Hey, pennant guys

[perezfan]

I agree that Tigers pennants throughout the years are the best by far. It started in the teens (with oversized beauties) and continued all the way through the sixties, with more variations than any other team, by far. They also had more “Stadium” versions than any other team.

Would love to know why, but it would probably take thousands of hours of googling, only to come up with nothing. Perhaps their person in charge of concessions just loved Pennants the way we do!

[Domer05]

Originally Posted by perezfan

I agree that Tigers pennants throughout the years are the best by far. It started in the teens (with oversized beauties) and continued all the way through the sixties, with more variations than any other team, by far. They also had more “Stadium” versions than any other team.

Would love to know why, but it would probably take thousands of hours of googling, only to come up with nothing. Perhaps their person in charge of concessions just loved Pennants the way we do!

I think I have the answer: it's the Trench-Sportservice partnership. By the 1940s, Trench was making some of the best pennants on the market. Their artwork was tops; as were their production methods. All they needed was a marketplace to sell their merch in.

The Tigers were one of the first teams to really give them that. That's because the Tigers were the first team to partner with Sportservice. Once Navin Field's ballpark concession stands were run by Sportservice in the 1930s, that opened the door for Trench's pennants. Trench seems to have capitalized on things by the early 1940s, making some really cutting edge pennants for their exclusive use.

If you look at 1940s Tigers pennants, I suspect many were made by Trench. Whereas other Trench pennants from this era utilized generic ballpark designs, their Tiger ones featured custom renderings of Briggs Stadium. Several different ones, in fact.

By the 1950s Trench was making stadium pennants for other teams; but, early on, not so much. The Tigers enjoyed early access to Trench pennants via Sportservice; and that connection seems to have generated some really special pennants for them and them alone.

I think that best explains why Tiger fans have it so good when it comes to terrific pennant designs.

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by Domer05

I think I have the answer: it's the Trench-Sportservice partnership. By the 1940s, Trench was making some of the best pennants on the market. Their artwork was tops; as were their production methods. All they needed was a marketplace to sell their merch in.

The Tigers were one of the first teams to really give them that. That's because the Tigers were the first team to partner with Sportservice. Once Navin Field's ballpark concession stands were run by Sportservice in the 1930s, that opened the door for Trench's pennants. Trench seems to have capitalized on things by the early 1940s, making some really cutting edge pennants for their exclusive use.

If you look at 1940s Tigers pennants, I suspect many were made by Trench. Whereas other Trench pennants from this era utilized generic ballpark designs, their Tiger ones featured custom renderings of Briggs Stadium. Several different ones, in fact.

By the 1950s Trench was making stadium pennants for other teams; but, early on, not so much. The Tigers enjoyed early access to Trench pennants via Sportservice; and that connection seems to have generated some really special pennants for them and them alone.

I think that best explains why Tiger fans have it so good when it comes to terrific pennant designs.

Great info...I guess that explains why it's harder to sell Tigers pennants (for me anyway) and why they tend to go for less than I expected. I always thought Tigers fans were cheap...but it's just that there's no shortage of Tigers pennants out there.

[Fballguy]

One other note...The Tigers deal with Sportservice/Trench must've included the Lions as well as they are one of the few (only?) NFL teams to have stadium pennants from that era...though not as many as the Tigers. Has anyone seen 1940-50's era football pennants with other stadiums besides Briggs? I know there's a Soldier Field pennant, but with no reference to the Bears on it. Can't think of any others off the top of my head.

[perezfan]

Great info, Domer! That has to be the reason for the Tigers pennants being so prevalent.... Many thanks!

And Rob, you are absolutely right! I cannot think of any other Football Team (besides the Lions) who featured their stadium on so many pennants. Or on any at all, for that matter. The Bears had one with a portion of Wrigley Field visible, but it was not nearly as detailed as the Briggs Stadium pennants.

That's a great Baseball-Football connection that seems rather obvious, now that you've pointed it out!

[MK]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Great info, Domer! That has to be the reason for the Tigers pennants being so prevalent.... Many thanks!

And Rob, you are absolutely right! I cannot think of any other Football Team (besides the Lions) who featured their stadium on so many pennants. Or on any at all, for that matter. The Bears had one with a portion of Wrigley Field visible, but it was not nearly as detailed as the Briggs Stadium pennants.

That's a great Baseball-Football connection that seems rather obvious, now that you've pointed it out!

I think this is the Bears pennant with a portion of Wrigley Field visible.

[perezfan]

Yup.... That's it, Mike!

[thetahat]

Originally Posted by Domer05

I think I have the answer: it's the Trench-Sportservice partnership. By the 1940s, Trench was making some of the best pennants on the market. Their artwork was tops; as were their production methods. All they needed was a marketplace to sell their merch in.

The Tigers were one of the first teams to really give them that. That's because the Tigers were the first team to partner with Sportservice. Once Navin Field's ballpark concession stands were run by Sportservice in the 1930s, that opened the door for Trench's pennants. Trench seems to have capitalized on things by the early 1940s, making some really cutting edge pennants for their exclusive use.

If you look at 1940s Tigers pennants, I suspect many were made by Trench. Whereas other Trench pennants from this era utilized generic ballpark designs, their Tiger ones featured custom renderings of Briggs Stadium. Several different ones, in fact.

By the 1950s Trench was making stadium pennants for other teams; but, early on, not so much. The Tigers enjoyed early access to Trench pennants via Sportservice; and that connection seems to have generated some really special pennants for them and them alone.

I think that best explains why Tiger fans have it so good when it comes to terrific pennant designs.

Domer... this is AWESOME stuff! Thank you!

[ooo-ribay]

More than a half a MILLION views of this page!

I should have something to contribute, shortly...

[thetahat]

I think we are about ready for “Hey, Pennant Guys - The Movie”

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by thetahat

I think we are about ready for “Hey, Pennant Guys - The Movie”

I want to played by Clooney.

But the studio said they're thinking more along the lines of Kevin James.

[MK]

Originally Posted by perezfan

I want to played by Clooney.

But the studio said their thinking more along the lines of Kevin James.

I would vote for Clooney playing you in the movie Mark, provided you consider me if you’re selling any Cubs pennants. 😂

[Huck]

Originally Posted by Domer05

I think I have the answer: it's the Trench-Sportservice partnership. By the 1940s, Trench was making some of the best pennants on the market. Their artwork was tops; as were their production methods. All they needed was a marketplace to sell their merch in.

The Tigers were one of the first teams to really give them that. That's because the Tigers were the first team to partner with Sportservice. Once Navin Field's ballpark concession stands were run by Sportservice in the 1930s, that opened the door for Trench's pennants. Trench seems to have capitalized on things by the early 1940s, making some really cutting edge pennants for their exclusive use.

If you look at 1940s Tigers pennants, I suspect many were made by Trench. Whereas other Trench pennants from this era utilized generic ballpark designs, their Tiger ones featured custom renderings of Briggs Stadium. Several different ones, in fact.

By the 1950s Trench was making stadium pennants for other teams; but, early on, not so much. The Tigers enjoyed early access to Trench pennants via Sportservice; and that connection seems to have generated some really special pennants for them and them alone.

I think that best explains why Tiger fans have it so good when it comes to terrific pennant designs.

Interesting. As a newbie to this niche collectible, I was wondering why for the era in question (a) Tiger pennants seemed far cooler than the rest (2) there seems to be a ton of Tiger pennants.

[ooo-ribay]

A while back, Marc (bocca) posted a picture of a previously unseen SF Giants "Keezer" pennant. I'm not sure if Marc's pennant was marked, bit it is indeed a Keezer.

[bocca001]

Nice to see the stamp. The seller also had, if I recall correctly, a Rangers and Royals pennant from the same series. I figured they were equally rare. Maybe should have bought them but I try to stick with SF and Houston. And, of course, there is the Houston pennant from this same series (I think Greg has this one). I think I've seen it come up for auction once or twice, and it has sold for good money. The most recent one (not the one below) had some moth or silverfish damage and still sold for around $500. I'd love to get one of these.

[rlevy]

1969 keezer 75%.jpg
1969 keezer stamp 50%.jpg

Rick

[ooo-ribay]

Love these Keezers (even the D**gers)!

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by bocca001

Nice to see the stamp. The seller also had, if I recall correctly, a Rangers and Royals pennant from the same series. I figured they were equally rare. Maybe should have bought them but I try to stick with SF and Houston. And, of course, there is the Houston pennant from this same series (I think Greg has this one). I think I've seen it come up for auction once or twice, and it has sold for good money. The most recent one (not the one below) had some moth or silverfish damage and still sold for around $500. I'd love to get one of these.

Do you guys have the red cloth Astros Pennant with the white Astronaut? It's my favorite Astros pennant, and I believe their first-ever.

[bocca001]

I don't have that red one, but I think Greg does. His is the only one I've seen. Also Keezer?

And, Rick, I assume that your Dodgers pennant is also super tough to find?