^^^^^ So, you believe the monochromes were intentional? You’re probably right. I had always considered them mistakes. I’d love to know if your “different price points” theory is correct as well.

I had wondered about price/cost point being a factor as well.

One interesting thing about the pennants Rob posted is how rare they are. I've been collecting Giants pennants for 5+ years and have never seen even one of the pennant(s) Rob posted (with the batter in the stadium) for sale during that time. I'd expect to see variations for a design that was very common, because it sold for a long time, had multiple production runs, etc. Why so many variations of such a rare pennant?

Here's some more examples of the color variations Trench offered. The below pennant was sold at Dodger Stadium and through the team's mail order catalog from the 1960s through the early 1980s. The first is their simple, two-color variation. White and green, that's it.

Next is the polychrome variant, with at least five different shades of color.

Finally, here's the same polychrome pennant; but, the colors have faded, probably due to sun exposure. From a distance, it almost appears monochrome.

Same design. Different color options.

Anyone have a Syracuse University Baseball Pennant?

How about the pennants from the late 40s/early 50s that seem to have spray-painted colors? This style is a fairly thick felt, wide spine, single stitch, and thin tassels that are further from the corners. The dated Tigers pennants from early 50s seem to fit this mold.

Agree....that kind of effect couldn’t be done with silk screen.

I hear you guys, but even that Cleveland pennant was silk screened. The base layer in white would have been the first layer applied; and, it would have been screened on. No question. It had to be. Otherwise, the red felt would show through the white lettering, making it look pinkish.

On the other hand, the secondary color applications may not have been screened on.... I'm still trying to figure that out because I think that look is really cool. I believe they called that a "color gradient" because, well, the color goes from dark to light to nothing. Typically, this mystery maker applied this effect to the text (which was white) that ran across the pennant, moving in a horizontal line, from top to bottom or bottom to top.

Here's some White Sox and Yankees pennants that feature a two-color gradient. Both were made by the same unknown manufacturer as part of a whole series of mostly monochrome pennants featuring a ball running through the team's name. This "ball through the name" series was made throughout the 1950s and includes a dated 1951 Tigers pennant as well as a ca. 1958 Los Angeles Dodgers pennant.

It's possible they created this gradient by air brushing the colors atop the white base layer. It's also possible they screened it on, using the squeegee like a brush, applying a quick burst of pressure while gradually letting that pressure diminish. Or maybe they rolled the ink on with a roller? Who knows? But it is a very cool look.

I don't believe ADFLAG made either the Cleveland or this Sox or Yankees pennants; but, ADFLAG did make a San Francisco Giants pennant using the same technique.

[I know Rob will happily post it soon enough....]

Interestingly...or not...I've always wondered about this Niners pennant. It looks like someone took spray paint to it...Not really accomplishing the gradient look with the green across forty niners, but some success with the red across San Francisco. Maybe an early attempt at a competitor trying to copy the technique.

<a href="http://imgbox.com/oil5iD94" target="_blank"><img src="https://images2.imgbox.com/53/bf/oil5iD94_o.png" alt="image host"/></a>

No doubt, the white was silk screened. I'm 99.9% certain the "secondary color applications" had to be airbrushed. The airbrush was invented in the late 1800's and custom car culture made the technique very popular in the 1950's.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbrush

:p

This Chicago pennant has been discussed before. I noticed this San Francisco pennant on eBay dated 1915 which has the same “bear” mascot. Makes me think the pennant maker made these for numerous cities using the same mascot. Seeing this pennant makes me think these are not sports related.