Can you shine some light on this jersey?

[RootHouston]

Hello all, I'm a new member here, and relatively new to the collecting hobby.

The other day, I purchased this 2013 Dallas Keuchel Jersey from Astros Authentics at Minute Maid Park’s Home Plate Team Store. For those of you unfamiliar with this player, he is a current starting pitcher for the team.









When I got home, I checked out the MLB Authentication Databse, and saw some puzzling info.



It listed this jersey as “Game Used” from a September 29, 2013 home game against the New York Yankees. Houston did in fact play the Yankees on this date.

However, the rest is just unusual:

• It specifically claims that this jersey was issued to Keuchel as a batter, not a pitcher
• According to Baseball Reference, Keuchel only had two at bats last season, and they were both against the NL Chicago Cubs
• Keuchel appears to have had no involvement as a batter OR pitcher during the September 29, 2013 game, or even that series against the Yankees altogether
• The size is a 46, and from what I understand Keuchel usually wears a 48
• The jersey was definitely worn by someone, as it does a foul body odor smell in the underarm region

So what do you make of this? Why does the authentication not appear to match the facts?

[danesei@yahoo.com]

I would guess it was issued for the game and Keuchel was in the dugout as a possible pinch-runner, as opposed to in the bullpen. I have no idea, though.

[onlyalbert]

instead of Batter they probably meant Player...........the rest would be correct then?

[RootHouston]

instead of Batter they probably meant Player...........the rest would be correct then?

Nope, didn't play either. Even if he was just a bench player, wouldn't this be marked as "game issued" instead?

[danesei@yahoo.com]

Nope, didn't play either. Even if he was just a bench player, wouldn't this be marked as "game issued" instead?

Nope. MLB Authentication views game worn as the same as game used.

[RootHouston]

Nope. MLB Authentication views game worn as the same as game used.

Then, why does it say "Team Issued", and not "Game Used" for this 2012 Phillies jersey? Are you saying, they use the two identifiers interchangeably?

[08Cubs]

It's complicated (and there was a longer topic on this recently), but the key point is that what is listed in the database is in theory the low bar and not the high bar for if the jersey was used. It only reflects what an authenticator saw, not necessarily the entire history of a jersey. A jersey could show as team issued in the database but have been used in one or several games beforehand without being authenticated.

In theory, if the entry says game used an authenticator saw or verified the person had it on during the game in the entry (whether they entered the game or not). But that doesn't necessarily answer the discrepancies on your jersey, which are odd. If he was on the active roster or DL on that date, I'd guess most likely it was worn on the bench.

[BamaHater]

Many teams use jerseys all season an authenticate the jerseys after the season is over. In this case a jersey would be labeled as team issued. The jersey could be pounded but since he is authenticating it say a month after the season there is no proof that jersey saw use in a game even if it did. For all they know it could be damage from storage, not use.

[BamaHater]

As for the discrepancies on the Keuchel jersey, I'd get in touch with Mike Acosta with Astros Authentics. Maybe he can shed light on the jersey. I have a feeling it is just a mess up with the authenticator when it was put in the system. As for the size difference maybe he wore different sizes during the season. Players have been know to switch it up to maybe try and find the size they feel fits the best.
Looking at the tagging it is a 3rd set jersey. That is all I got though.

[danesei@yahoo.com]

Then, why does it say "Team Issued", and not "Game Used" for this 2012 Phillies jersey? Are you saying, they use the two identifiers interchangeably?

No. Essentially here are some definitions that might help clear things up:

MLB Authentication definitions:

Game used: Someone from MLB saw the player wearing the jersey during the game on the date. I'm not positive, but I assume that the representative would gather the jerseys from the players in the locker room after the game. A player doesn't need to have stepped foot on the field, as long as they were on the active roster and in the dugout at some point in the game.

Team issued: Someone from the team gave the jersey to the MLB representative. The representative wasn't present at the time of the game and/or whatever would be the minimum requirement to get the Game used moniker. A player may have worn the item in the past, but without it being witnessed by MLB, the authentication will only state team issued.

Common definitions used by collectors:

Game used: Player played in the jersey.
Game worn: Player may have been on the bench.
Game issued: Team purchased the jersey for the player.

eBay definitions (tongue-in-cheek):

Game used: It has the "proper tagging."
Game issued: It says "Authentic" on it.
Game model: Replica.