What is a pennant in baseball?

In baseball, a “pennant” refers to the championship of a league or division. The term originally referred to a flag or banner that was awarded to the winner of a competition or tournament.

In Major League Baseball (MLB), a pennant is typically awarded to the team with the best record in each division or league at the end of the regular season. The winning team is said to have “won the pennant” and is eligible to advance to the postseason, where they will compete for the World Series championship.

Historically, winning a pennant was a significant accomplishment in its own right, as it represented a high level of consistent success over the course of a grueling 162-game season. However, the importance of the pennant has diminished somewhat in recent years, as MLB has expanded the postseason to include more teams and introduced additional playoff rounds.

Despite these changes, winning a pennant is still considered to be a significant achievement in baseball, and it remains a goal for every team at the beginning of the season.