Iowa’s Favorite Beer Pulled the Best Con of All Time

The next time you crack open Iowa's favorite beer you can thank the rules and regulations of Major League Baseball for being able to enjoy it.

Here is the story of how spite, and a bit of ego, brought Iowa its favorite beer.

Major League Baseball Rules

In the 1950s stadium naming rights in Major League Baseball was a fairly new and controversial thing.  At that time stadiums could not be named after alcoholic beverages.

Since then naming rights are common and nearly every stadium in every sport has some type of corporate naming sponsor.  Including Coors Field in Denver and at one point Miller Park in Milwaukee. (Crying shame that it's changed to American Family Field)

The other stadium named after a beer was actually named before the beer existed.  Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

How Busch Beer Was Made To Spite The MLB

In 1953 Anheuser-Busch bought the St. Louis Cardinals.  At the same time, the new owners bought the stadium, known at that time as "Sportsman Park".

The new owners instantly wanted to name the stadium after their crown jewel beer and call it "Budweiser Stadium". But the MLB commissioner vetoed that.  So the stadium was named after the Cardinals owner "Gussie Busch".

Two years later, Busch beer was introduced to the public. Proving sometimes you have to put the cart before the horse to get what you want.

So the next time you are sipping on a cold Busch Light you can thank Major League Baseball, spite, ego, and the St. Louis Cardinals. Sorry Cubs fans.