Differences of a Salesman's Sample Jersey

[Swoboda4]

Re: What separates "salesman's samples"from G/U?

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]

Re: What separates "salesman's samples"from G/U?

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

[Swoboda4]

Re: What separates "salesman's samples"from G/U?

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]

Re: What separates "salesman's samples"from G/U?

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]

Re: What separates "salesman's samples"from G/U?

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

[prichmond]

salesman vs. game used

Several questions

how do you tell the difference between game used and a salesman jersey.

When did salesman jersey's begin to be used

what were they used for?

thanks

pete

[jppopma]

Re: salesman vs. game used

Depending on the jersey, the differences can be very minor to completely different (style, font, etc.). Some of these jerseys will be true to spec right down to patches and tagging.

They have had salesmen samples dating back into the 50's, most likely even longer ago than that.

The purpose of the salesmen jerseys is to for representatives from the jersey manufacturers to show off ideas or different styles of jerseys to the teams. They would make up prototype jerseys or sample jerseys to show the teams what they would look like before going into full production. I'm not sure, but I think that salesmen would also use these jerseys to "show off" to other clients (ie; minor league teams, schools, etc.).

[prichmond]

Re: salesman vs. game used

thanks much

pete