Mad(dux) Men

Don Draper ain’t got nothing on the cardboard industry.  Actually, the folks at Sterling Cooper, etc. etc. are much better at placing ads than card companies.  Corporations will throw ads into everything.  Billboards. Guerrilla Marketing.  Product Placement.  Promoted Content.  Commercials for one product that also has other products in it.

I actually found it kind of difficult to find enough cards for this idea.  I originally only wanted to show cards that had ads in the background (on the outfield wall or on dugout rails or such things), and I bet if I collected more vintage stuff I’d have an easier time.  But, even with the prevalence of advertising in our society I had to resort to including corporate tie-in cards.  These faceless entities will stop at nothing.

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He’s also on the left, I promise.

It may not be the first.  It may not be the best, but it is one that I remember most.  Denny’s Grand Slam Holograms.

He’s the two on the right

This ran for several years and I think you pretty much had to buy food to get a pack of cards. I’m not sure if it was always that way, but if it was that way again, I would go back to Denny’s.

Regular

Cracker Jack is arguably the most well known baseball card tie-in.  You know. On account of the song.

Mini

I don’t know if Topps had to pay the Cracker Jack corporate overlords to print this set, but I’d assume so.  See, I told you vintage would have more ads.  Or faux vintage.

A post about Post (and others)

How about some cards with your morning cereal?  If you had siblings, did you fight over these?  Was it the first person to open the box, or the one that was lucky enough to pour it into their bowl?

Pack searched

I don’t think I ever bought pizza to get cards.  Even with the new Wal-Mart set, I didn’t.  That’s more because of my dislike of Wal-Mart and general lack of availability of them in the city.  I found this Tombstone card in my parents’ basement still sealed.  No reason to open it, really.

I could do without the table

Back to straight-up branding.  Some super talented artist made these Etch A Sketch portraits and Topps memorialized them on card.  Really cool idea and I hope they do Lite Bright next.

Corporate tie-dye-in

My search for ads in the background wasn’t a total loss.  I’m suddenly in the mood for a Pepsi.  Scratch that.  RC is better.

Est Uy

And man, don’t you feel the need to go to Circuit City?  Oh that’s right, they’re all closed.  I guess ads don’t always work.

Thankfully the only time Frank wore Yankee pinstripes

And we end our little commercial break with the ultimate advertisement:  A movie.  Open a pack and go see Mr. Baseball.  Now in theaters.  Ask for it by name.  By prescription only.  Consult your doctor.  Use as directed.  Purchase not necessary.

Alright, you get the idea.

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