today?

Longest Thrown Baseball In History

This Kendall Oil ad from 1945 notes the record (at that time) for the longest thrown baseball being over 426 feet. Unfortunately the ad does not give credit the thrower Larry LeJeune. The toss happened in 1910 and stood until 1952 with a toss of 434 feet by Don Grate who broke his own record the following year of 443 feet until the standing record of today being 445 feet set in 1957 by Glen Gorbous.

Read this great article by J.G Preston to learn more.  

"Light Beer...The Proper Drink For Athletes In Training"

Thats according to Charles Ebbetts, owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1902-1925. This 1913 ad for Galveston Brewing Company is loaded with great tag lines. The heading I especially like: "Beer Good For Baseball Players."

Well That Settles It...I'm Going To Start Smoking in 2011

Well if it was good enough for these guys its good enough for me. Mel Ott says "I smoke all I want yet keep in good condition." I wonder if they still make filterless?

"Now Bobby, Just Imagine Him In His Underwear"

I wonder if Manager Leo Durocher gave that advice to Bobby Thomson before he stepped to the plate against Ralph Branca before the famous "Shot Heard 'Round The World."

Branca was known as a very good starter during his years in Brooklyn. Branca debuted on June 12, 1944, with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and put up a 3.04 ERA in 109.2 innings pitched in 1945, his rookie year. A three-time All-Star, he won 80 games for the Dodgers with a career-high 21 wins in 1947. He is best remembered for one infamous relief appearance in a 1951 playoff game against the crosstown rival New York Giants and gave up that famous home run to Thomson giving the Giants the National League pennant.

Branca later learned that the Giants had stolen the signs to the two pitches he threw Thomson.

So was it the underwear advice or the stolen sign?

Say It Ain't So Joe "Camel"

The original Joe "Camel"...sad.

Lefty O'Doul's or City Hotel

Likely to be from the late 1940s to 1950s what was known as a "linen" ad promotes a resturant owned by New York Giant All-Star of the 1920s & 30s Francis "Lefty" O'Doul. What a cool place to hang-out...from the outside it looks like Westfield's famous City Hotel.

Lefty's is still open today http://www.leftyodouls.biz/index.html

City Hotel photo by ScribeGirl