The great thing about buying and selling vintage sports memorabilia is that we run across some really historic items on a regular basis. When you hold them in your hands, you imagine the journey they took to get to you. Who bought them originally? Why did they buy a certain item? And if it’s something that looks like it was purchased at a ballpark, what happened on the field that day? What did the person who originally purchased it see? This week, we have one of those very special items. It’s especially appropriate that as the new movie ‘42’ plays to huge box office sales and Major League teams honor the anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s arrival, that we have an authentic slice of Negro Leagues history in our regular, weekly eBay auctions. We are offering an original Homestead Grays pennant dating from the 1930s in remarkably good condition. The original purchaser of this pennant could well have acquired it during a game at Forbes Field or another diamond where the legendary team performed its feats. The talent on display could have easily compelled the fan to grab a tangible reminder of the day he or she saw the most remarkable franchise in Negro Leagues history. The great Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard were members of the Grays throughout the ‘30s, a team that could likely have performed at a high level in the big leagues had baseball not been segregated. Depending on the year of purchase, the great Oscar Charleston may have been on the field. Cool Papa Bell or Judy Johnson may have been pitching. The Grays won four league titles during the decade. The 22 ½” pennant belies its age. The tip and tassels are intact, the color and graphics are still quite strong and the only defect to speak of is that some fan pinned it to the wall at some point as most were wont to do. In short, this piece is about the best 1930s Homestead Grays pennant you will ever find. We’ve seen strong interest already but this one is being tracked by Negro League collectors and baseball history buffs around the world and rightly so. Any fan of any race, color or creed will own a tremendous slice of history when bidding closes Sunday night.
