A particularly successful in-game promotion came from tobacco company Bull Durham, starting in 1912.
The company installed billboards at most major league stadiums and promised that any player who hits the sign would get $50 (equivalent to more than $1,000 today).
“The prominence of the bull signage and its association with what was becoming America’s pastime led to enormous profits for the company and perhaps the origin of the term bullpen to refer to the warm-up area for pitchers,” according to SRITA.