A Trip to 1965 via a New York Yankees Scorecard and Official Program
The New York Yankees entered the 1965 season on the tails of a World Series defeat, in seven games, to the St. Louis Cardinals. With a new manager at the helm - Johnny Keane, the man who managed the aforementioned Cardinals to that World Series victory - and a new majority owner in CBS, the team looked to secure its sixth consecutive division title.
Alas, it was not meant to be, as 1965 kicked off 11 straight seasons where the Yankees failed to make it to the playoffs. It might not have been a banner year for the team, but what New York lacked in in tangible, on the field success it made up for with a series of spectacular scorecards and official programs, the likes of which aren’t seen across ballparks today.
This was a time when everyone in America where every man, woman, and child sucked down a pack of flavorful cigarettes day and when mass advertisements held a visceral appeal that, from our current perspective in the 21st century, we can only think of as both quaint and saccharine.
So what do you find in these 30 pages? A slew of print ads that will take you back to a better time when smoking was not only safe but recommended, mustard could still be new and refreshing, and where alcohol was an integral part of the game day program.
Key Stats (30 Pages)
- Tobacco Ad Count: 10
- Alcohol Ad Count: 8
- Sexism Meter Raining: Uncomfortable
- Monsanto Mentions: 1
The Cover
Wow, 25 cents for a scorecard? That comes out to $1.86 in 2013 dollars, which is still less than the bootleg scorecards they sell outside of Fenway Park.
Winston Cigarettes
Immediately upon turning the cover we’re treated to a full-page ad that extolls the virtues of smoking Winston Filter Cigarettes, namely the “Flavor” and “Champ” that make these ballpark treats so delicious. Let’s never forget that Winston tastes good like a cigarette should, or that real man - aka real ballplayers - smoke cigarettes, preferably while batting, pitching, and/or fielding.
Pitching…POWER!…Batting
You get the feeling that then manager Johnny Keane had his head on right when explaining his views on baseball strategy. Pitching and batting, inextricably linked by a hearty dose of power, were his keys to winning. My how the game has changed over the last 48 years.
Also note that this section of the program mentions the second season of “Suburban Nights,” which ran for ten Wednesday night home games. Based on the information available in the program, this promotion doesn’t appear to signify anything particularly special, outside of a 7:00 pm start time for every scheduled Wednesday night game at Yankee Stadium. Day games were much more common during the week back then, so there’s some merit in setting aside a set number of games for the working masses to attend outside of their jobs.
Of course, according the program, this start time “will enable Dad to get home from work, pick up the family, get to Yankee Stadium and still be home at a reasonable hour on a ‘working’ night.” I’m glad that in 1965 the Yankees were looking out for men in a time dominated by the presence of females in domestic settings.
Sexism rating: uncomfortable.
“Yesterday, I smoked only cigarettes!”
Eight pages in and we’ve got our second tobacco advertisement. I’d like to note that in 1965 prices, you could purchase five Phillies Tips for the price of one Scorecard and Official Program of the New York Yankees. This guy smokes only cigarettes, but now he’s moved on to Phillies Tips. Who knows where that slippery slope will lead him?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned so far, it’s that today’s game needs more smokers.
Tobacco ad count: 2