Introduced in 1963 by the Baltimore, Maryland-based National Brewing Company, Colt 45 was named in honor of running back Jerry Hill, who was #45 on the 1963 Baltimore Colts football team. Through high-profile partnerships with actor Billy Dee Williams and comedian Redd Foxx who both appeared in radio, print, and TV advertisements Colt 45 established itself as the premier malt liquor beverage by the early 1970s.,