Hey, pennant guys

[Domer05]

Wow, very interesting ads. That's exactly the kind of evidence you need to make your case.

Any idea when those ads were run??

Now we'll have to find the other six AL city/team pennants.

[cincicards]

Originally Posted by Domer05

Wow, very interesting ads. That's exactly the kind of evidence you need to make your case.

Any idea when those ads were run??

Now we'll have to find the other six AL city/team pennants.

The ads are from 1913.

[cincicards]

Here is another ad for all eight pennants (Detroit Free Press - Mar 13, 1913):

pennants.jpg

[MK]

While sorting through some boxes I had packed away, I came across an auction catalog from Mastro in 1998. Most of the items in this auction were memorabilia although it also had great cards including an ungraded T206 Wagner (which they admitted had some restoration). Among the items, were several vintage pennants which are pictured below. I have no idea how much any of these went for as I do not have the final price list. By any chance does anyone have the prices for this auction? It took place July 16-17, 1998.

[perezfan]

I remember that auction. I do not have the prices realized, but am positive that the Oversized pennants sold for lots less back in 1998, while the more common ones sold for a bit more than they do now. This auction took place right before eBay took off...

I believe that eBay really changed the market for these things when they came into prominence. The Oversized teens pennants dried up completely, as you rarely see them on eBay anymore. Thus the severe price escalation. And the others from the 1950s-60s were proven to be more common than perhaps initially believed. Many/most of those prices have held stagnant, or have even dropped a bit in price.

I remember well when Lelands featured that Brooklyn Bum pennant (shown in the Mastro Catalogue). It was around that same time, and went for $750 plus the BP. Today, you’d do well to get $175 for it. Just some ramblings from a washed out “pennant guy”.

[MK]

Originally Posted by perezfan

I remember that auction. I do not have the prices realized, but am positive that the Oversized pennants sold for lots less back in 1998, while the more common ones sold for a bit more than they do now. This auction took place right before eBay took off...

I believe that eBay really changed the market for these things when they came into prominence. The Oversized teens pennants dried up completely, as you rarely see them on eBay anymore. Thus the severe price escalation. And the others from the 1950s-60s were proven to be more common than perhaps initially believed. Many/most of those prices have held stagnant, or have even dropped a bit in price.

I remember well when Lelands featured that Brooklyn Bum pennant (shown in the Mastro Catalogue). It was around that same time, and went for $750 plus the BP. Today, you’d do well to get $175 for it. Just some ramblings from a washed out “pennant guy”.

Thanks Mark. Your “ramblings” are always helpful.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Domer05

Wow, very interesting ads. That's exactly the kind of evidence you need to make your case.

Any idea when those ads were run??

Now we'll have to find the other six AL city/team pennants.

Ask, and ye shall receive...

https://memorylaneinc.com/site/bids/...e?itemid=53212


Scroll left-to-right underneath the picture, to see them all (as well as the newspaper ad from 1913). Solid evidence that Randall's Detroit Pennant is indeed the real deal!

[Domer05]

Wow, I had not realized that these pennants were all sewn letter--not screen printed. Historically, most promotional pennants were of lower quality since they were basically given away, i.e., no tassels, no spines, smaller sizes. As the ad claims, these really were $0.75 pennants for the day--for only $0.15.

I'm kind of surprised nobody bid for the lot. The auction house did a great job of researching this series and establishing their provenance as legitimate baseball pennants from 1913.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Domer05

Wow, I had not realized that these pennants were all sewn letter--not screen printed. Historically, most promotional pennants were of lower quality since they were basically given away, i.e., no tassels, no spines, smaller sizes. As the ad claims, these really were $0.75 pennants for the day--for only $0.15.

I'm kind of surprised nobody bid for the lot. The auction house did a great job of researching this series and establishing their provenance as legitimate baseball pennants from 1913.

It will get plenty of bids... auction has not yet opened (it’s still in preview phase)

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Domer05

I'm kind of surprised nobody bid for the lot. The auction house did a great job of researching this series and establishing their provenance as legitimate baseball pennants from 1913.

The auction starts tomorrow...

Oops, sorry I should refresh my screen before responding to posts...

[bocca001]

Thanks to Fballguy for making this rare Astros pennant available to me.

I was also inspired by Greg to try using google photos to organize pics of my collection. Here is what I was able to do for Houston baseball (hope the link works). I'll try to get to other stuff (e.g., SF Giants) soon.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YVosseANFrmHdHPh9

[ooo-ribay]

Great Google gallery, Marc!

I notice:

A sure bleach candidate.
The odd LH batter between the pistols.
An autograph?

[rlevy]

Back on the hunt for photos showing pennants, and the pennant guide listed the pennant shown in this photo as an LA 1960's. But this photo is from 1956 when the Brooklyn Dodgers played some of their games at Roosevelt Park, the year after finally winning the World Series. Or am I missing something? Are there different versions of a similar pennant?
1956 april world champions Roosevelt stadium enlarged.jpg
1956 or 1957 gettyimages-517762432-2048x2048 Roosevelt stadium retouched.jpg

[bocca001]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

Great Google gallery, Marc!

I notice:

A sure bleach candidate.
The odd LH batter between the pistols.
An autograph?

Given all of the issues with bleaching red graphics, I just wasn't sure about bleaching that one with Orange. Every copy of that pennant I have ever seen has been pretty dingy. I may try picking up a second copy at some point and bleaching one. It's an uncommon pennant, but not super rare.

And, yes, the blue Colts does have autographs, from two relief pitchers. I'm usually not a fan of autographs on vintage pennants, but there was something I liked about that one. It reminded me of my kids getting autographs at games and being excited with any autographs, even the random relief pitchers (who are usually the only players you can get to sign during warmups these days). It was at a local antique store and I figured that I would help to keep it in the Houston area.

[thetahat]

Originally Posted by bocca001

Thanks to Fballguy for making this rare Astros pennant available to me.

I was also inspired by Greg to try using google photos to organize pics of my collection. Here is what I was able to do for Houston baseball (hope the link works). I'll try to get to other stuff (e.g., SF Giants) soon.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YVosseANFrmHdHPh9

Marc great pics! Glad it worked out. Cool Keezer pennants, i.e. the two red ones, one Colts and the Astros-naut pennant. Interesting that I have the latter Astros pennant with ‘Houston’ in the font used on your Colts pennant.

Greg

[bocca001]

Greg- I see that now. Your red Astros and my red Astros have a different font.

Rob- I did end up getting some "Retro Clean" detergent from Amazon, and used it to try to clean up the Canteen Corp Oilers pennant below. It wasn't an expensive pennant and I figured that I was experimenting. I was most interested in getting off the brownish spots that looked like foxing to me. I used a small spoon to try to get the detergent/water mix on the felt, but not the paint. I ended up getting a drip on the helmet, which turned into a mess. The helmet and football are painted off-white. The detergent took the off-whie away and left just white. So, I tried to go down to the white level on the entire helmet, with mixed results. I'm ok with the results given that I knew I would probably mess it somehow. I was happy with the ability of the retro clean to significantly reduce the brown spots (on a color pennant) with just 5 or so minutes of soaking before a water rinse. I think the best solution is to try to wait for a clean pennant to become available. But some of these thin, lighter-color fabric pennants always seem yellowed, browned, and dirty.