1949 Chesterfield Cigarettes Ad Featuring Baseball MVPs
The Page from the 1949 Sporting News Baseball Ball Guide features an advertisement for Chesterfield cigarettes, prominently showcasing baseball icons Lou Boudreau and Stan Musial. Lou Boudreau, noted for his exceptional performance, was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the American League. At the same time, Stan Musial received the MVP distinction in the National League. Both athletes are linked to Chesterfield through the advertisement's slogan emphasizing the cigarette's mildness. During this era, both players had illustrious careers: Boudreau was associated with the Cleveland Indians, leading them to a World Series title in 1948, while Musial was a key figure for the St. Louis Cardinals. This advertisement reflects the cultural and commercial intersection of baseball and tobacco products in the mid-20th century, where athletes often endorsed popular consumer goods.