Re: wearing your sports memorabilia
Speaking strictly from my personal observations and experiences as both a collector and dealer for most of the past 33 years, I have to agree with many of the points made by gingi79. There are a number of collectors who buy from me who are just as much concerned if a jersey will fit them as they are with the authenticity. Some make no bones to me that they plan to wear the jersey, and I firmly believe that many others probably wear them as well but never mention it in conversations.
The point gingi79 makes about a common jersey being less expensive than a store-bought replica rings especially true with folks looking for a jersey to wear. Time and again I have heard that comment from collectors who prefer to buy a low-priced common instead of a well-made replica that might cost twice as much. They are looking for a jersey to wear, so why pay over $200 when they can get the "real deal" for a lot less, especially if they care more about the team the jersey represents than the player's name on back?
If it is a deal-breaker that someone else might have worn the jersey, then stick to buying directly from teams, NFL or MLB Auctions, or dealers who obtain items directly from the teams as mentioned in a previous post. But if you are buying from the secondary market (other collectors, ebay, most items in auctions, etc.), there is the possibility that it has been worn by someone along the way.
As for me, I don't really care. If someone has a World Football League, Atlanta Falcons, or old durene football jersey that I want to add to my collection, I could not care less if someone else wore it a few times. I accept that as a reality in collecting game-used items. In my experiences, I have found that a collector wearing a jersey really doesn't affect the value unless they have damaged the jersey.
If someone wants to wear a jersey, it's their jersey to do with it as they wish. This hobby supposed to be fun, and for many, wearing a jersey to a ball game or around the house on Sunday afternoon is what makes it fun.
Mark Hayne
Gridiron Exchange
gixc@verizon.net
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Re: wearing your sports memorabilia
Those are definitely hockey sites, devoid of information about Major League Baseball. I would really like to know how many of you here have actually worn a game-used jersey. I guess I understand if you try it on once, but to actually wear it kind of ruins the value, especially for me. I don't want a jersey that my Mom had her last hot flash in. I want a jersey worn by a Houston Astros player only.Leave a comment:
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Re: wearing your sports memorabilia
Both of these sites deal with mostly game worn hockey but the majority of the members claim to wear their jerseys at one time or another.
Also, every game I have been to in recent memory has had fans wearing obvious game worn jerseys. So much so that I have began talking about jerseys and collecting with different people at random.
The pregame show for the Super Bowl had a kid wearing a game worn Giants jersey in the background behind Jimmie Johnson. I know it was game worn because he had two tremendous bubbles on the shoulders where they had once covered pads. I'm betting there is video of it on youtube.
In the 15 years since I started collected jerseys (replica to authentic to game worn as my cash flow and their availability increased) I have seen a tremendous influx of people with easy access to game worn materials wearing them publicly. With the easy access, less and less collectors are getting these shirts and putting them away or simply displaying them and more and more of them are showing up at Games.
Here is my little story. My friend got a Yankees game worn pinstripe jersey from the early 80's on eBay for $100 including shipping. Someone posted in this thread that there are many game worn jerseys available cheaper than M&N. I will take that one step further. MLB jerseys of star players are available for $200. Everyone has a Yankees Jeter jersey at the Stadium. Only one guy has a game worn 1980's #33 jersey though and it cost half the price of the Jeter authentic. The prices have become so low and there are so many game worns available that they are become the more economic choice for many fans.Leave a comment:
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Re: wearing your sports memorabilia
In the case of the Ruth hat the Wells wore, I would say it decreased the value, but not as much as it would have if Boomer's son wore it in a high school game. The publicity surrounding Wells and his wearing the hat does seem to have some historical significance. I would prefer my game worn items not to have been used by others, but if the Ruth hat was documented as being the one Wells wore, I would have less of an issue with that. Of course, at that point, I would consider it as a game worn Ruth hat, also worn by Boomer.#22
Today, 03:41 PM
OaklandAsFan
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 104
Re: wearing your sports memorabilia
Quote:
Originally Posted by chakes89
Yes I did
Even if I were to sell it one day, I doubt it would pull in that much anyway
Its not like I wore a Babe Ruth jersey around
on that note here is a hypothetical for you guys... The ruth gamer that Boomer bought and wore during a Yanks game a few years back, do you think that increased, decreased or didn't affect the price of that hat??Leave a comment:
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Re: wearing your sports memorabilia
I might be alone on this one but I most definitely would/did but hear me out......
I started collecting sneakers in '89 and have been a Griffey fan just as long. I acquired a pair of Griffey-Issued Nike sneakers and I'm very proud to say that I have worn them a couple times.
By the way, first post.
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Re: wearing your sports memorabilia
I've got a late 80s Sixers warmup jacket that I've worn on a couple of occasions. By the looks of the markered tag, it's been more by a few players. I have no intention of selling it, but I doubt that me wearing it a couple of times would hurt the value if I sold it. Not exactly a big ticket item.
I see gamers being sold on here for considerably less than the retail price of a M&N replica. There's game worn stuff that fetches 6 figures and game worn stuff you can give away. Obviously, some stuff is 'wearable', some stuff is not.Leave a comment:
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Re: wearing your sports memorabilia
Sorry sir, I'd be willing to bet the overall majority (90% +) of items purchased from private collectors/eBay/Auction Houses were worn by their previous owners after the athlete. In fact I now expect that when I buy them, unless it is from the team, it was worn by the person I bought it from.
I broke my collection into only 2 groups. The ones I will never sell and the ones I may one day sell. In the "never going to sell" pile, I have only 5 jerseys and I wear them for special occasions but never around food, children or in weather that may cause me to sweat, etc.
The "maybe I'll sell" pile is nicely folded in large ziplock bags and put away in large plastic tubs to accrue value until someone who wants them more comes along.
For those collectors who collect to cherish their items as something only the athlete wore, I would suggest sticking to Team Auctions, MeiGray and those companies who sell Game Worn materials they receive only from the team.
Otherwise, sorry to tell you as someone who sells on eBay and other auction houses, no one who is trying to make the most money possible is going to disclose wearing the shirt themselves. It's wrong and deceitful but it's also human nature. I may sounds cynical but if anyone really believes only the athlete wore the jersey you just bought on eBay, you are fooling yourself.Leave a comment:
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Re: wearing your sports memorabilia
That's what I'm thinking myself. What is one day our treasure is the next day expendable when we find something better.
And I think most of us consider it gross to buy say a Jeff Bagwell jersey and have John Q. Public wearing it around his house.
I would hope that those of you who wear your jerseys would think twice when you sell them. Full disclosure, please.Leave a comment:
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