Philadelphia Stars Pennant (c. late 1930’s)

This souvenir pennant is from the late 1930’s and was sold at ballparks where the Philadelphia Stars played. During the 1930’s and through the 1950’s team pennants were a popular souvenir that fans could buy at the ballpark to support their team. Pennants were especially popular with the young fans that could hang the pennant in their bedrooms as a constant reminder of their team.

The Philadelphia Stars were founded by Ed Bolden with the help of “white” promoter Eddie Gottlieb in 1933. In their first year of operation, the Stars played as an independent team. Bolden and Gottlieb entered their team in the Negro National League in 1934. The highlight of the Philadelphia Stars franchise history would come in their first year in the Negro National League when they won the championship over the Chicago American Giants. The only times they would come close to another pennant would be in 1938 and 1944 when they would finish in second place in the league. They played in the Negro National League from 1934 to 1948 when the league folded. The Philadelphia Stars moved their franchise to the Negro American League at the start of the 1949 season. They played in the Eastern Division of the Negro American League from 1949 through 1952. The franchise folded at the end of the 1952 season after the team finished in last place with 22-38 record.



There was another Philadelphia Stars team that played a barnstorming schedule from the mid-late 1950’s through the mid-late 1960’s. This team though had no relationship to the Philadelphia Stars team of the Negro National League and Negro American League.

Oscar Charleston - Philadelphia Stars