One of the first souvenirs sold at the ballparks in the early 1900's, the pennant is fittingly the first souvenir purchased for young fans attending their first ball game. It's no wonder that vintage pennants are a favorite among collectors. Just about every kid that brought home a pennant quickly tacked it up on their bedroom wall. I know I did.

 Souvenir pennants featuring the team city or team name were first produced around 1905-1910. One of the rarest of all baseball pennants, this black felt pennant features the likeness of White Sox owner Charles Comiskey with the team name "SOX" to the right. The pennant dates to the 1910's, from the era of the Chicago White Sox 1917 World's Championship. These pennants were sold at Comiskey Park just before the "Black Sox" scandal of 1919.

 The first pennants to commemorate a World Championships appears around 1914. This "Pre-Curse" Boston Red Sox World Championship pennant dates to the teams 1912-1918 dynasty.

There is no year printed on these pennants. It is recorded that the 1914 Boston Braves produced the first championship team pennant, so it is speculated that these pennants are attributed to one, or all of the 1915, 1916, 1918 championships. The red felt pennant displays the team name, "Red Sox," alongside a circular illustration featuring a crossed bats, ball, and bases motif that reads "Boston Red Sox Base Ball Club - Worlds Champions."
 
  Scroll or "Roster pennants" listing team players are very popular with collectors. This souvenir Roster Pennant dates to the 1951 All Star game which was played on July 10,
at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, MI. The pennant features names of both the National League and American All-Stars and includes: Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Bob Lemon, Jackie Robinson, Stan Musial, Duke Snider, and Warren Spahn.

  A fan favorite and also with collectors is the Team Photo Pennant. This souvenir pennant, sold at Tiger Stadium during the World Series, pictures the 1968 American League Champions Detroit Tigers. This style photo pennant was used as a stadium souvenir by a number of teams, for a number of years from about the mid 1960's through to the mid 1970's.

 Pennants that commemorate special events, or player milestone are highly sought after. This souvenir pennant was produced for the 1962 Guest Grand Opening of Dodger Stadium, AKA Chavez Ravine. The vertical pennant with Angels Red, and Dodger blue colors, reads "Guest Grand opening Dodger Stadium" and "Home of the Dodgers and Angels" separated by crossed bats and ball. Below also in white lettering "April 9 1962." The Dodgers first game, and official opening day was April 10, 1962. The Angels, a 1961 expansion team playing at Wrigley Field in South Los Angeles moved to Dodger Stadium in 1962, playing their first game on April 17.

After announcing his retirement in March of 1969, the Yankees made plans to honor Mickey Mantle with a special day. On June 8, 1969 New York's Mayor Lindsey declared it Mickey Mantle Day, and the New York Yankees ceremoniously retired the number 7 worn by Mantle. Several souvenir items were produced to commemorate the occasion, including special programs, pennants, and buttons. Some Pennants were sold with the Mickey Mantle Day buttons attached to them, through souvenir vendors in, and outside Yankee Stadium.

 The 1970's brought change to traditional felt pennants. Synthetics were added to the fabric, making them more rigid, and cheaper to produce. Post 1970 pennants will also feature the MLB logo. Starting with the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets in 1969, World Series souvenirs featured the official MLB logo and was then to be placed on all licensed products, thereafter. The MLB logo is more evident on products in 1970 but still borderline.