Vintage Spalding Ad Featuring Casey Stengel and Ford Frick Baseballs
The Spalding Sports advertisement from the July 1948 issue of Sportfolio highlights a humorous interaction involving baseball legends Casey Stengel and Ford C. Frick. The ad features a cartoon depicting Stengel, a notable baseball figure known for his role as manager of the New York Yankees, giving advice on pitching to a pitcher while seeking clarification on the type of baseball used. The conversation reveals a lighthearted exchange where Stengel questions, "What kind of a ball did you throw him?" in response to a mishap. The answer underscores the significance of Spalding's baseballs, noting that they are the only balls officially used in Major League Baseball, emphasizing their presence in both the National League and American League. The advertisement highlights Spalding's longstanding relationship within the sport, as indicated by its claim of being the official supplier for 72 years in the National League and 48 years in the American League.