Differences of a Salesman's Sample Jersey

[Swoboda4]

So,if a jersey ISN'T altered -and it exhibits the same style that was worn that year and the previous year (Remember again ISN'T altered) it should not be a salesman's sample.

[TNTtoys]

So,if a jersey ISN'T altered -and it exhibits the same style that was worn that year and the previous year (Remember again ISN'T altered) it should not be a salesman's sample.

Sorry, have to disagree with you on this one... it's not black and white.

To every rule, there is an exception. Sometimes many.

[Swoboda4]

So if the Strawberry is "perfect" how did you realize it was a sample?

[TNTtoys]

So if the Strawberry is "perfect" how did you realize it was a sample?

These examples are our old friend, the Scoreboard jerseys... Perfect in every way, correct manufacturer, exact tagging... set, year, etc., correct player size, correct player customizations, etc.

Course this is only 1 example I had immediate photos of.

You also have the McAuliffe scenario, where a whole forum here was dedicated. In this scenario, anyone could have ordered the star player of their time in the correct size, and that jersey would arrive with all of the correct team tagging.

I don't think you can really make a blanket statement when such anomalies exist in the hobby. I have only called into light a couple, but I am sure there are many more out there.

[TNTtoys]

Maybe I am going off on a tangent here equating factory samples not issued to the team to salesman's samples?
If so, then please disregard that last statement about the Scoreboards and McAuliffes.

I do think we need to research the 83 Rose jerseys and those similar cases. They are all of the same manufacturer that currently does the team's jerseys, the same style, they have team tagging (though they don't seem to be designated to any individual player by tagging), star player number on back (or name in some cases), and are usually size 42s (which may or may not be the same size as that player for that time -- but I guess the chances are good being that this was a very common size in 1983).

[Swoboda4]

Nick,
Bring it on. If there was a University for the study of game used jerseys, this should be a class in the curriculum,
My particular thesis is my friends jersey:







Lets see the Rose. And all of them.

[TNTtoys]

Here's the only one I was able to find duirng a quick search -- a 1983 home Pete Rose Wilson salesman's sample.

[Swoboda4]

When I mention my friends Brett jersey-it's still undetermined-it could still be good (innocent untill proven guilty)-I was just wondering is there anything that strikes a viewer that this is a Salesman's sample.
The Rose looks good also. Should all jerseys be suspect? What makes someone say of an older jersey,"No,this is good." ?

[both-teams-played-hard]

Should all jerseys be suspect?

Yes, especially star players. The only salesman samples that I am familiar with have factory and inventory codes on swatches. I have never seen a true salesman sample with a player name on back. Some with mfg names on back like "POWERS" and "WILSON". I am not an expert, i have not seen everything and I make myself unfamiliar with jersey from 1990 to the present.



A Wilson salesman sample tag. * note the spelling of D-U-R-E-N-E.

This was from a football jersey with "WILSON" sewn on back above numerals.
The history of retail jerseys should be examined before calling a jersey a salesman sample.
*note...Scoreboard's baseball jerseys with proper tags are by definition, "retail".

[both-teams-played-hard]

A 1950s salesman sample tag for Powers brand football pants: