Remembering Mets History (1962) MLB Fines Casey Stengel For His Beer Ad with Miss Rheingold- Kathy Kersh

In 1962 the Mets started their long-time relationship with Rheingold beer. Rheingold a local beer with its headquarters in Brooklyn became the official beer of the New York Mets. 

It was originally introduced in 1883 & by the time the Mets were born, the beer claimed to hold 35% on New York State's beer sales. 

Rheingold had already sponsored the Jackie Robinson Radio Show for a decade, on AM Radio 66 in New York. Robinson, Leo Durocher, as well as stars like the Marx Brothers, Linda Darnell, John Wayne, Nat King Cole & Sara Vaughan all represented the beer in ads across the city.

Each year they would also hold the Miss Rheingold contest, where the public voted for the winner. The first Miss Rheingold was Jinx Falkenburg, a 1930s supermodel, tennis star, actress & ground breaking talk show host.

There were also the Rheingold girls would make appearances, be spokespersons & appear in ads.

In 1962 Mets manager Casey Stengel was a larger-than-life public figure, forever promoting his Mets. 

It was no surprise that Rheingold wanted him for their ads & he was happy to oblige. But in the ad, Casey appeared in his Mets uniform, holding a bat ready to bunt, alongside Miss Rheingold 1962.

Trivia: Miss Rheingold 1962 was Kathy Kersh a 19-year-old model at the time. 

Kathy Kersh was also an actress who appeared in 13 TV shows in the 1960's. In November 1966 she appeared on the TV show Batman as Cornelia, a moll to the Joker. -Season2 episodes 21 & 22: The Impractical Joker / The Jokers Provokers. 

By 1966 she was a gorgeous 23-year-old blonde, wearing a skintight purple outfit for the show.

It was there she met actor Burt Ward, who played Robin the Boy Wonder. The two quickly got married & divorced soon after. 

People close to the show said Kathy was nothing more than a gold digger, never in love with the young actor but only after Burt's fame & money.

Kersh also had four appearances on the Beverly Hillbillies, as well as guest appearances on My Favorite Martian, The Man From UNCLE, Ben Casey & Love American Style. 

Kathy was also a singer, appearing twice on the music show Shindig.

Her career faded away quickly & legend has it, the studio dropped her when they signed the lovely Sharon Tate.

In 1962 at the time of the beer ad, MLB prohibited players or managers to be in uniform, or displaying any team logo, while promoting any alcohol or cigarette products. If they were out of uniform, it was no problem. 

So, whether it was Rheingold's competition, or rival baseball teams ratted out Casey to the league office, MLB Commissioner Ford Frick had to react. He responded by fining Stengel $500 for the ad. It is rumored that Rheingold paid the bill for the Mets & Stengel.

Stengel & Kathy Kersh would do more ads together for Rheingold all throughout her reign as the beer's spokeswoman.

Quotes- Casey Stengel: "The Rheingold people been so nice to us that I didn’t have the heart to turn them down when they asked me.”