Perhaps it might show up in some vintage stadium photos?

I can’t let Wisconsin take the lead on any sports conversation so I’ll add my Reproduction Company Minnesota baseball pennant. It’s got a tag on the back, but the photo doesn’t want to upload. Might be too large.

I love it. What a gorgeous example!!

Here's a company you never hear about. Been around over 100 years but never ventured into pro sports unfortunately.

https://standardpennant.com

You're right. Standard Pennant Co. made some beautiful pennants; but, most seemed to be for the high school market, unfortunately.

The pennant maker trade card that I posted last week finally arrived today. I’ve never seen another one before. Has anyone else?

have had these for some time and just came across them again. I would like help with id's. II believe the Brown and the Senators are from the 50's, not sure about the Tigers. The Tigers measures just shy of 3 3/4 x 7 3/4 missing tip. The Browns measures 4 x 9. The Senators measures 3 1/2 x 9 3/8 missing tip.

1940s, possibly early 50s, made by Ad Flag. I have them as part of a string.

Thanks. I appreciate the info.

Very cool! Apparently, this F. Vanderherchen was a local nautical supplier in philly. They made canvas burgee flags, like this, for use on ships. So the A's must've called on them in 1914 to make their burgee flag for Shibe Park after the season ended.

I'm aware of no felt novelty pennant resembling this. I've never seen their name associated with felt pennants or novelty souvenirs, so ... I'm guessing none was ever made on felt?

My guess is that this was a special piece ordered by the team from this company with the intention of the pennant being flown outdoors and needing to be weatherproof. It would be interesting, I think to see if there are any old photos of Shibe Park, where the pennant is visible.

A new arrival yesterday. Any guesses which pennant this origami mess is?

Looks like a big ‘un!

Give us a little better peek at it, without giving it away!

This is the worst bit and it needs a bit of a clean... but here you go.

A beauty … the 1954 WS pennant from the mystery NY company. A tough one!

Too easy, Gary! You probably could've shown just the top 1/4" of the "NY" and Greg still would have guessed it. I may have as well. :rolleyes:

Congrats on the pickup. An important pennant from a classic World Series that easily could have been inside the Polo Grounds the day Willie made "The Catch".

I did think it'd take you guys all of about 10 seconds to guess it. But at at 3am, my patience for photo editing was not as good as it could have been.

I was more than a little disappointed how it was folded by the seller fortunately, it ironed out OK.

Here's the full pennant. A few condition issues but it's a pretty scarce pennant that I bought at a very reasonable price.

I'm guessing that this is one that can't be cleaned because the red would bleed through the graphics. Advice gratefully received.

You better just leave it alone. Some people might try to find a vintage white donor spine :cool: but others would cringe at that idea. :eek:

Gorgeous! Congrats Gary.

No...Just take it off, bleach it and put it back on. Improves the appearance by 95%.

***Edited to add...At your own risk. Results may vary depending on the material of the spine.

I could get behind that idea.

Co-signed. Leave it alone.

I know of four years when this unknown company made two-team WS pennants. 1954-1957. So this is the first and definitely the hardest to find. All are cloth, and the spine has a double ply tissue-like feel to it. Very strange and unique.

Amazing condition for being 108 years old!!!

Wait....what?

I pick these up cheap, when I can. Question: is this a reproduction of an actual pennant or a flat out fantasy?

Slightly O/T...I really like the Chief Wahoo logo, one of my favorite. I have this AL team cap with all the logos. Based on the pennant championship crown on Wahoo’s head, and the other logos, I am guessing about 1955.

It's a really bad repro of this original pennant that I think was by RepCo. I only have this picture that someone posted from an old auction catalog. I'd love to see a better photo if anyone has one.

Joe, I really love that. A great piece. I think I'll be adding that to my ebay searches. Really nice.

Thanks, Gary!

It was me that posted that photo from an early 2000s Mastro Catalogue. I lost out on that one, as it sold for well into 5 figures. I was able to secure this one, however a few years later. Not exactly the same, but very close.... pic is attached below, per your request.

I'll also attach a 1913 Frank Chance 1st year Yankees pennant, as it was likely made by same manufacturer. Sorry for the reflection... very tough to photograph these framed ones.

Awesome Cap Joe!!!

Love those classic logos... especially the Batting Sock.

What the hell are those vegetable head figurines????

I find it interesting that you didn’t straighten the tassels on the Frank Chance pennant. “Keeping it real”?

Amazing pennants Mark!! Any idea on the manufacturer? And, yes, those vegetable heads are interesting and may give me nightmares! ;)

They look old. Obviously from baseball's salad days.

Here’s a pennant with that graphic

Mark, those are incredible. I’ve never seen either of those before …

Thanks Greg... much appreciated, especially coming from you!

The Fruit and Veggie guys are Salt & Pepper Shakers. Anthropomorphic figures like these were popular in the 1940s and 50s. They are incredibly detailed and artistic when viewed in person. No need for nightmares.... it's just a friendly Bell Pepper, a Tomato, a Pear and a Peach. I'm a sucker for this "off the wall" kind of stuff.

But this is a pennant thread, so I'll get back on-topic...

Rob- The tassels on the Frank Chance Pennant are actually closed loops, so that's the best I could do with the framing. I could make a single cut with a scissors (to make it a pair of tassels) and nobody would have known. But I couldn't live with myself if I did that kind of sh!t. :eek:

“Anthropomorphic.” Whoa! :cool:

Makes sense on the tassels. Can’t say I’ve ever seen that setup.

Wow Mark. Those are pennants are amazing. Thanks for sharing the photos.

Hey…I’ve got an idea for a Hey Pennant Guys sub thread. Hear me out…

https://www.facebook.com/share/16FDh...ibextid=wwXIfr

Hey Rob, What’s the idea? maybe I am missing something?

Collegiate of Ames stuffed animals! Everyone knows they made amazing pennants...but the original Beanie Babies?

Talk about it...

Or maybe not....

Maybe you should start a thread and see how that goes. :rolleyes:

I’ll bite. I like these stuffed guys. Here is "Leapin’ Lena” and “Lil Fritz", c1950.

Cornell had displayed in one of the libraries, briefly, different Class mascots. Each class would have a different mascot. These aren’t Collegiate Ames, although some maybe, but still very cool. The Penguin is Class of ’36, the Elephant ’26, the Turtle is an Ames Personality Pet - Class ’49, the Teddy Bear is actually ’08. Followed by a Class of ’56 Horse.

Dr. Joyce Brothers’ Pet.
 

This is Dr. Joyce Brothers ’47 personality pet - Lil’ Herbie.

Love these!

So cute!

Really cool...I know Kyle alludes to these in his COA article but had never come across any. The old ones are especially cool. I wonder how many survivors are out there.

LOVE these! The Horse, Elephant, Turtle, and especially the Penguin are awesome!

Would be so fun to try hunting these down... if only I was younger. Great stuff, Joe and Rob!

Couldn't pass this up, even with the missing bottom tassels. The graphics colors were just too good and the seller was willing to negotiate. For some reason, it seems like about 90% of the copies of this pennant are red. I now have red, purple, and black. Would like to find blue next.

One of the absolute classics of the mid-century. Great pickup, Marc!

Just wanted to say: I neither collect pennants nor plan on doing so, but I love reading this thread. So much cool stuff.

Agreed...but the missing tassel must have given you a little shudder, Mark. :p

I’ll add that only missing bottom tassels looks way better than only missing top tassels.

Yes indeed.... but so typical of Trench pennants. Best artwork of the Golden Era bar none... but their seamstress was (for some reason) adverse to sewing the spine all the way down to the bottom. :confused:

That pennant is 10 seconds away from perfection.

No missing tassels > missing bottom tassels

Is this a well known fact? :p

I think there's a support group for those who fret over tassels.

I will find some matching vintage Trench tassels and maybe have my wife lightly sew them in.

At the risk of being shunned, could you cut one of the tassels and reattach it to the bottom so that it’s visually more appealing?

Careful...I can sense blood pressures spiking.

To me...4 or 0 are the only right answers. If you're going to perform a tasselectomy, you might as well just take the two off. However, on a 50s trench pennant that always came with tassels and has an endless supply of era appropriate donor tassels, I'd recommend an augmentation tasselplasty.

To each his own...Feel free to get a second opinion. ;)

Yeah, I'm going to try to match them as well as I can. No rush. I know we all have our own pennant characteristics that do or do not drive us crazy. For me the ones that bother me are (in order):

1) flaking paint graphics
2) missing tassels
3) bug damage to the spine
4) bleeding to the spine

If the graphics are flaking, I just can't buy it (unless maybe is is super rare and the price is very low). For the other three, I either need to wait for a decent example or I'm willing to buy a damaged example for an appropriately low price and repair it a bit. They are for me to display. If a pennant is very rare or very valuable, I would not repair it. But most of my pennants don't fall into that category.

Most Trench baseball pennants post 1950 don’t fall into that category.

Surprised ripped/missing tip didn’t make the list. That’s easily my number one.

If the tip is ripped and missing, that is a problem for sure. If it is ripped and still there, I don't care that much (if the price is right). It's also clear that a lot of pennants were cut with a blunted tip. That used to bother me more than it does now.

Yeah...the ole square tip deal doesn't bother me as long as it's not an inch or more up from where the tip is supposed to be. Would prefer that though over the dreaded fishtail cut.

What about faded pennants? Like, for example, a 1950s blue pennant ... that's now some color between brown and gray? :rolleyes:

Fading is certainly not good, although I guess it just depends. Here is my most faded pennant. I could not afford an unfaded one at true market value.

From the home office in Windsor, CT...Tonight's category:

Felt Football's Top 10 pennant issues...

10. Missing/Decrepit Tassels
9. Bleeding Spine
8. Moth Holes
7. Miscut/Centering
6. Cracked/Flaking Paint
5. Stains
4. Writing including Autographs
3. Fading
2. Ripped/Missing Tip

and now, the number one Felt Football pennant issue...

Drumroll...

1. Smells like ass

As you all probably know, I am far from the most condition sensitive pennant collector. Hell, I may be the least sensitive. I will usually grab any Giants pennant I don’t have if the price reflects the poor condition. I’m a “buy it when you see it; maybe upgrade later” guy. That said, a badly faded blue pennant just might be a disqualifier for me.

I am a picky MFer... so all of those are deal-killers for me (except for cracking/puckering graphics on the older ones). This actually adds a cool vintage look/patina and is just as common as tack holes (which also don't bother me at all). But if the painted graphics are actually flaking off, that's where I draw the line.

A blunt tip is not a big deal either. Many were made that way, but if it's missing 1/2" or more, then it gives me pause. A dangling or "fishtailed" tip is a non-starter.

Excellent list, and I would add that a rip or tear anywhere on the pennant (not just the tip) kills it for me.

Yeah...Definitely should've included rips in general. This was obviously tongue in cheek. Smells like ass is actually a pretty easy problem to solve. I bought a camping clothesline on Amazon and I find if I hit the back of the pennant with a light cloud of Febreze, then leave it out overnight...problem solved by morning. And no...it's doesn't smell like Febreze either. Of course, I'm not referring to that incredible "old pennant" smell...but must, smoke, etc. This works really well for smoke.

And moth holes don't bother me too much as long as we're not talking about swiss cheese.

I am amazed at the number of people who reach out to me to ask if a 70-80 year old pennant has pin holes. Who would care? That's never even entered into my decision process when considering a pennant and it certainly has zero impact on value in my opinion.

To each his own. Some people are hung up on thread.

Condition
 

Mark -
I am pleased to see that your condition standards are great as always.
That is one of the reasons that your collection is fantastic.
I enjoyed that common bond we had.
Jerry

Good to know about the Febreze. Only problem is if you hang the clothesline in Seattle, the pennant will be soaking wet before you know it. :rolleyes:

Regarding the part in bold... It is indeed mind-boggling. I have had a couple of sales fall through because the prospective buyer asked about pinholes. Who the hell possibly cares? You'd rule out 90% of all vintage pennants if this was your criteria.

This misguided thinking has to emanate from the "Sportscard Culture", where pinholes are highly frowned upon. A great-condition card (that would otherwise grade NRMT) is automatically graded "1" by the know-nothing TPGs if it has a microscopic pin hole. And the collecting sheeple fall right in line.

So if/when you encounter this mindset, you are probably dealing with a TPG-addicted card collector. Thankfully, serious pennant collectors know it's a non-issue.

I enjoyed it too, Jerry. We miss seeing you around here...

Really loved our interactions, and boy did we make some great deals back in the day!

Thanks for the kind words and hope all is going well,
Mark

I with you Rob. I like to get the best condition that I can but if I find a pretty scarce pennant for a good price, I'll put up with a missing tassel or spine issues until I can upgrade it.

As I've gained experience with pennants, I'm able to figure out which stains can be removed with a gentle soak. Badly faded or large holes are where I normally draw the line.

I've not had the occasion to buy a pennant that smells like ass yet. Wonder what ebay sellers would reply, if I asked "does it smell like ass?" :D

LOL…Maybe I can petition eBay to add a “smells like ass” check box to their seller listing template.

Mark
Yes we did. I think our first transaction was with your Willie Mays Pennant.
That was the start of our realization that we were condition "freaks"

Cool player pennants, Jerry. I keep mine together, too, although I don’t have as many.

Hi-

Here is something unusual. It is a Philadelphia Phillies pennant from Mike Ryan Motor Sales. It is signed by multiple members of the mid 60s Red Sox including Tony C (but no Yaz unless I missed seeing his signature).

Mike Ryan Motor Sales was in Haverhill MA so I am not sure why they made a Phillies pennant but I am guessing it was made when Ryan was traded to the Phillies (the dealership was run by his uncle but he worked there). Has anyone seen an unsigned version of this pennant? Did the motor sales company make any other pennants?

Alan