Hey, pennant guys

[thetahat]

Remember the old ads in TV Guide that asked you to sketch and submit a cartoon drawing? The "winner" would get discounted art lessons or something. Well I think that's how the Ad Flag Pennant Company hired their artists. I have some Ad Flags in my collection and they are universally just ugly-a** pennants. Look at this Brooklyn Dodgers pennant. I have to have it, I am a collector and it is Brooklyn after all. But the guy looks less like a bum and more like a sex offender. And why the huge claw-like hand? This Phillies "quaker" pennant started giving me the creeps so I took it down, I might have to bury it in the backyard before it gives me bad dreams. And what is he stepping on ... is that a base or a box of Tastykakes?

On top of the bad art, they were often poorly cut (crooked, as with scissors) and the old-style designs have confused many collectors, as evident by this discussion ... I'm guessing these weren't sold in the ballparks but instead in the parking lots or back alleys.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by thetahat

Remember the old ads in TV Guide that asked you to sketch and submit a cartoon drawing? The "winner" would get discounted art lessons or something. Well I think that's how the Ad Flag Pennant Company hired their artists. I have some Ad Flags in my collection and they are universally just ugly-a** pennants. Look at this Brooklyn Dodgers pennant. I have to have it, I am a collector and it is Brooklyn after all. But the guy looks less like a bum and more like a sex offender. And why the huge claw-like hand? This Phillies "quaker" pennant started giving me the creeps so I took it down, I might have to bury it in the backyard before it gives me bad dreams. And what is he stepping on ... is that a base or a box of Tastykakes?

On top of the bad art, they were often poorly cut (crooked, as with scissors) and the old-style designs have confused many collectors, as evident by this discussion ... I'm guessing these weren't sold in the ballparks but instead in the parking lots or back alleys.

Here's one that defies logic. It is unquestionably vintage and "of the era"...

The font saying "Brooklyn" and "Dodgers" is identical to Ad Flag's "Sex Offender" Bum. Same for the font saying "Da Bums". But instead of showing the creepy sex offender mascot, it has a magnificent depiction of the Willard Mullin Bum inside of Ebbets Field.

I always considered these Stadium versions to be of a higher caliber, in terms of their graphics and quality. So how could this "hybrid" pennant even exist?

[thetahat]

Mark: great Ebbets pennant, I saw it on eBay. Surely one that isn't one of their typical uglies. That's the only AdFlag I've seen depicting a ballpark. They must have been making them for a long time, they have made A's and Browns, and have soft felt. And a few of them like your Pirates are in color. But they kept the same designs for many years, I have that same Pirates in gold and it is stiff like a 70s pennant. The Phillies Quaker pennant also comes in light blue stuff felt.

Here's another AdFlag Brooklyn version.

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by thetahat

Remember the old ads in TV Guide that asked you to sketch and submit a cartoon drawing? The "winner" would get discounted art lessons or something. Well I think that's how the Ad Flag Pennant Company hired their artists. I have some Ad Flags in my collection and they are universally just ugly-a** pennants.

You want ugly? I got your ugly, right here. This "artist" was rejected by Ad Flag.

[thetahat]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

You want ugly? I got your ugly, right here. This "artist" was rejected by Ad Flag.

Great pennants! I have the top one, neat to see it dated by the ticket. And yeah, why is he wearing just shorts and socks?

These might be early Ad Flags though I wouldn't wager it. Pennants like the top one have in common: felt (not cloth), single stitching at wide end, thick strip, and the tassels are thin and made of the same felt. Usually just one color print but some have multi color graphic that looks almost spray painted like my sex offender Dodger pennant. The STL "angry brownie" pennant is of this mold.

[perezfan]

Well, I guess that after 843 posts and 105,000 views, this has morphed into an "Ugly Pennant Thread"...

That Giants Pennant is pretty horrendous, and looks like it was drawn by a semi-talented 3rd grader. His chest looks like it's made of ocean water, and why are there Xs on his socks?

Here's another example of an artist that may have failed to make the cut with AdFlag. This is my nomination for worst vintage pennant/dumbest logo (but still better than the modern junk made today...)

[thetahat]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Well, I guess that after 843 posts and 105,000 views, this has morphed into an "Ugly Pennant Thread"...

That Giants Pennant is pretty horrendous, and looks like it was drawn by a semi-talented 3rd grader. His chest looks like it's made of ocean water, and why are there Xs on his socks?

Here's another example of an artist that may have failed to make the cut with AdFlag. This is my nomination for worst vintage pennant/dumbest logo (but still better than the modern junk made today...)

Yes that is an awful logo. What hitter looks like that in his follow thru? (Of course the bigger question is what hitter has the letter A as his torso.) They replaced the cool elephant logo on the KC stadium pennants with this.

Now time for the ugliest of the uglies, pretty sure this one is a very early AdFlag ....

[thetahat]

I will go ahead now and post my favorite Phillies pennant, and one of my favorites in general ... this design was used on a yearbook one season, it is one of two Phillies Keezer pennants and just has a great 50s look to it.

[Bumpus Jones]

Thought I would join in on weird / ugly pennant -rama. It's a mini, but still pretty cool. Would love to find a full size version...