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Lot # 962: 1948 Cleveland Indians World Champions Pennant

Starting Bid: $200.00

Bids: 11 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "2023 Summer Classic",
which ran from 7/16/2023 7:00 PM to
8/5/2023 10:00 PM



Displayed is an eye-catching 1948 Cleveland Indians World's Champions felt pennant, one that presents plenty of visual charm as well as the names of most of the players on the World Series winners as they defeated the Boston Braves 4-2 in games. The pennant reads, "Cleveland Indians World Champions 1948." The pennant is 28.5" long and 11.75" at its wider end, and it is very attractively framed to 15x33.75". The item features a brilliant, multi-colored headdress on the team's Indian symbol. The pennant is mainly red, with various other colors added. Of the 23 names of players on the pennant, six are Hall of Famers: Lou Boudreau, shortstop (the player/manager in '48); Joe Gordon, second base; Larry Doby outfield (the first African American player in the American League), and pitchers Satchel Paige, Bob Feller, and Bob Lemon. Boudreau had a phenomenal season, batting .355, with 18 home runs and 106 RBIs. Gordon had 32 home runs and 124 RBIs; Doby hit .301 with 14 home runs; Lemon went 20-14; Feller went 19-15; Paige went 12-5. Other notable players who are listed on the pennant include Johnny Berandino, an infielder who became a television star in soap operas; pitcher Gene Beardon; catcher Jim Hegan; third baseman Ken Keltner, who broke Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak at 56 games when he made two outstanding stops of hard-hit balls at third base in a game against the New York Yankees in 1941; plus, Mitchell, Clark, Robinson, Gromek, Judnich, Christopher, Black, Moncrief, Kennedy, and more. The displayed pennant is missing a very small part of the tip, and there is a bit of minor creasing and a few very small stains. Otherwise, the offered pennant is in excellent condition. The Cleveland franchise changed its name to the Cleveland Guardians after the 2021 season, so the offered banner, depicting the first World Series that was ever won by the Cleveland team, and the vintage pennant takes on added significance because the name "Indians" has been consigned to history.

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