In the late 1960s, the makers of Maypo cereal launched a humorous twist on their famous “I Want My Maypo” slogan by recruiting some of the biggest names in sports. Baseball legend Mickey Mantle, football great Johnny Unitas, and basketball star Oscar Robertson—along with other sports icons—were featured in TV and print ads dramatically declaring, “I want my Maypo!”
The campaign, created by ad man George Lois, played off the tough, competitive images of these athletes by showing them in exaggerated, childlike poses, pleading for the maple-flavored oatmeal. Originally popularized in the 1950s by the animated character Marky Maypo, the slogan was given fresh life by this star-powered approach, turning a children’s breakfast cereal into a pop culture talking point. The ads became memorable for their unexpected humor and helped keep the brand in the public eye for years.
