Tag Archives: celebrity athlete advertising

“Athletes Advertising”
Selected Stories: 1900s-2010s

Superstars of Soccer

“Vuitton’s Soccer Stars”

June 2010

Soccer legends Pelé, Zidane,
& Maradona do advert
for a luxury bag maker.

Famous Athlete

“Celebrity Gifford”

1950s-2000s

Pro football star becomes
well-known celebrity
and frequent pitchman.

All-Around Athlete

“1930s Super Girl”

Babe Didrikson

Famous female athlete
was also sought out for
product endorsements.

Tennis Champion

“Vines for Camels”

1934-1935

Ellsworth Vines, a world-
ranked No. 1 tennis player,
endorses Camel cigarettes.

Mickey Mantle Ad

“…Keeps on Ticking”

1950s-1990s

New York Yankee star
Mickey Mantle appears
in Timex watch ad.

Historic Sports Star

“Christy Mathewson”

Hancock Ad: 1958

Baseball hero used by
John Hancock Co. in
life insurance ad.

Female Flying Star

“The Flying Flapper”

1920s-1930s

Daredevil aviatrix, Elinor
Smith, set flying records;
sought for her celebrity.

Baseball Celebrity 

“Babe Ruth & Tobacco”

1920s-1940s

Famous Yankee slugger
used to sell cigars, cigarettes,
pipe & chewing tobacco.

World Series Champs

“21 of 23 Giants”

…Smoke Camels

Tobacco company uses
entire World Series team in
1933 ad to hawk cigarettes.

Yogi Berra Ad

“The Yogi Chronicles”

1940s-2012

Yogi Berra of NY Yankees
also became famous in
commercial advertising.

Tobacco Sports Card

“$2.8 MM Baseball Card”

1909 Honus Wagner

Card’s value rose, in part,
from Wagner’s worry
about kids smoking.

Famous Football Star

“Slingin` Sammy”

1937-1952

Washington Redskins QB
also lent name & image
for product adverts.

Lucky Strike Ad

“Gifford for Luckies”

1961-1962

NY Giants football star
Frank Gifford gives his
pitch for Lucky Strikes.

Sports & Marketing

“Wheaties & Sport”

1930s

A cereal maker becomes
an advertising icon
using sports celebrities.

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Date Posted: 30 July 2015
Last Update: 27 December 2017
Comments to: jackdoyle47@gmail.com

Twitter: Jack Doyle/Pop History Dig
BlueSky: jackdoyle.bsky.social

Article Citation:
Jack Doyle, “Athletes Advertising, 1920s-2010s” (Topics Page,
14 Stories), PopHistoryDig.com, July 30, 2015.

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Books on Advertising at Amazon.com


Roberta J. Newman 2019 book, “Here's the Pitch: The Amazing, True, New & Improved Story of Baseball & Advertising..” Click for Amazon.
Roberta J. Newman 2019 book, “Here's the Pitch: The Amazing, True, New & Improved Story of Baseball & Advertising..” Click for Amazon.
Jim Heimann, 2018 book, “50s All-American Ads” (1950s),  Taschen America, 679 pp., multilingual edition. Click for Amazon.
Jim Heimann, 2018 book, “50s All-American Ads” (1950s), Taschen America, 679 pp., multilingual edition. Click for Amazon.
Jane Maas, “Mad Women: The Other Side of Life on Madison Avenue in the '60s and Beyond,” Thomas Dunne, 2012. Click for Amazon.
Jane Maas, “Mad Women: The Other Side of Life on Madison Avenue in the '60s and Beyond,” Thomas Dunne, 2012. Click for Amazon.