Jim Kelly Gamer Collection

[gobills123]

Hello!
I'm new to the forum and cant stop reading all the posts!! So much interesting information to take in, and so much can be learned! Thank you to all the contributors who make this such a great place for all of us like minded individuals with a common hobby!!
I, like many others, collect Buffalo Bills gamers. At first I collected it all, but there was just too much so I decided Id focus on the teams I grew up watching. At first it was just the Champion jerseys of the 90s, but I really like the look of the 80s Sand Knit, so Ive added some of those as well. Not having a lot of disposable income, Ive had a lot of luck at thrift stores, craigslist, ebay, and trading. I have found some gems, but as time goes on I have found myself focussing on collecting jerseys of my hero, Jim Kelly. There are sssoo many variations of replicas and gamers from when he played, so ive amassed many replicas and retail authentics. I won't post pics of those as this isnt the place but here are some game worn/game issued Kellys...

[gobills123]

Re: Jim Kelly Gamer Collection

Here are some more...
95 champion
92 Apex
88 champion
91 champion
87 handwarmer champion
Sand knits
94 and size 40 champion are retail authentic... I have seen reputable auction spots such as Grey Flannel auction these as game worn. Many 91 Bills jerseys didnt have the champion exclusive tag, such as my white 91. However, after, most always had the exclusive tagging as well. A dead giveaway for the retail authentics is the nameplate stretching the entire length of the back as shown in the 94 here. Kelly mostly wore 42 and 44, maybe a bit bigger his last year. I'm kind of confused how GF can authenticate a Kelly with the long plate, odd size, and lack of exclusive tag as game worn. Yet, if googled, by looking at examples (some of which have gone for over a grand) display all the qualities of a retail authentic. I suppose they cant be experts for every team.. anyway, thank you for looking!!

[gobills123]

Re: Jim Kelly Gamer Collection

Example of short nameplate on 91 gamer

[Marshall]

Re: Jim Kelly Gamer Collection

Awesome Jim Kelly Collection! I was a Bills guy in that era myself. It would be cool to see an Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas, Bryce Paup or a Bruce Smith in that mix. Cool jerseys...

[gobills123]

Re: Jim Kelly Gamer Collection

Thanks!! A have a few for sure, I just thought because there were less Kellys to take pics of, Id post those. Maybe one if these days ill get around to all the others. I dont want to just post to post and take up peoples time. One of my favorites is a port hole Ervin Parker gamer from 83 :-) I just like the style. A Kelly from this era is my grail, but as they are few and far between, probably well out of my price range even if I was to ever run across one... I was pretty happy to find a Beebe recently as well!

[genius]

Re: Jim Kelly Gamer Collection

so that's where they all are! Awesome collection, thanks for sharing and I sure hope Jim wins his battle!

[beantown]

Re: Jim Kelly Gamer Collection

Nice Kelly/Bills Collection...know where I can locate a Fred Smerlas Bills Gamer?

[gobills123]

Re: Jim Kelly Gamer Collection

Thanks! I managed it through trades and right place right time finds as like I mentioned before it had to be done on the cheap. Jim came into my work a few days prior to making his second announcement that the cancer had returned. He was super nice and talkitive and even explained why he wore a different facemask during his 87 campaign (hard hit to the jaw made the drs reccomend he wear the bigger longer Marino mask. He said his pads were so big that it restricted the range of motion of his head so as soon as he was allowed, he changed back) which was neat because I had often wondered that. He talked about football, and even tried to answer some jersey questions, although he didnt remember a lot but it was still helpful none the less. That was only a small part of the conversation and although he looked like he had seen better days, he was wonderful, funny, engaging and took the time to speak to anyone who had a question or to snap a picture. All around nice guy (which ive heard is quite the opposite from his playing days)!! It made it even sadder to have just seen him a couple days before the news came out. All of Buffalo is rooting for him and he seems to be getting back a ton of support from the people who he supported and inspired through his play on the field. I, and many others Id imagine, certainly hope for the best because he is far and away to this day the biggest and most popular athletic figure in Buffalo.

[gobills123]

Re: Jim Kelly Gamer Collection

Beantown, Im sorry, I dont. Your actually the second person to ask me that in the last week. Ive personally never seen one, but my coworker was telling me how he passed on one once because he said it was a port hole style, but the front number were sewn, while the back and sides were screen print. I think.thats cool, but because it didnt have any prominence he found it to be too odd/fishy to pay what the seller was asking. I got the impression it was years ago though, and there wasnt the resources that there are now a days to research it.

[beantown]

Re: Jim Kelly Gamer Collection

gobills23...thanks for the follow up...Smerlas is tough find!!

[gobills123]

Re: Jim Kelly Gamer Collection

I meant provenance not prominence :-)

[gobills123]

Re: Jim Kelly Gamer Collection

does any one else have pics? I love seeing other ones, or any Bills jerseys as well for that matter!!!

[commando]

Re: Jim Kelly Gamer Collection

That's a world-class collection! I had the chance to spend the day and evening with Jim at the 2010 Houston Gamblers Reunion.... What a class act he was towards all the other Gambler players, staff and family.

One of the prized possessions in my Gamblers archives is a USFL game ball that Kelly took from his locker and gave to a VIP who was passing through the Astrodome locker room (Jim signed the ball several years later when he saw the fellow again).

Houston loves Jim Kelly!

[gobills123]

Re: Jim Kelly Gamer Collection

Wow!! That ball is amazing!! Thank you for sharing pictures, and it sounds like there was a cool story behind it. I'm smart enough to know I'll probably never even see pics of a gamblers Kelly gamer or issue, but a custom one would be really cool. I wasnt a fan if the Majestic remakes as they didnt look spot on (kind of how mitchell ness/reebok legends use the incorrect font for their current Bills throwbacks) although it doesn't appear as if ut would be a difficult jersey to reproduce. 2 of the Kellys came via trade with a fantastic board member who I know has a great Bills collection, but I was suprised there are not more Bills collectors on here solely because here in the Buffalo area, there are some die hard collectors and there are so many Buffalo transplants I would have guessed this forum would be the perfect outlet for jersey discussion. I would imagine most times are the same way, but the 80s and 90s bills jerseys have so many inconsistencies that even if there were a definitive catalouge there would still be times some "rules" are broken. Its fun to see other people collections and learn about all the different stuff out there. Thanks again for the read and sharing!!

[gobills123]

Re: Jim Kelly Gamer Collection

Really? No more Kelly or Bills pics anyone wants to share? Im suprised!!