Hey, pennant guys

[Duluth Eskimo]

That's a great one Rick. Don't think I've seen that version before.

[perezfan]

Wow... Phenomenal condition for one that ancient. No fading whatsoever, crisp graphics and a perfect tip. Someone took incredible care of that one. Not to mention the pennant itself is a masterpiece. Not sure I've ever seen such a long, skinny one. 8" X 35" is really unusual.

Congrats on a magnificent acquisition!

[mrkrab]

another uncommon late keezer

[vintagesportflips]

After a long negotiation with a fellow Frankford Yellowjackets collector, I was finally able to add to my collection one of my holy grail wantlist items: A Frankford Yellowjackets pennant. It is slightly oversized, and while it has some faults (missing a set of tassels and some minor mothholes), I am thrilled to own it. It's previous owner purchased it from someone who discovered it with an FYJ program in a Philadelphia area attic.

[Bumpus Jones]

Awesome pick up Keith!

[Duluth Eskimo]

That pennant is bad a$$. A holy grail indeed. Please pass all Redjackets, Marines, Kelleys, and Eskimos pennants my way.

[phillies]

Awesome pennant Keith! Glad you finally got a chance to add one to your collection!

[vintagesportflips]

Thanks Chris, Jason, and Bill.

[perezfan]

Congrats Keith!

Great to see you finally landed one. Very nice example, and the first I've ever seen. Awesome!

[vintagesportflips]

Thanks Mark! After many years of fruitless ebay searches looking for one, I was ecstatic to finally add it to my collection.

[mikemb]

My favorite.

[ooo-ribay]

Keith - I'm 100% sincere with my congratulations on your Holy Grail. I think we all have Holy Grails which would barely rate a shrug from other people but would make our day....or week or month or year. So, truly, congrats......but that is one ugly pennant. Couldn't they at least center the text? I guess that's part of its charm. So ugly it's beautiful?

Glad you can finally cross it off your list!

[vintagesportflips]

Thanks Rob, and I do agree completely on the lack on the pennants lack of aesthetic beauty. The last one I saw offered for sale (16 years ago or so) had an identical look, and the football hall of fame has a similar example, so I knew what one would look like when I finally landed one. While it would be nice to find one with a great football player graphic at its left side, or even the YJ logo sewn to the left side, I doubt pennants like that were ever produced. NFL pennants from the 1920's in general are exceedingly scarce, and I have a feeling most were rather generic looking.

[jester]

This from the Mear's auction. Is it a Cubs pennant? 35" oversized.

[MK]

Although I don't collect them, I've always been interested in the team photo pennants. My question is what is the earliest one made? A quick search of eBay revealed this 1959 White Sox version. Anyone have one earlier? Also, there are obviously many of these for some teams (Yankees for example), and none for other teams (Cubs). Anyone know of a checklist for these types? Finally, when was production of these stopped. It appears to me at some point in the 1980s, the actual photo inserted into the pennant stopped.

[perezfan]

Jeff:
Wonderful pickup on the oversized Cubs Pennant. Definitely Cubs and not Bears. The Cubs used Maroon/Burgundy almost exclusively with their early pennants. That is an early to mid-teens pennant, and the Bears didn't exist until 1922. That's a beauty and in amazing shape, given its age!

Mike:
I believe 1959 is about the earliest known for the actual photo pennants. I can't recall seeing any of that style that are earlier. Of course it's possible, but seems they were most prevalent from 1959 - the mid seventies or so.

[ooo-ribay]

The only Giants photo pennant is 1962 NL Champs. Aren't they all for either league or World Series champs? If so, that would explain no Cubs.

[perezfan]

Nope... Not exclusively for Champs and Pennant Winners.

The Reds, for example, did a photo pennant every year between 1960 and 1977 or so. These were sold at the stadium, in addition to the pennants with regular (screened) graphics.

[Duluth Eskimo]

Originally Posted by jester

This from the Mear's auction. Is it a Cubs pennant? 35" oversized.

This would be one of those agree to disagree moments unless I see a photo of it at Wrigley Field. I believe this is a Bears pennant. Generally pre 1920's pennants are in that 35 inch range, but it is my opinion that this is Bears. One reason I say that is that there is only a Bear and not a Cub or bears Cubs on the pennant. I have sold three or four of these in the past and I may have sold this one to Dave Bushing. There is another similar or same version that Duke Hott had in his football collection that I sold to him. It's a great pennant either way and I may in fact be wrong. Hopefully there is some concrete proof that I am unaware of. I will check my records and photos as well to see if I have anything showing this version.

[MK]

I tend to agree with Mark on the oversized pennant being a Cubs rather than Bears. The Cubs used adult bears as a mascot for years, especially the early years. And since the Bears weren't around pre 1920, seems more likely to be a Cubs version.

[Duluth Eskimo]

That's why I said we will probably agree to disagree.

[MK]

Originally Posted by Duluth Eskimo

That's why I said we will probably agree to disagree.

Completely agree.

[perezfan]

A Yard of the National Game. Note the fully grown ferocious Bear Mascots...

[perezfan]

Burgundy oversized pennant with Full Bear...

[perezfan]

Another early one with full-grown Bear...

[perezfan]

And another...

[perezfan]

Frank Chance's Cubs. The only one that's not burgundy, but still with the full-grown Bear. This was definitely the norm for Teens Cubs Pennants. The real challenge would be to find one from that era with a true Cub Mascot.

[Duluth Eskimo]

I am familiar with Cubs and other vintage pennants and have seen all that you have presented. As I said, I have sold at least three of the style we are talking about in the past. I have a different opinion.

[mjkm90]

The Lincoln Park zoo opened in 1868...maybe it's from there??? Every one of the Cubs pennants with the real bear has the word Cubs or baseball on it. I think it's a zoo or travel pennant.

[perezfan]

Completely disagree on this one. Zoo pennants typically said "Cincinnati Zoo", "Bronx Zoo" or "Lincoln Park Zoo". And they were almost all 3/4 size, which was more manageable for a child or tourist to shlep around.

Don't have time to post a ton more, but here are other early Baseball examples of just the City and Mascot...

[perezfan]

Another...

[perezfan]

Pirates...

[perezfan]

Tigers...

[Duluth Eskimo]

I agree and I don't think it is from a zoo. I don't understand why you are posting a plethora of early pennants other than to show size.

[mjkm90]

I agree it isn't from the zoo. I was simply stirring the pot a bit

[ooo-ribay]

Too bad Mark doesn't have any good pennants.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Duluth Eskimo

I agree and I don't think it is from a zoo. I don't understand why you are posting a plethora of early pennants other than to show size.

Hi Jason...

It's not to show size...

The first batch was to show that burgundy was the Cubs primary color for early pennants. Secondly was to show they typically used a full-grown bear Mascot (rather than a Cub) in those early days.

The second batch was to demonstrate pennant examples with only a mascot and a City name. Some of the early teens pennants did not have the TEAM name. Just the City (typically positioned to the right of the pictured mascot).

Sorry, I'm not able to post multiple pictures to a single post. Not sure why I lost this functionality, and apologize for the large number of posts. Mercifully, I'm done now!

[Duluth Eskimo]

I get what you're saying and eluding to. I know the Cubs are almost always maroon as you showed. I also know the city name, but almost all of those are in the early stylized font and not the block letters like CHICAGO. I just disagree and that is ok. I have seen every pennant you posted in the past, some multiple times. I am very familiar with vintage pennants and their makeup and size. I know you are very knowledgable in vintage pennants as well. I stand by my opinion and you guys can stand by yours. No big deal.

[MK]

Let me just say that as a long time fan of both the Cubs and the Bears, the pennant in question would look very nice in either collection.

[jester]

I think it is a Cubs pennant and it will look very nice with my other early Cubs pennants.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Sorry, I'm not able to post multiple pictures to a single post. Not sure why I lost this functionality, and apologize for the large number of posts. Mercifully, I'm done now!

This is a pennant thread, keep the posts coming, I love each and every one of them, no apologies needed.

[OldSchoolBaseball]

ChiPenCo (Chicago Pennant Co) college pennants are the best. Finally found one from my Alma Mater (1950's??)

https://collectableivy.wordpress.com...nnant-company/

[steve B]

Just a thought on the Chicago pennant.

With both sports being seasonal, and Chicago also being a tourist destination even then, is it possible the pennant company sold not only pennants specific to a team or location that would be sold at or near the venue, but also sold a somewhat generic pennant that could be sold in locations that catered to tourists or a more transient fan base during both seasons and as a simple Chicago souvenir?

I can see a vendor who sold at both stadiums being interested in items that could be both Cubs and Bears, and at other times sold as generic Chicago pennant -Parades, major civic events etc.
The same for a store near a venue or downtown but not close enough for the specific ones to make sense.


Steve B

[perezfan]

Good thought...

But the Chicago Bears didn't exist until 1922.

This pennant possesses all of the features (size, graphics, material) of an early teens pennant. I have looked at thousands of pennants, and have never seen one example of an oversized Professional Football Team Pennant with screened/painted graphics.

Can anyone here present an example of an oversized Professional Football Pennant?

[mrkrab]

In regards to oversize Cubs pennant.

Kind of looks like a Langrock Bros pennant. I have only seem University pennants made by this company. But that doesn't mean they didn't do others! Here are a few examples. I don't think Chicago University ever had a bear mascot so I would vote Cubs!

Does anyone know the story behind the orange and black cubs pennants?

[matty39]

I recently obtained my ninth premium. There are ten known, leaving only the Cobb to complete the set. I am aware of two Cobbs; one posted on the forum several years ago which is shown below. The second sold in the Halper auction. I am not hopeful of ever obtaining a Cobb but am excited to get my ninth.

[MK]

Fabulous job of preserving history! I hope you can find your Cobb.

[seattlerainiers]

Originally Posted by matty39

I recently obtained my ninth premium. There are ten known, leaving only the Cobb to complete the set. I am aware of two Cobbs; one posted on the forum several years ago which is shown below. The second sold in the Halper auction. I am not hopeful of ever obtaining a Cobb but am excited to get my ninth.

Really impressive. Congrats! Would love to see you get the Cobb.

[jester]

A few recent ones.

[perezfan]

Wow- those are all amazing and SO rare. I especially love the '39 World Series Pennant from Lelands. You never see that one, and the graphics are off the charts.

Congrats on that incredible haul