Pittsburgh Pirates Catcher George Gibson was coming off one of the most impressive seasons ever–he caught in 134 straight games and a total of 150 for the World Series Champions–when this advertisement appeared:
George Gibson of the Pittsburgh Nationals
(Champions of the World)
led the league as a catcher with a percentage of .983 and caught more games than any other catcher last year. He writes us that he is enthusiastic about Coca-Cola. You, too, will like Coca-Cola, because it relieves fatigue, refreshes, quenches the thirst and is absolutely wholesome.
The Coca-Cola Company wanted to attribute Gibson’s iron man performance in 1909 to his choice of beverage, but before the season Gibson, from his home in London, Ontario wrote to Barney Dreyfuss, Pirates president and told him about his secret for getting in shape for the campaign. The Pittsburgh Dispatch printed the letter:
I had a letter from (Pirate outfielder John) Chief Wilson the other day. All he writes about is hunting. He says the quails are so thick down where he is (Bertram, Texas) that you have to cut a path through them when you go hunting. Nothing like that up here. I have seen a lone jack rabbit this season and I have been chasing him to keep in condition, but to date I have not captured him. He is the limit for speed. One jump and he lands in the next town. He would make a good trainer. If I can catch him alive I will take him to Hot Springs and let the boys get in condition by chasing him.”
Baseball History Daily 
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