Stroh's Pulltab: Mid 1960s

This month I am showing a midwestern can that does not fit my normal collection, but a brand I collect anyway. Stroh's comes from Detroit, Michigan and I do not normally collect most Michigan cans. However, I like Stroh's for several reasons.

1. I dumped them in Ohio as a kid.
2. I remember Stroh's advertising on Cincinnati Reds radio games in the 70s.
3. I just like the label.
4. They began canning late (1950s) so their are not a lot of rare variations to collect, at least not the era I collect (1950s and 1960s).

Strohs and the Cincinnati Reds

Strohs sponsored the Cincinnati Reds on radio for years.

Here are a couple Reds schedules featuring Strohs cans, including one like the one pictured above.

A 1967 Schedule with the straight-steel Stroh's can on it. The Reds finished 4th, 87-74. My favorite player of all time, Tony Perez, was the team MVP. Johnny Bench made his major-league debut in late August. (click on schedule to see inside)

A 1977 schedule. Despite getting Tom Seaver and having just finished winning back-to-back World Series, the Reds stalled all season. They had traded Tony Perez, one of the team's worst trades ever, which seemed to unbalance the team. In addition, their pitching really fell apart. They finished a distant 2d in the NL West despite George Foster hitting 320/52/149. (click on schedule to see inside)

As a faithful Reds fan growing up in Dayton I listened to a lot of games. As a result, I can still sing the Strohs ad jingle that I must have heard a million times.

From one beer lover to another, Strohs Beer.
From one beer lover to another, Strohs!
(voice over) Stroh Brewing Company, Detroit, Michigan)

Local Beers and Baseball Advertising

Why were the Reds not sponsored by a local team? In 1967 there were still several local breweries: Wiedemann, Hudepohl, Schoenling, and Burger. In 1977 Hudepohl and Schoenling were still there and Wiedemann's old plant was operating as a G. Heilmann brewery.

Well, the local breweries were not ignored at the ballpark. There were ads for the local breweries in the programs and scorecards. Those who remember watching games at Riverfront probably remember the Burger "Vas You Effer In Zinzinnati?" ads on the scoreboard?