1919 Reds Pennant

[Shoeless Moe]

Anyone out there win this just now?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...torefresh=true

$3500 seems insane, but I'm not a high roller so I live in a different world. The story of it the description doesn't jive, so I hope they didn't buy it on that.

[3-2-count]

I saw it and had interest due to the history of the Black Sox scandal, but not at that price. Winning amount went for double what I thought it would.
Unique piece none the less. Congrat's to the winner.

Edited to add a link where the item was being discussed. LINK

[perezfan]

MUCH higher than I thought it would go as well...

I get the lore and history behind it, but (to me) it just wasn't very attractive. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

[GoldenAge50s]

I think part of the allure of "folk art" is the innocent crudeness of an amateur creator & the "one-of-a-kind" aspect of owning it.

[perezfan]

Here's a very similar Babe Ruth Pennant (purportedly from 1928) that's been running on ebay forever. It looks to be made by the same people/same company that did the 1919 Reds Pennant.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Babe-Rut...item3ef8632a16

Same material, same stenciling, same stars, same style. Is it conceivable that the same people were making these pennants over a 9 year span? These look rather cheap and even home-made, and I am a bit suspicious about the "epic" subject matter for both.

Babe Ruth and the 1919 Reds are two pretty "heavy" subjects.... Coincidence? You don't ever encounter this style of pennant, and two have now popped up on ebay. Between REA, Hunts. Lelands, Mastro, Heritage and SCP... you'd think that just one other legit example would have surfaced over the years (especially if the people making these were in business for over a decade).

Just this week, we've had a misrepresented 1915 Negro League Pennant, 2 completely bogus Tigers "Franken-pennants" and now these. So I'm a bit suspicious as to the origins. The 1928 Ruth and 1919 Reds could be real/could be fantasy.... they do appear old. Would love to hear other peoples' thoughts on the matter.

[baseballart]

Mark

I have no expertise in pennants (and in little else, for that matter). One point on the pennant is that the auctioneer was also offering a beat up copy of Ellard's Baseball in Cincinnati, 1908. This probably doesn't amount to much, but could be an indication they came from a collection of that era (conversely, I guess they could have come from someone who purchased both in 1980).

Edited to add: looking at that Babe Ruth pennant would certainly give me pause before I bid on the Reds one.

Max

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by baseballart

Mark

I have no expertise in pennants (and in little else, for that matter). One point on the pennant is that the auctioneer was also offering a beat up copy of Ellard's Baseball in Cincinnati, 1908. This probably doesn't amount to much, but could be an indication they came from a collection of that era (conversely, I guess they could have come from someone who purchased both in 1980).

Edited to add: looking at that Babe Ruth pennant would certainly give me pause before I bid on the Reds one.

Max

That is a positive sign... but not iron-clad evidence of authenticity, as you say. Could just be consigned from a Reds collector who bought the pennant on faith...

If the 1919 Reds Pennant is good, then someone should jump on that Ruth Pennant (a real bargain by comparison!)

[baseballart]

Originally Posted by baseballart

Mark

I have no expertise in pennants (and in little else, for that matter). One point on the pennant is that the auctioneer was also offering a beat up copy of Ellard's Baseball in Cincinnati, 1908. This probably doesn't amount to much, but could be an indication they came from a collection of that era (conversely, I guess they could have come from someone who purchased both in 1980).

Edited to add: looking at that Babe Ruth pennant would certainly give me pause before I bid on the Reds one.

Max

Well, at least the seller's 1908 Baseball in Cincinnati was real.

Pretty frightening with these pennants. When viewed together, it's pretty clear they are not vintage.

I just hope people stay away from artificially aged reproductions of baseball books

[gratefuldog3]

The seller told me that he contacted the person who sold the pennant to his partner in person. Apparently, when confronted, he was greated with a slammed door in his face. I think whoever slammed the door is close to our source! Who the hell really knows. Could just be an honery old man. I deal with those kind all day. Thanks again, and I hope I'm never the topic here again. Scott