Ozzie Smith Jersey in Vintage Authentics Auction?

[Robert Sanders]

What do forum members think of this jersey? I note that the numbers on the size tag are blue, when I think that they should be black. Is this the only red flag?

http://www.vintageauthentics.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=119653348&prmenbr=57735959&aunbr=120000058

[Robert Sanders]

Re: Ozzie Smith Jersey in Heritage Auctions?

Oops! That should be Vintage Auctions! My apologies!

[Robert Sanders]

Re: Ozzie Smith Jersey in VINTAGE AUTHENTICS? (3rd Time Right)

Grandpa is awake now...

Let me try this again with a correct identification of the auction house:

What do forum members think of this jersey? I note that the numbers on the size tag are blue, when they should be black. Any other red flags?

http://www.vintageauthentics.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=119653348&prmenbr=57735959&aunbr=120000058

Thanks!

Robert

[David]

Re: Ozzie Smith Jersey in Heritage Auctions?

My favorite auction posting title boo boo was when an auction house had a technical difficulty for a few hours. When the auction was back to running, someone posted "ABC AUCTIONS IS FIXED!!!" Some people misinterpreted this.

I didn't use the auction house's name a second time, so as to not embarrass them again.

[sox83cubs84]

Re: Ozzie Smith Jersey in Heritage Auctions?

One thing that does puzzle me is the "O SMITH" NOB, as, unless a coach with that last name was with the team, Ozzie was the only Smith on the Redbirds in 1996. Jeff or Dave, can you chime in on this one?

Dave M.
Chicago area

[Robert Sanders]

Re: Ozzie Smith Jersey in Heritage Auctions?

One thing that does puzzle me is the "O SMITH" NOB, as, unless a coach with that last name was with the team, Ozzie was the only Smith on the Redbirds in 1996. Jeff or Dave, can you chime in on this one?

Dave M.
Chicago area

I just had a look at Getty Images and see that he did have "O SMITH" on the back of his jersey that year.

[Birdbats]

Re: Ozzie Smith Jersey in Heritage Auctions?

The O. Smith thing isn't an issue. He did that most (if not all) years with the Cards, whether there was another Smith on the team (Lonnie, Lee, Bryn, Keith, Willie) or not. Here's what concerns me: I've heard from people who know that Ozzie ordered and received many, many jerseys in his final season, most of which were given away as souvenirs. Jim Yackel has one on his site; note the autograph is in the same place.



Is it such a stretch to think someone would add a Busch patch and a tailored strip, dirty it up and call it a gamer? I have a Ron Gant issued jersey from '96 -- it also has the tailored strip. Look at the differences below (auction jersey on left, mine on right). Also, look at the differences in the Busch patch. The offered jersey's patch seems to have thicker black lines and other differences.



I don't know if the auction jersey is legit or not based on the photos, but I'd sure like to see it in person and compare it to a known legit exemplar. In other words, I'd need to do a lot more research before I'd feel comfortable with this one.

[Birdbats]

Re: Ozzie Smith Jersey in Heritage Auctions?

Man, that jersey at auction looks a lot like Jim Yackel's jersey. I just left Jim a message to see if anyone bought his jersey recently. Will keep you posted.

[Birdbats]

Re: Ozzie Smith Jersey in Heritage Auctions?

Here's the jersey on Jim Yackel's site (white background, smaller photos) next to the Vintage Authentics jersey (black background, larger photos). Am I the only one who sees the similarities?

[Robert Sanders]

Re: Ozzie Smith Jersey in Heritage Auctions?

The shared similarities in alignment on both jerseys of the lettering, numbers and buttons is scary. Add to that the autographs, which appear to my eye to be EXACTLY the same in EVERY detail, it seems very likely that we have another example on the market of a 'Lou Lampson gamed' jersey. I'll be curious to learn what you hear back from Jim.

[nickacs]

Re: Ozzie Smith Jersey in Heritage Auctions?

I'm not a baseball jersey expert by any means, but isn't usually the lower portion of the jersey where the front tagging is, is tucked in for a game? Just seems "odd" that yea the jerseys look 99.9% the same, but the "dirty" tagging is one area of difference. I'm sure the lower portion of a jersey can become un-tucked by slides/etc, but seems odd to me.

Hey, we've read on here some Ebay guy that was "dirtying up" NFL jerseys to mimick dirt/scuff marks, so it wouldn't be surprising to me someone might do the same here to get a jersey sold.

Seeing where it's begin auctioned and another Lou "special", I would say there's definitely some concern here, in my opinion.

Just my 2cents

[skinsfan0521]

Re: Ozzie Smith Jersey in Heritage Auctions?

I agree that the Busch patch shows several differences, but the biggest thing to me is the signature. The signature is EXACTLY the same including the lightness in places and the extra marker "streak" on the left of the "t". Basically, NO signature is exactly the same, so that to me shows that this is the same jersey. Plus, the Busch patch shows quite a bit of differences. Also, the "T" on the jock tag is a different thickness.

[sox83cubs84]

Re: Ozzie Smith Jersey in Heritage Auctions?

Good calls, Jeff and Robert...had I had the time toinvestigate Getty, I would have seen the same thing.

Dave M.
Chicago area

[Schmoozer]

Re: Ozzie Smith Jersey in Heritage Auctions?

Man, that jersey at auction looks a lot like Jim Yackel's jersey. I just left Jim a message to see if anyone bought his jersey recently. Will keep you posted.

Birdbats (Jeff), I'm dying to hear what he told you, as it's obviously the exact same jersey (because of the signature exact similarites).

[Birdbats]

Re: Ozzie Smith Jersey in Heritage Auctions?

I talked to Jim Yackel this morning. He told me he hasn't updated his site in a while and that he did, indeed, sell his Ozzie Smith jersey before Christmas to someone who was "buying it as a gift."

After talking with Jim, I called Vintage Authentics and spoke with Mark, then sent Mark comparative photos and links to Jim's site. We'll see what happens from here.