Doug Atkins Chicago Bears game used durene #81 jersey possible photo match any help?

[VERIS#60]

After countless hours on the internet and a near divorce, I believe I have finally did a possible photo match of my Bears durene mid to late 60's #81 navy blue home durene jersey. I purchased the jersey from ebay about a year and a half ago. I have done and unreal amount of searches and just now on ebay found what I believe to be a strong possible match. On the 1969 Glendale Saints stamps, Atkins is actually wearing a Bears jersey. I have looked at this photo quite a few times with not much luck. In the picture, there is one clear repair on the back of the jersey near his left neck. Furthermore, the repair has a heart shape to it on the actual jersey. If you look close, the repair in the photo is very similar. The distance from the front seam and the way it lines up with the front #1 look very similar. Also, I have seen Atkins and other Bears jerseys have numbers really close to the neckline and others a little lower than that. This lower number position is very similar. Does anyone have any advanced technology to zoom in on the two repairs to compare them? I would love to put the jersey to the test since it is an unusual shaped repair. I cannot post photos with my phone. Can someone please email me so I can send you the photos to post? I am open to any insight. My email is brucecaplinger@yahoo.com Thanks so much! Bruce

[VERIS#60]

After receiving the 1969 Glendale stamp of Atkins I blew up some photos. I forwarded the photos to long time and well respected man our hobby, Dave Miedema. After comparing the two photos, Miedema said there is no doubt the Atkins jersey is legit. I am still putting together as many photos as I can to document the jersey. I went over the jersey inside and out. I found about 7 or 8 other holes that were never repaired. I will be sending the jersey and all documentation to Mears auction house. As far as I have been able to find out, this is the first Atkins Bears gamer to ever hit the market. Patience is a virtue.

[BU54CB]

Will you be posting any photos?

[VERIS#60]

Will you be posting any photos?

I would love to post the photos. However, I don't have a computer. I use my smartphone for everything. If someone would email at brucecaplinger@yahoo.com I can forward the photos to them to post for me if they don't mind. I will send anyone the photos that would just like to see them. Thanks so much! Bruce

[VERIS#60]

I just now found on ebay a really good photo of Amsler. That jersey date stamped in 1969 is not the one I have. Date stamped photos are often wrong. However, that could be his practice jersey for that year. A quick research on ebay reveals that jersey may be Atkins jersey he is wearing in his 1965 Philadelphia card. That would then most likely be Atkins game used jersey from 1964. I believe my jersey was used by Atkins in 66, Amsler in 69 and then Reppond in 73. The sleeves were most likely shortened then. In the Bears 69 team photo it was still 3/4 length sleeve.

[Samets]

Here are some thoughts on this...

Based on the style of your jersey, Doug Atkins could only have worn it during the 1961 through 1966 seasons. Bears have been known to re-use the jerseys until they were as thin as a well worn cotton tee shirt. Based on this common knowledge, we can safely assume that Atkins only wore one or two jerseys in that time frame. Marty Amsler started in 1967 and played through 1969 which explains why your Reppond jersey has the remnants of the shoulder patch.

It is odd that the Amsler photo on eBay does not match your jersey...

Attached are a couple of Atkins photo's that also do not appear to match your jersey... I believe they are of the same jersey... One appears to be a brand new jersey from 1961 or 1962 and the second is the same jersey after a few years of use...

Your jersey is what I love about this hobby! The chase.

[Samets]

Thinking more on this subject...

Can you please e-mail me a clean photo of the tag? It may tell us when it was manufactured...


As far as practice jerseys go... Up until sometime in the 1970's, Bears used the same jersey for practice and game day.

[VERIS#60]

Thinking more on this subject...

Can you please e-mail me a clean photo of the tag? It may tell us when it was manufactured...


As far as practice jerseys go... Up until sometime

V point
in the 1970's, Bears used the same jersey for practice and game day.

Those photos are not my Jersey. If you send me an email I will send you my photos. My size tag has a white stitching border. According to Dave Miedema, these were first seen on "65" Bears jerseys. My jersey is photo matched. I have looked at all the promotional items of Atkins I can find such as cards, coins, stamps, team issued 8x10's, etc. I have found lots of different jerseys Atkins is wearing. I think this is his Bears last jersey in "66". One reason is because he was traded before the "67" season. If they would have made promotional items of him he possibly would've been wearing the "66" jersey.

[Samets]

Those photos are not my Jersey. If you send me an email I will send you my photos. My size tag has a white stitching border. According to Dave Miedema, these were first seen on "65" Bears jerseys. My jersey is photo matched. I have looked at all the promotional items of Atkins I can find such as cards, coins, stamps, team issued 8x10's, etc. I have found lots of different jerseys Atkins is wearing. I think this is his Bears last jersey in "66". One reason is because he was traded before the "67" season. If they would have made promotional items of him he possibly would've been wearing the "66" jersey.

My understanding is that your tag was made in late 60's not mid 60's but Dave knows his jerseys...

That's all the help I can provide.

[sox83cubs84]

The match looks good to me.

Dave M.