Quote:
Originally Posted by bocca001
Just picked up this funky 1970s(?) version of an Astros Astrodome pennant. This version, with the "thick" Houston is somewhat less common than many other versions.
Note the "VET" mark/stamp at the bottom. Figured I'd share to see what Kyle might know about it.
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I wish I knew more about this "VET" mark. I've seen it on 1970s-era pennants--typically on white pennants. Sure looks like a maker's mark ... or, a concessionaire's mark.
I guess it
could refer to Veteran's Stadium. But, why would it?? The Phillies certainly didn't manufacture their own pennants. And the presence of the league logo indicates that these were officially licensed by MLB. By the 1970s, only Trench, ASCO, and a company out of Brooklyn called APSCO enjoyed such rights.
A concessionaire's mark seems more likely; but, at the time, the biggest concessionaire was Aramark, conveniently headquartered in--you guessed it--Philadelphia. And their concessionaire's mark looked nothing like this. (It's a circle with "ARA" inside it.) I can't imagine anyone else running concessions at Veteran's Stadium than Aramark. Nor can I think of any other concessionaire that started with a "V."
Also, if "VET" signified some connection to the stadium you'd expect the majority of these pennants to be Phillies (or Eagles) pennants. I can't say I've ever seen one.
And if we're thinking the Phillies sold these non-Phillies pennants whenever these visiting teams came to town, how do we explain why a Texas Rangers pennant was ever sold at Veteran's Stadium?
I'm stumped. If I had to guess, I'd guess Trench made these for some retailer none of us are thinking of, like a now defunct sporting goods store/chain starting with a "V."