is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

[yankees24]

for one of my favorite players, they had available both a game issued and game used jersey. I couldn't afford the used so I reluctantly settled for the issued, is there anything wrong with having a game issued piece?

[suave1477]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

Nothing wrong with it at all.

The item was still intended for that player.

Whether just manufactured specifically for that player or sat in his locker and they never got a chance to use it. It is still linked to that player.

Sometimes you may have a particular collection and you need a specific piece yet that one piece is so rare chances of you finding another is slim to none.
Nothing wrong with filling in the void with an issued item.

This is just my 2 cents.

[cjclong]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

Nothing wrong with it at all. I have one of the replica Babe Ruth bats that Louisville Slugger sells. I'd love to have a Ruth game used bat, and if I ever win the lottery I may get one. Until then the replica is the best I can do.

[brianborsch]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

I agree. No shame at all! In fact, game issued items is what I primarily collect. I love game issued bats because of the fact that they were made for a specific player's use. That makes them a special item. I stay away from game used because there are alot of fakes out there, and outside of a photomatch, you have to speculate to some degree.

IMO It minimizes the risk of being mistaken fro what you have. That gives me more peace of mind in collecting. Plus I like a cleaner look as well.

[sox83cubs84]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

Agreed. At times, budgetary concerns or scarcity or uncertainty about items advertised as GU/GW can make this a viable and decent option. I'd rather have a game-issued piece of a favorite than have nothing. Same goes for cost...a GI Sandberg would be affordable for me...A GU Ryno would not.

Dave M.
Chicago area

[mbenga28]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

regarding uncertainty if an item was really game used, can't the same be said of an issued item - for example someone could just take a blank team jersey with the same sizing for that player and customize it with their name and number and say it was issued when it was never intended or near the player for use.

[Jags Fan Dan]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

I agree, no shame in it. I have Jimmy Smith's back-up (issued) Pro Bowl jersey from 1999 and Brunell's from 2000, and I think it they are as cool as just about any game used stuff I have.

[hiflyer56]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

I don't see anything wrong w/ it under one circumstance. Ex: You cant afford the $8,500 Adrian Peterson game worn jersey from JO. Instead you buy the $2,000 issued jersey. When your spending that type of money for an issued jersey, there's something wrong w/ that. Just my thoughts.

[ned flanders]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

I don't see anything wrong w/ it under one circumstance. Ex: You cant afford the $8,500 Adrian Peterson game worn jersey from JO. Instead you buy the $2,000 issued jersey. When your spending that type of money for an issued jersey, there's something wrong w/ that. Just my thoughts.

I agree, nothing wrong with it at all. JO was at the CSA last year in Chantilly, Va and had an Adrian Peterson THROWBACK game issued I seriously considered buying for A VERY GOOD PRICE - Much less then $2k. I am still kicking myself for not buying it.

[coxfan]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

Collectors are individualists, and that's the way it should be. The value of any item is just what it means to that collector. It may mean something totally different to the next guy, but that's his business.

This discussion reminds me of the small-town culture I grew up in in the 1950's. Back then you couldn't walk for exercise, for fear that people would gossip that you couldn't afford to drive your car or keep it in good condition! If a family ate in a local restaurant, people would gossip that the wife was a bad or lazy cook, etc. Small-town culture left little room for just being yourself; you had to meet all sorts of arbitrary social standards.

These days, individuality is more acceptable, and that's the way it should be.

[legaleagle92481]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

It is your collection, collect what makes you happy and don't worry about what others think. To afford alot of game used stuff out there today you have to be rich and game issued is the next best thing at a fraction of the price. And from an investment perspective none of this stuff is a great investment anyway. The people making the profit off of it are JO, Steiner, MeiGray, the charties that receive the money from NFL Auctions, etc. and not the collector. Even the riskiest stuff that worn by rookies and young players is through the roof. If you spend 25k on a Favre jersey most likely you will never see most of that money ever again.

[yankees24]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

Thank you all for your perspectives, I had a good read. I just feel that the game issued is not the cream of the crop when it comes to our hobby. It serves as the lesser, more inferior piece to a game used. It's like coming in second place.

[suave1477]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

Thank you all for your perspectives, I had a good read. I just feel that the game issued is not the cream of the crop when it comes to our hobby. It serves as the lesser, more inferior piece to a game used. It's like coming in second place.

I agree with you a 100% of course it is the inferior part in a collection, the whole point to the Game Used Hobby is hence GAME USED.

But the point I think we are all making is (using your comparison) it's nice to have a close second place item in your collection than nothing at all. Especially if it is from your favorite player or team.

[GarkoCollector]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

I guess I'm the odd one out here. As far as I am concerned, if its not game used, it might as well be off the rack at a store. The whole point of game used, at least from my perspective, is that it has a tie to a player, a game, a season. Just because the jersey is issued to a player, I feel like its not really theirs unless they have worn it. A glove isnt worth having unless ts game used.

I truly understand the financial aspect of this, and fortunately, the player I collect can have items available to me for a few hundred dollars at most. If the items were more expensive, I still think I would rather hold out to have a game worn item than settle for anything, even if I had to pass up on a couple of smaller game used to be able to afford it.

[halzeus]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

I think game used items have the highest priority for me, but I also enjoy finding a nice team issued item as well.

Unlike many, I'm not collecting items from one player, I collect University of Michigan football items.

If I can get a game used jersey or helmet, I'm estatic. However getting a team issued jersey is also exciting because it is associated with the team.

So I have some of both in my collection and hope to add many more in the future.