Mastro 1992 Fisk - MEARS

[kingjammy24]

Someone.. anyone...Rob Steinmetz..am I crazy or is this just an ordinary retail jersey? It has the neck tag and is completely void of the typical "92 Set X" strip tag and the 100% poly tag.

http://www.mastronet.com/index.cfmaction=DisplayContent&ContentName=Lot20Information&LotIndex=58260&CurrentRow=1

Carlton Fisk 1992 Home Alternate Jersey - black, "Sox" angled on the left breast w/"72" - Graded A-10 by MEARS;

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/6453/fisk4iv.jpg

Since when did 1992 Sox jerseys have retail-style neck tags?
Here is how 1992 White Sox Russell jerseys were tagged:

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5528/white3cr.jpg

A10??

Rudy.

[RobSteinmetz]

Rudy,

I've never seen a '92 White Sox jersey tagged like this. It appears to have all the characteristics of a retail jersey. Mastro has been handling a ton of Sox shirts as of late, so perhaps there is some history to this jersey that led MEARS to an A-10 grade? Personally speaking, I wouldn't feel comfortable selling this jersey as anything but a pro quality replica even if it came with a signed letter from Fisk himself.

[kingjammy24]

Makes me wonder if someone bought a legit Fisk from the White Sox, obtained a team letter, kept the real Fisk for themselves, went out and bought a retail Fisk and submitted the letter and retail Fisk to Mastro/MEARS. Or if someone just whipped up a fake White Sox letter. MEARS, of course, is unable to tell a retail jersey from a gamer and they so much as admit to it by lumping the two in together in the A5 grade. Unless of course you have direct provenance, which seems to be the case here. In such a case, MEARS will issue an A10 but sadly, still not be able to tell a retail jersey from a gamer. It seems the A10 is solely based on the team letter. I've got a 1993 retail Canseco at home with retail neck tags, lack of poly tag, and no strip tagging. Maybe I can whip up a Texas Rangers letter in Photoshop and get an A10.

Rob (et al) I'd like to get your opinion on a couple of issues seen in these Mastro White Sox jerseys:

- What's your take on the correct 1992 tagging? Should it be "92 Set 1" or "92-1"?

- What's your take on early 90's White Sox Russell jerseys with neck tags? Did real gamers ever have these neck tags? Awhile ago, I came across a "1992 game-used Fisk" on Ebay. It looked exactly like some of these Mastro jerseys in that it had neck tags, no poly tag, and an odd looking strip tag that read "92-1". I took the pictures and filed them in my "fakes" folder for future reference. Did the Sox ever wear Russell jerseys during this time period with neck tags?

Check out this Mastro lot:

http://www.mastronet.com/index.cfmaction=DisplayContent&ContentName=Lot20Information&LotIndex=58260&CurrentRow=1

Some of them look fine. The 1992 Fisk alternate looks awful. The 1992 Ventura home looks suspect. Of course, I can't completely see the sleeves in any of the 1992s to see if they have the diamond memorial. If they do not, then it's a done deal.

As well, this appears to be the third 1991, home, set 1, Carlton Fisk. The second offered by Mastro alone.

http://www.mastronet.com/index.cfmaction=DisplayContent&ContentName=Lot20Information&LotIndex=57113&CurrentRow=1

See this thread for the other 2:

http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=1372

Funny, one was given an A8 and the other an A10.

Rudy.