What is a pennant in baseball? Who wins it Major League Baseball?
As the 2023 MLB pennant race enters its final phase, we take a look at just what the pennant is, what it means, and how it all came to be.
The most exciting time of the year is October, as hazy memories of summer slip over the horizon and the air grows crisp and the excitement of the approaching World Series fills the nostrils.
That pinnacle of baseball, the World Series, is contested by the pennant winners of each North American professional league.
The term “pennant” harks back to the 19th century when baseball was still young, and there were no playoffs or wild cards. The team with the best regular-season record in each league was rewarded with a pennant, a flag, that they had the right to fly over their home ground, declaring them the league champion, and this was a significant achievement. In the world of baseball, a pennant is not just a flag; it’s a symbol of excellence and a beacon of hope.
When baseball, and this country, was still young, there were a large number of regional and local professional leagues. Of those, two loomed large in their scope, covering the continent as they did: the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs and the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs.
In the early days, the team with the best record was awarded a pennant and declared “National Champion.” As the popularity of both leagues grew and they found themselves in direct competition for not only a share of the audience but to attract the best players in the world, it was only natural that the two champion teams face off in a decisive series to determine who was Champion of Champions.
Winning the pennant gave a team the right to represent their league in the “World’s Championship Series,” later shortened to the “World Series.”
The pennant race is a glorious marathon, filled with ups and downs, twists and turns. It’s the grind of 162 games, played under the scorching summer sun and the crisp autumn nights, where legends are made and dreams are shattered.
“The one constant through all the years has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It’s been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time.
This field, this game, is a part of our past. It reminds us of all that once was good, and what could be again.”
The pennant race, as the Los Angeles Dodgers found out, is not just about numbers. It is about heart and determination. It’s about clutch hits, incredible catches, and dominating pitching performances. It’s about the unwavering support of fans who fill the ballparks, cheering their team to victory. It’s about players giving their all, knowing that the pennant is not just a piece of cloth but a symbol of pride.
Today, the Commissioner’s Trophy is the coveted MLB prize. It may be tempting to lay any lesser award to the side, but that would be an error.
In the grand tapestry of baseball, the pennant race is a chapter filled with drama, excitement, and the unwavering spirit of competition. It’s a time when heroes emerge, and history is written. So remember that the pennant is not just a flag. It is a testament to the enduring timelessness of baseball, and a ticket to take your shot at glory in the World Series.