3-D baseball pennants ... now let's discuss

[thetahat]

I'll start it off ... with WOW. What a fantastic Red Sox pennant. Congrats to whoever won it. This really does make me wonder again about the origin and if there are other teams out there. Amazing how few of these surface ... they are "only" 60-70 years old, and well made with heavy felt; the few that have popped up have been in decent condition. You'd think that these would be less likely to be thrown away years ago because they obviously cost more new. Anyway, I can only imagine what a Phillies version looks like, etc.

The best thing about these pennants IMO is the texture of the graphics .... it has a felt-like feel to the touch, but it cracks like silk-screen.

All that being said I think they could have made that Boston pennant just a little better with a real mini-can of beans in the pocket ....

[mrkrab]

I thought this would have gone for 4000-5000. One of the best baseball pennants I have ever seen.

[bdecsports]

Prior to Huggins & Scott turning-up the Red Sox & Yankees pennants that were auctioned off last night, the Dodgers were the only previously known team for these unique 3-D pennants.

[thetahat]

We've actually seen the Yankees and Giants before, but they are scarce. But Boston and the three NYs are it as far as I know ....

[bdecsports]

Cool to hear that there is a Giants one too. Did the Giants example go through an auction?

[Teamgluck]

I don't know his name but the big time Giants collector on the forum attached a link in the "hey pennant guys" about the pennant which sold for about 1,000 on ebay. It was an unbelievable pennant!

[thetahat]

I own a Giants version, got it long ago. The only other one I saw was on eBay and went for over $2K this past summer or early fall, despite missing a piece.

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by Teamgluck

I don't know his name but the big time Giants collector on the forum attached a link in the "hey pennant guys" about the pennant which sold for about 1,000 on ebay. It was an unbelievable pennant!

The ebay Giants went for $2500, so I'm surprised the Red Sox one didn't do better. Of course ebay has no buyer's premium. Another factor is the number and tenacity of any given team's collectors.

I agree with the OP.....odd these are so rare, given they don't seem to be a throw away item. I also find it a bit strange that I've never seen a hammered example of any of the four teams known to exist. Every one that comes to suction seems to be near mint. Is there any way they're not as old as we might think....

[mrkrab]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

The ebay Giants went for $2500, so I'm surprised the Red Sox one didn't do better. Of course ebay has no buyer's premium. Another factor is the number and tenacity of any given team's collectors.

I agree with the OP.....odd these are so rare, given they don't seem to be a throw away item. I also find it a bit strange that I've never seen a hammered example of any of the four teams known to exist. Every one that comes to suction seems to be near mint. Is there any way they're not as old as we might think....

The became collegiate of pacific shortly after this fire. There are definitely 50's because they have a straight cut label. In the 40's they used a cardboard label. The later COA labels have a tooth pattern. As seen in this ebay listing.

The last Giants one on ebay was toasted pretty good too. The way they made these pennants with wool and rayon and flocked raised graphics made them very hard to damage.


http://www.amespubliclibrary.org/far...on/Pub5026.htm


http://www.ebay.com/itm/50s-Vintage-...item4879e4f9ae

[thetahat]

When you hold these, it is very obvious they are from that era. Just the feel of the felt and the graphics which crack (unlike a M&N pennant for example.) I think the label kinda dates it, too.

[perezfan]

I guess the simple answer is that they were made in very small quantities. The bigger mystery is where specifically they were sold/marketed. Wish we had a time machine...

The fact that a Red Sox version turned up is a great sign. First one known, outside of the 3 New York Teams, and gives us hope that perhaps more are out there. If a Cincinnati ever surfaces, I would be all over that!

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by mrkrab

The became collegiate of pacific shortly after this fire. There are definitely 50's because they have a straight cut label. In the 40's they used a cardboard label. The later COA labels have a tooth pattern. As seen in this ebay listing.

Great information about the labels.

I wonder if there are any old time former employees still living in Ames? I'd have to think there are...

[thetahat]

Another thing that is very unique is that the four pennants are not alike in design. Typically, in a series of pennants, you see common fonts or styles across all teams. But not with these. The cartoon graphics look vaguely similar and they all include wood bats, but that's about it.

[sox1903wschamp]

What a super Red Sox pennant that is!

[mrkrab]

not as cool as the boston pennant but made by the same company

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-COLL...item339e3fd023

[vintagesportscollector]

Originally Posted by mrkrab

not as cool as the boston pennant but made by the same company

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-COLL...item339e3fd023

Very cool...thanks for letting everyone know about it.

[phillies]

Originally Posted by vintagesportscollector

Very cool...thanks for letting everyone know about it.

Maybe this was posted elsewhere but just came across another fine example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Will...item2ed4ecf730