Lot # 2378: 1928 Harry Heilmann Lucky Strike Trolley Car Sign

Lucky Strike trolley car advertising sign of Harry Heilmann, one of five signs issued in this classic series. These Lucky Strike signs are among the most attractive and desirable baseball advertising display pieces ever produced. They are also among the very few baseball advertising display pieces dating from the 1920s that are in full color. Heilmann, who is identified in the advertisement as the "World's Leading Batter," is pictured in a batting pose. To the right of his image is his endorsement: "I smoke Luckies because they are the best." Heilmann batted a league-high .398 in 1927 and is one of only a few players ever to hit over .400 for a season (1923). He also led the American League in batting on four occasions, topping the .390 mark each time. It is interesting to note that 1928 was both the height of Lucky Strike's cigarette advertising blitz and the beginning of what is now an advertising staple: the celebrity endorsement. Lucky Strike, in 1928, launched the most aggressive tobacco advertising campaign ever seen. As a result, the American public was bombarded with testimonials by athletes, celebrities, entertainers, and socialites as to the benefits of smoking Lucky Strikes. In their choice of ballplayers, the company certainly recruited the cream of the crop, as all five players featured in their advertisements were later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame: Lefty Grove, Harry Heilmann, Tony Lazzeri, Lloyd Waner, and Paul Waner. The sign (21 x 11 inches) displays a few small areas of light staining along the white border areas and a small diagonal crease in the lower right corner. The colors remain vibrant and the piece has an Excellent appearance. Mounted and framed to total dimensions of 29 x 19 inches. The size/weight of this item requires that there will be an additional shipping charge for this lot.