A 1914 advertisement for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. While spelling Killefer‘s name wrong, the ad calls him “(T)he great catcher of the Philadelphia National League Team.”
Killefer says:
“Sweet Caporal cigarettes are satisfying in every way. Their mild, pure tobacco flavor wins out every time.”
In 1918, Killefer was traded to the Chicago Cubs, along with Grover Cleveland Alexander. After the Cubs won the National League pennant, The Chicago Daily News reported that Killefer would be getting a bonus beyond his World Series share:
“A bet of a ten-cent cigar against $1000, made as the result of a joke while the Cubs were training at Pasadena, California, last spring has been won by Bill Killefer, it was revealed today. The loser, William Wrigley, one of the club’s stockholders, wagered the $1000 that the team would not win the National League pennant. Killefer, who accepted it in jest, had forgotten about the bet until he was reminded of it by Wrigley.”
I guess the key to the Cubs winning the WS again is to have one of it’s stockholders bet against the team again.
Even that might not be enough.