Here’s A Photo Of Mickey Mantle Smoking A Cigarette

Last week, in honor of the Senate’s approval of a bill that would give the Food and Drug Administration regulatory power over cigarettes for the first time in U.S. history, the New York Times threw together a slideshow of old cigarette ads. If you’ve seen even one episode of “Mad Men” — literally, it’s in the series pilot, which you should run out and watch right now, go, flee — then you might not be surprised by the ads in question. But you will probably still be amused, if not shocked, by them.

All of the old nonsense is there. Camels stimulate your “t-zone,” which isn’t even really a thing. “More doctors smoke Brand X than any other.” Your dentist apparently wants you to have yellow, rotting teeth. And so on. My favorite, though, and why I’m even writing this post, is because Mickey Mantle is featured not once but twice, and that greatly amuses me. To wit:

To Mantle’s credit, he looks awfully dapper there. I want to go back in time and be him, just for a few minutes, just to see how it feels. I might put some of Halloween’s leftover Brylcreem in my hair, have a cigarette, and hold a baseball for a few minutes. See if anything happens.

Anyway, the point of this post is that professional athletes used to smoke cigarettes before anyone knew cigarettes were bad for you, because people were stupid in the 1940’s and 1950’s, until Bob Dylan invented music. And now you know.

Posted at 8:25 am
on June 15th, 2009

Viewing 8 Comments

Hampers 6 months ago 1 point
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Good thing the government made a stand to finally stop the smoking addiction. Its time to go green and be an advocate of toxic-free environment, free from smoke whether first or second and so on and so forth. This is a gift to consider for everyone who hates cigarettes.

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Austin Dentist 5 months ago 1 point
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Smoking has a lot of bad effects to an individuals health, well it can also damage your teeth, I still can't get it what is the benefit of smoking

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Printable Cigarette Coupons 5 months ago 1 point
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Smoking is a hard habit to break for most people and its just saddening how more and more people are intrigued to try it despite all the health warnings.

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Clark 5 months ago 1 point
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Smoking is injurious to health. But he is looking smart.

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Zarah 5 months ago 1 point
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Smoking is the prime cause of many diseases. It effects many vital organs. So one shouldnot get addicted to this.

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genf20 4 months ago 1 point
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This ad was then, and now we have graphic disease pics shown on cigarette boxes instead. Does it work? I don't think so. People are still smoking regardless of whether there is an ad or not.

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Tom Palomino 3 months ago 1 point
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Great to see some vintage Mickey Mantle stuff. My client, Steiner Sports, also has some classic Mickey Mantle memorabilia for everyone to enjoy!

Also great to see the Yanks back in the Series!

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sam 2 months ago 1 point
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To add to Micheys' everlasting legacy, we should commemorate his great play through our support. I would like to give all of you fans some fantastic Mickey Mantle merchandise from my client Steiner Sports that will forever commemorate him.

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