1994 Bills Throwback Question

[b.heagy]

can someone please post a photo of this jersey as it may be easier to follow. it is impossible to prove to anyone about the numbering if there is no photo to backup what is being stated. Marcus can you help with the photo's that were sent to you?

[mchmaj]

i found the pictures from my email ..
i made mistake , its size 44 not 42, the ebay blank kelly on back throwback jersey is size 44 too, sorry for error...
heres pictures, includes GF COA
i asked the seller about the numbers and he told me the numbers are rubbering like/silk pressed/iron on and the KELLY is painted/screened on the nameplate...

[mvandor]

Unfortunately, can't find useful pics of that one game in 94 and the quality of these pics are too poor to see or tell much. Can't really read the GF letter, tell materials, etc.

[b.heagy]

The ebay jesey is the same size, same year and has a GF LOA, not the same?

[mchmaj]

Unfortunately, can't find useful pics of that one game in 94 and the quality of these pics are too poor to see or tell much. Can't really read the GF letter, tell materials, etc.

i personally ASKED the seller about the numbers material compare with KELLY on the nameplate ,what he told me that the kelly is painted/screened on and the numbers #12 on front, back and sleeves are different than the KELLY and its in rubber like, silky numbers pressed/ironed on
thanks

[mvandor]

i personally ASKED the seller about the numbers material compare with KELLY on the nameplate ,what he told me that the kelly is painted/screened on and the numbers #12 on front, back and sleeves are different than the KELLY and its in rubber like, silky numbers pressed/ironed on
thanks

I've had some exchanges with seller and he seems for some reason not to wish to add pics to the listings but rather to email them to requesting parties. Odd way to ebay IMHO.

[The Titan]

Yea but they sell. he sold an Everett 1994 throwback and a Wilkinson Bengals throwback with no pics. Whatever the seller wants to do is up to him.

I bought from Woodfern, if asking for pics he's very personaly and friendly to give you what you ask for. how he wants to sell is his business.

Thanks for the jersey by the way.

[G1X]

Marcus,

It is very important in the context of this disucssion to know that the Kelly jersey that was listed for sale in this Forum several weeks ago is the same one listed on ebay. It is also the same Seller.

Also, it bears repeating what I stated in an earlier thread about terminology. Some collectors interchange the terminology in describing "screened-on" numbers as some call it "ironed-on", some call it "painted-on", some say "silk-screened", and I have even hear the term "rubberized" numbers. When I hear a collector say "ironed-on" numbers, I assume that the numbers are "screened-on".

I have known WOODFERN for a long time and am familiar with his collection of 1994 "throwback" jerseys that he is in the process of selling. The Kelly jersey has been part of his collection for a few years. I have not seen the jersey in person, so I will reserve any comments about it being "game-worn", but in conversations with WOODFERN over the years, I can assure you that he usues the term "screened-on" interchangeably with "ironed-on". In other words, it means the same to him. If he sees a jersey with "screened-on" numbers, he will often say "ironed-on".

Although the photos are not very clear, there is nothing that looks unique or unusual about the numbers. It is the classic Champion-style font as was typical of Champion jerseys manufactured in 1994, and the numbers appear to be the typical "screened-on" numbers of that era.

I hope this information is helpful.

Mark Hayne
Gridiron Exchange
gixc@verizon.net

[gobills123]

back from the dead. Was a good read!!!

This has turned into my new grail. Good to know there are a 'few' out there... even if they do have the wrong sleeves....

[gobills123]

I've used this thread a few times over the years are reference. Parts are very helpful. I wish I was aware of the site over the years as there are some serious information issues - but whats in the past is in the past and we can leave it be. Just worth mentioning if someone else come along looking at this for reference.

What is odd to me is other teams seem pretty easy to acquire a 94 throwback.
The Bills on the other hand, SUPER tough. I've only ever come across a blue fina, white delvin ( incomplete ) and have found a picture of a white Fina that sold at auction. I wonder why these are so difficult to acquire? Odd. Did other teams offer them at retail? The Bills never sold them in the Bills store, or had a 'retail' authentic jersey like their normal white/blue champion did. It seems that any that got out there were still coming from someone one the equpt staff or someone of the sort.

The Fina/Devlin are all cuffed. That picture of the Reich makes it look as though the 2nd stripe is hemmed - tucked and fastened on the inside - BUT if I were to guess I'd guess they were manufactured with 1 stripe, OR because its SO LONG, the 2nd stripe was sewn under. Either way the previous owner of this Kelly said it came from a 'connect' in the locker room. The Fina came from CL and the seller said his father had a connect with the locker room as well. Both came from CL, but were 2 totally different people. Seems there were many 'connects' back then.

Where things get weird for me is this.... I'm not aware of these being sold at retail. I've seen a black box that had a Bills 35th logo on the front that was speculated might have contained a jersey.

Kelly generally wore size 42, but as he got older his size (94-96) jumped to a 44.

Here is what I think is weird. Kelly wore this jersey and to my understanding the jersey he ACTUALLY wore isnt in a collection. I've seen 1 blue in a collection thats autographed and framed.... that is a double stripe. There is one displayed in the HOF in Canton that claims to be 'game worn'.... that has a double stripe. I'd guess neither of those jerseys are the one pictured with a COA earlier in this thread - that is double striped.

Now, with white - the one Kelly wore in the game was single striped. Same idea as the Blue. Personally, I've only ever come across/seen the one that I acquired the other day and a picture on the back of a 2001 Donruss Throwback Threads card (claiming it was game worn etc and obviously wasnt) and this was double striped as well.

Heres the weird part IMO... Bills jerseys from 91-96 that are actually legit from the locker room equpt staff SHOULD and WILL have a number on the inside 100% polyester tag. This is done a certian way and its easy to tell what someone has tried to fake and whats legit. Its some sort of inventory that doesnt directly correspond with the game it was used in other than a low # will be easier to find earlier in the year.

This white Kelly, that the previous owner had for 20+ years framed is a double striped SIZE 46 and the inside tag says #16 in the correct fashion.

Now, I knew going into this that this wasnt the 'hero' jersey so to speak and it wasnt what was worn. I dont care because frankly as a Kelly collector I try and get as many 'feelers' out there as I can and after acquiring the Gamblers one - a blue or white throwback became my pipe dream and white whale/ holy grail. Used or unused, a tough get and not one I thought I'd EVER own.

That #16 though... it got me thinking.
Whats more likely? The Bills made a limited edition jersey that was made with double stripes to differentiate that was then autographed and sold - say 35? (pick a number, just using that in case that black box with the 35 logo was what they were sold in - think the same type of box you see the top of the line Nike football gloves sold it) OR when everything was done they had a couple blanks and had them made up in house as KELLY (with no regard to size, but at least getting the cut right - unlike some charity jerseys from this period where they used a cuffed micromesh blank for a KELLY).

That #16 is the curious part.
I feel like even if it was a limited edition thing I'd have seen more of these over the years rather than just the 5 (blue/white combined) not counting the actual gamers. But as these games took place in weeks 3 and 4, its a weird # for sure.

I guess it also depends the extend of the abilities the Bills had to number on site. I know back in the day blanks were shipped and a local sports store would apply numbers and letters/plates - but since these all the the Champion font - maybe the plates were all that was done in house (which makes sense because preseason and bubble players always had the old sand knit font nameplates rather than the Champion.