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Apennant is a commemorativepennon typically used to show support for a particular athleticteam. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate,professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made offelt and fashioned in the official colors of a particular team.[citation needed]
Often graphics, usually themascot symbol, as well as the team name were displayed on pennants. The images displayed on pennants were either stitched on with contrasting colored felt or hadscreen-printing.
Today, vintage pennants with rare images or honoring special victories have become prizedcollectibles for sporting enthusiasts. While pennants are typically associated with athletic teams, pennants have also been made to honor institutions and vacation spots, often acting assouvenirs.
The swapping of pennants between captains before a match is also a long-held tradition in association football.
In Australian sports, the term "flag" is used in the same context. The first ever "flag" was awarded to Fitzroy after the club won the1895 VFA premiership, and gave rise to the tradition of the "flag" being unfurled at the premiership club's first home match of the following season.
InMajor League Baseball, a pennant typically refers to such a flag flown specifically by theNational League andAmerican League champions of a given season, or to such a championship itself. The last few weeks of the regular Americanprofessional baseball season are known as apennant race: this is a reference to the period between 1876 and 1968 when the League championships were determined by the team with the best record at the end of the regular season.
The pennant winners earn the right to play in MLB's Championship Series, theWorld Series. Since 1969, the pennant winners have been determined by the National and AmericanLeague Championship Series -- which are similar to theNBA's and theNHL's Conference Finals and theNFC andAFC Championship Games in theNFL.
