What Is A Pennant In Baseball?

A pennant in baseball is a flag that is hung above the dugout to indicate which team is the home team.

Definition of a Pennant

In baseball, a pennant is a flag that is flown by the winning team of a division or league championship. The pennant indicates that the team has qualified for the playoffs. A pennant is also occasionally referred to as a banner or flag.

History of the Pennant

The pennant originated in Major League Baseball in the late 19th century. Pennants were first used to identify the winning team of a playoff series or championship series, as opposed to a trophy which could be won by either team.

The first recorded use of a pennant indicating a champion (1876 Cincinnati Reds) was in 1885, when the Chicago White Stockings (now the Chicago Cubs) won the National League Pennant. The term “World Series” was first used in 1897, when the Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves) won the National League Pennant and played the Kentucky Colonels (now the Louisville Cardinals) of the now-defunct American Association for the championship.

Over time, pennants have become associated with winning teams in general, and are often displayed throughout a team’s home ballpark. Additionally, pennants are often flown from flag poles at stadiums, and their display has become an important part of pre-game ceremonies at many sporting events.

How the Pennant is Used Today

In baseball, a pennant is a achievement earned during the regular season. A team earns a pennant by either winning their division or winning the wild card spot. If a team wins the World Series, they earn a pennant and a World Series ring.

Winning a pennant is a significant accomplishment in baseball because it means that the team is one of the best in their league and has qualified for the playoffs. It also gives the team bragging rights for the year. For example, the Boston Red Sox can say they are the 2018 World Series Champions and the 2018 American League Pennant winners.

Some teams are known for their ability to win pennants on a regular basis. The New York Yankees have won 40 American League pennants, which is more than any other team in MLB history. The Los Angeles Dodgers have won 23 National League pennants, which is second most all time.

The Future of the Pennant

By the early 1990s, baseball officials were considering changes to the structure of the game’s postseason. One proposal would have deleted the League Championship Series and returned to a single World Series. As part of that plan, the pennant would no longer be awarded to the team with the best regular-season record; instead, it would go to the winner of a playoff between the teams with the two best records. That proposal was never implemented, but in 1994, Major League Baseball did adopt a new postseason format that included divisional playoffs. Under this system, each league was divided into two divisions, and the pennant continued to be awarded to the team with the best record in each division.