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04-15-2009, 05:24 PM #1
Re: Has anyone ever requested a letter from an athlete regarding a GU item?
if you're purchasing directly from the athlete then you want to establish:
1) provenance: eg "i, superstarathlete, sold this 2006 set 3 road jersey to luckycollector. this jersey was worn by me for the second half of the 2006 season".
2) background info. often, athletes may know some interesting things about their items that wouldn't ordinarily be sussed out by collectors. eg "this jersey was a replacement that was made-up because my previous jersey was stolen while on the road in new york".
if you purchased the jersey elsewhere and are looking to get the athlete's opinion then i suppose you're trying to establish authenticity, as opposed to provenance. if the item is legit, the athlete may still have some interesting background info to add.
as for whether to ask the athlete to write the letter or whether you should write the letter for him, if you're going to go with the latter then you should suss out the details beforehand so you can incorporate it into the letter. i think the choice to go one way or the other is a subjective one that depends on the athlete, the situation, and your relationship. if you really don't think the guy would mind writing it and it wouldn't hurt to ask, then i'd go that way. if you think it'd cause a problem, then write it yourself. whatever your choice, remember to have the athlete sign and date the letter. also have them describe the piece as fully as possible to diminish the odds of having the letter one day paired with another item. include the style (home, road, etc), size, set number, etc.
rudy.
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04-15-2009, 05:27 PM #2
Re: Has anyone ever requested a letter from an athlete regarding a GU item?
i'm not sure if my reply added anything from mike's reply. i think mike pretty much covered it all. i'm not sure there's much more to the whole thing beyond the 2 replies given so far.
rudy.
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04-15-2009, 05:43 PM #3
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- Apr 2008
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- 181
Re: Has anyone ever requested a letter from an athlete regarding a GU item?
Thanks MSpecht and kingjammy for the info, I really appreciate it.
I think I have a plan now.
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04-15-2009, 06:43 PM #4
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- Nov 2005
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- 1,737
Re: Has anyone ever requested a letter from an athlete regarding a GU item?
One of my favorite game used Phillies jerseys in my collection is my 1980 Greg Gross World Series road. Not only is it from the magical 1980 season, but it was worn throughout the regular season and then into the Series.
I’ve always loved this particular jersey, both for the season it was worn and also the fact that “GG” gave his all every time he stepped between the lines.
While working in Cherry Hill, NJ, we employed the services of one of the largest printing houses in the area. The owner had the contract for various Philadelphia Phillies projects, and landed these jobs by employing the services of his friend, Greg Gross in the off season. Gross worked as a “PR/Salesman” for this firm. When I learned this, I asked the owner if it was possible to meet Gross. Not only did he agree to bring Gross to our office, he also arranged for the three of us to do lunch. What a great day-breaking bread with Greg Gross and hearing all of his amazing stories about his career and days with the Phillies. At the conclusion of our meal, we discussed memorabilia and specifically, my passion for collecting Phillies game used jerseys. I then pulled his 1980 road jersey from my bag. He could not believe I had it, inspected it and immediately acknowledged it was his and also worn during the regular season and into the World Series. Knowing the history behind the 1980 jerseys, I had prepared a detailed LOA and asked him to sign it. He graciously agreed.
Not only is the shirt 100% original and from the magical season, but the lunch and LOA certainly adds to my fondness of this particular jersey.
Howard Wolf
hblakewolf@comcast.net
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04-15-2009, 07:49 PM #5
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- Apr 2008
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- 181
Re: Has anyone ever requested a letter from an athlete regarding a GU item?
What a great story Howard!
That's exactly the type of example I was looking for.
Thanks,
Dan
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04-15-2009, 09:29 PM #6
- Join Date
- Dec 2005
- Posts
- 2,448
Re: Has anyone ever requested a letter from an athlete regarding a GU item?
Very cool story by Howard Wolf here... I've had several stories similar with Dave Kingman, and as often as he acknowledges items as his, he'll knock a bat as a promo bat when I did the research and have proof he used it/or ordered it...and said he did not used this cleat when I have him wearing them in a poster! Many athletes just do not remember...I could not personally tell you what tennis shoes I wore 5 years ago...
ROBERT KOPPEL
Skyking26 - 35 year collector of Dave Kingman memorabilia. Also seek 500 HR and 3000 Hit GU Bats,
and 1968, 1984, HOF Tigers GU Bats...Skyking442@hotmail.com
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04-16-2009, 01:50 AM #7
- Join Date
- May 2007
- Posts
- 1,128
Re: Has anyone ever requested a letter from an athlete regarding a GU item?
here's a letter a guy wrote up for roger staubach to sign attesting to his long-held claim that a helmet he owned was indeed an authentic mid '70s staubach gamer. and staubach signed it. the problem is the helmet is not an authentic staubach gamer - in fact the helmet was doctored (fake dymo name tag added to the back). fortunately some poor sap "only" shelled out around $3k for the lid instead of the $10k the seller was originally looking to get. moral of the story - an loa from a player is nice i suppose but...
...robert
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04-16-2009, 08:35 PM #8
Re: Has anyone ever requested a letter from an athlete regarding a GU item?
Regards,
Joel S.
joelsabi @ gmail.com
Wanted: Alex Rodriguez Game Used Items and other unique artifacts, 1992 thru 1998 only. From High School to Early Mariners.