This is an original 1940s felt pennant of the Philadelphia Stars of the Negro Leagues. The pennant is black felt with a screen-printed graphic of a runner sliding into home plate in white, green, and gold, with "PHILADELPHIA STARS" lettering in white. It measures 23 inches long by 7 inches tall, with its original black hanging tassels adding another 5 inches. It is in excellent condition for its age — please review all photos carefully.

The Philadelphia Stars were founded in 1933 by Ed Bolden, one of Black baseball's most important owners. After one independent season, the Stars joined the Negro National League in 1934 and won the league championship that year, defeating the Chicago American Giants. The team competed in the Negro National League through 1948 and later the Negro American League, playing home games at Passon Field and later at 44th and Parkside in West Philadelphia, now the site of the Philadelphia Stars Negro League Memorial Park.

The Stars fielded some of the greatest players in baseball history, including Hall of Famers Biz Mackey, the premier catcher of Black baseball in the late 1920s and early 1930s; Jud Wilson, one of the game's greatest hitters, who batted .358 on the 1934 championship team; and East-West All-Star shortstop Dick Lundy. Pitching star Slim Jones went 20-4 with a 1.24 ERA in 1934, and legends Satchel Paige, Oscar Charleston, Turkey Stearnes, and Roy Campanella all wore the Stars uniform.

The Negro Leagues were founded in 1920 and showcased world-class talent during the era of segregation. Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier on April 15, 1947, and in 2020 MLB officially recognized the 1920-1948 Negro Leagues as major leagues, incorporating their statistics into the official record book.

A rare and display-worthy piece of baseball history. Please inspect all photos before purchase. Ships carefully in a rigid protective tube.