Anybody wear any of your game worn items?

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  • G1X
    Senior Member
    • Nov 2005
    • 1076

    #31
    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

    Comment

    • commando
      Senior Member
      • Nov 2007
      • 1234

      #32
      Re: wearing your sports memorabilia

      I think the problem would be if someone wore the jersey enough to show noticeable wear, whether through several washings or piling, sleeve thread fraying, etc... Placing extra wear on jerseys after it enters private ownership in a huge problem if that jersey ever re-enters the market. There's a Donovan McNabb Eagles jersey for sale on this site as we speak that may fit this category. A collector may have no intention of reselling the jersey today, but may very well change his mind tomorrow. Unfortunately, the wear cannot be reversed.

      I am not against the wearing of game used jerseys by their current owners... I would say though that they should choose their occasions very wisely and infrequently. If you add wear to an item then resell it, you are no better than a seller who did the same thing with fraud in mind, in my opinion (unless you say in your description how many times you wore it, washed it, and the exact wear that resulted from it).
      sigpic
      Anthony Nunez
      Historian, USFL Houston Gamblers
      www.Houston-Gamblers.com

      Comment

      • both-teams-played-hard
        Senior Member
        • Nov 2005
        • 2712

        #33
        Re: wearing your sports memorabilia

        My cynnical side has something to say. Who wants a stranger coming up to you and saying: "that's a cool jersey. Is that a real player jersey? You like the Mudhens? Well, I like the Mudhens. Maybe we should get together and discuss their pitching prospects." Or better yet, will you sell it? How much? How do you know it's real?
        Damn dude...leave me alone, I'm trying to watch the game.
        Trying on a jersey or wearing it around the house is not the same as exposing your gamer to the elements (ie. Nacho cheese sauce, Bud Dry, etc.)
        And to all you single guys: Nobody has ever picked up a girl while wearing excessive sports garb. Keep it simple. Nice shirt and khakis.

        Comment

        • AWA85
          Senior Member
          • Jan 2008
          • 2195

          #34
          Re: wearing your sports memorabilia

          But if you do find a girl that is into excessive game used items or items being worn such as jerseys, HANG ON TO HER. That is a winner in my book.
          Looking for: Joey Votto game used items.

          Comment

          • mchmaj
            Senior Member
            • Nov 2005
            • 495

            #35
            Re: wearing your sports memorabilia

            Originally posted by commando
            Placing extra wear on jerseys after it enters private ownership in a huge problem if that jersey ever re-enters the market. There's a Donovan McNabb Eagles jersey for sale on this site as we speak that may fit this category. A collector may have no intention of reselling the jersey today, but may very well change his mind tomorrow. Unfortunately, the wear cannot be reversed.
            i am the owner of the McNabb jersey, it is not GAME WORN but it is game ISSUED. Yes i have to agree with you that someone else worn this jersey before it was sold to me. I dont mind because i will wear it myself....McNabb is Syracuse Alumni so that even better to add to my syracuse collection. It will not hurt the value, it is already game issued (matching 2001 eagles game jerseys specifics such as berlin, wisc wash tag, sleeves customized, tagged inside collar 01-50 and reebok size tagging with white flag size 50 and if i wanted to sell it and i will sell it as GAME ISSUED.

            For other jerseys i have in my collection, for example, 1981 joe montana white game used jersey, I WILL NEVER WEAR IT ! i do have jerseys that i can wear and others i cannot wear ! Football game jerseys today is harder to wear because they are getting smaller and smaller. For the baseball and basketball, they are much easier to wear and if i have any high value jerseys i will not wear them but only to display !
            marcus

            Comment

            • gingi79
              Senior Member
              • Aug 2007
              • 1195

              #36
              Wearing Game Worns.

              I read through a lot of this forum and make notes of certain interesting comments and "side conversations" which develop but aren't fully discussed. I normally take some time to form an opinion and then decide whether posting it for discussion will benefit the community or my morbid sense of curiosity.

              While reading through the Fake Kobe jersey thread, the topic I listed in the title was briefly touched on again. (I realize this topic has be discussed before but I really think it should be re-hashed again) What follows are my Opinions. Therefore please take them with a grain of salt. I would very much appreciate some honest feedback and opinions. Also I would specifically appreciate if we can suspend any personal gripes and keep this thread on topic because we can all learn something.

              In my house right now are a reasonably large number of authentic, replica and game used jerseys. I have been a collector for over 15 years and have always found pleasure in owning the jersey of my favorite players. As a kid I wore my Dan Marino Authentic jersey at least once a week and I remember wearing my Authentic Pavel Bure Canucks jersey through the 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs every other day.

              As I got older and the internet became what it is today, access to authentic game used material has become tremendous. Looking through the Classifieds of this site alone, there are bats of current superstars, jerseys and helmets from years gone by and every sport has been represented in GUU Auctions.

              That being said I would argue that unless you purchase an item from MeiGray or see the player take the shirt off and hand it to you, the odds are, someone else has at least tried it on. I say this because I have seen at hockey games several gamers in the crowd and similarly at Shea Stadium, a friend purchase a game worn jersey and wear it the next time I saw him. While these are only 2 examples, I am sure if you look close enough you can find people in your community doing the same thing.

              For those purist who say they should never be worn, I see your point. Go back to the Kobe thread and look at the picture of the 3 girls wearing shirts. I would argue that (while very appealing especially since I have never liked seeing a T.O. jersey so much before) is more "added wear" than the collector wearing his Bryant shirt to wear poker. My reasoning is, those women take excellent care of themselves, wear purfumes, body creams and MAKEUP for the shoot. As much as I don't want to smell sweat in my house from some 400 pound Dolphins lineman, I certainly don't want it smelling like CK one with a makeup stain!

              However, I don a gamer now and again but I have strict rules for doing so. Not all my shirts are worn and if I want to "flip" them or plan to sell them in the future, I simply fold them professionally and put them away until such time as I will sell them.

              1) I don't put them in the washing machine. If they must be cleaned it's Dry Clean Only. This does not result in "increased wear, increased puckering, etc" It also keeps the marks from the player intact.

              2) I don't wear them to work-out in. This includes any exercise, sports, excessive walking etc.

              3) I will not wear them around children or people who don't respect them. In other words, if I am going to a buddies house and he thinks it's weird that I collect gamers, then I don't wear them there. If you don't realize these items are valuable and don't appreciate them, you won't take precautions to prevent "accidents".

              4) I don't eat in them, nap in them, or wear them all day. Strictly for events where they will spark conversation or inquiry as I love to talk to people about the hobby.

              5) I only wear gamers which are not for sale.

              Number 5 leads us to a talk on the economy and how we all need extra money now and never say never etc. I am saying never because I spent too long looking for the gamers I collect. I spent a lot of time at jobs I hated to acquire them and they are only of my favorite teams and players. While I agree that I cannot definatively say I will never sell them, I would rather enjoy them and have to disclose that they were wore a few times than just stare at them on my wall.

              In conclusion, I respect a person's right to purchase a jersey and put it in a nice display case. I also respect the fact that it might take a ton of overtime at a job you may hate to afford a jersey that means something to you. With all that hard work, you may feel wearing it makes you happy. With the recent gas crisis, layoffs and hard times you may need that small happiness.

              By the way, I do not wear authentic jerseys. I have a bunch which will be listed for sale this week, with tags attached, never worn, which I purchased in a bulk lot for autograph shows that I never attended. Also some game worns which I haven't ever worn They are going cheap and with a free replica jersey for every two jerseys purchased, you might find 3 great holiday gifts. Email me for a list, (No items will conflict with the collector classifieds) or to discuss the hobby. I love unsolicited emails about the hobby!

              Matt Nachamkin
              Gingi79@aol.com
              Bieksallent! My Player Collections:


              http://sami-salo.webs.com

              Comment

              • kingjammy24
                Senior Member
                • Nov 2005
                • 3119

                #37
                Re: Wearing Game Worns.

                in retrospect, maybe i was wrong about wearing gamers. i decided to give it a go. here i am at the MGM wearing my 1934 babe ruth uniform. i managed to get some great offers! it was well worth the pain of walking around the Strip in cleats.



                rudy.

                Comment

                • helmets
                  Senior Member
                  • Mar 2008
                  • 546

                  #38
                  Re: Wearing Game Worns.

                  Rudy - You're killing me.
                  Weren't you afraid to stretch the crotch of those pants by stradling the chair backwords like that?
                  Buying game used helmets of Packers - all eras as well as game used helmets of HOFers or future HOFers.

                  Comment

                  • Jags Fan Dan
                    Senior Member
                    • Apr 2007
                    • 1638

                    #39
                    Re: Wearing Game Worns.

                    Touchy subject with alot of strong feelings from members here both ways. I guess I am in the group that feels that if you bought, it's yours, do what you want with it. The way you enjoy this or any other hobby is going to be largely personal and I don't think anyone can really say that there is a right way or a wrong way. Do you collect game used for the nostalgia? To feel more connected to the players/game? To show team pride? As an investment? Some combination of all of these, or an entirely different reason(s)? The answers to these questions will likely influence what you collect and how you handle your game used items.

                    That said, I don't wear game used jerseys. The only way I would is if it was a very cheap one that I would be willing to treat like I would any other piece of clothing I own. I HAVE worn one pair of game used receiving gloves that I own in back yard football games, but they are "player-unknown" and relatively without value, other than they help me catch a football better than the rest of my friends, especially in the cold weather .

                    The only time I would really take offense to someone wearing something game used is if it was a piece that should be in a museum and they just have enough money that they do not respect/or care about the piece for what it is. To me, that would be like putting a Honus Wagner T206 card in your bike spokes.

                    But then, I thought it was kind of cool when David Wells wore the Babe Ruth hat to pitch in a game. Is that different? I guess to me it is, to others I bet it isn't.

                    Comment

                    • mariner_gamers
                      Senior Member
                      • May 2008
                      • 358

                      #40
                      Re: Wearing Game Worns.

                      Jammy the Ruth bit is money!! I admit I laughed out loud.

                      Card companies have been chewing up so much vintage stuff for so long and people keep buying packs so it must not matter to the masses. I have worn gamers to special events in the past because I own it and I can. Nowadays so many people want to know every minute of a jersey or bats life I find it exhausting. If you see it, you know your stuff and you like what you see buy it. If not save your scratch and find something else YOU feel comfortable purchasing.

                      That is my $1.63.......

                      Davis
                      Davis Emburey
                      demburey@netzero.net
                      Always looking for late 70's-late 80's Mariners game used bats!

                      Comment

                      • chakes89
                        Senior Member
                        • May 2006
                        • 1706

                        #41
                        Re: Wearing Game Worns.

                        I wear my Chris Reitsma BP jersey to games
                        I collect Jay Bruce and Cincinnati Reds Minor League stuff


                        My email address: hakes89@gmail.com

                        Comment

                        • AWA85
                          Senior Member
                          • Jan 2008
                          • 2195

                          #42
                          Re: Wearing Game Worns.

                          I am wearing my Jay Bruce game used home jersey right now, trying to figure out how to get this spaghetti stain out of it though Any ideas Chris?
                          Looking for: Joey Votto game used items.

                          Comment

                          • Dewey2007
                            Senior Member
                            • Dec 2007
                            • 2566

                            #43
                            Re: Wearing Game Worns.

                            This is pretty topical since I recently purchased a jersey that was worn by the seller on a couple of occasions. I didn't have any issue with it since the seller freely admitted to wearing it prior to the sale and to the fact that he never washed it. He seemed sincere about it so I went ahead with the deal. I have no idea how I would have ever known he had worn it anyhow if he hadn't mentioned it. Maybe if there was an unmistakable mustard stain or something like that but other then the obvious you can never really tell. I definitely factored his wearing the jersey into my offer price though.

                            Personally, I have never worn any of my game used jerseys although I have been tempted on a couple of occasions to try one on. I don't wear jerseys anymore anyway. I always found it a little funny to see adult men in jerseys at games anyway and I always laugh when I see people with their jerseys tucked in or worn over collared shirts but that's just me.

                            I'm definitely in the camp that says "you paid for it so do what you like with it" but have the ethics and courtesy of full disclosure of wearing a jersey if you are trying to sell it. Especially if you have washed it or there had been some sort of accident while wearing it.
                            sigpicwww.alamedasportsproject.com

                            Comment

                            • skyking26
                              Senior Member
                              • Dec 2005
                              • 2457

                              #44
                              Re: Wearing Game Worns.

                              As is any topic, we all have our own feelings. I think it is wrong for an auction house to have supermodels wearing expensive gamers in their catalog. I only look at them because I'm looking at the girl.

                              Any gamer I obtain is never worn but displayed on a mannequin of in a case to admire. I personally sweat like a pig and that does not need to be transferred to the item. We can't control what others do with theirs, so when you buy a gamer keep that in mind.

                              Years ago, I remember buying a GU Kingman bat uncracked. When it arrived it was cracked. I sent it back after the seller admitted his brother went out and whacked a few with it and broke it...

                              RK
                              ROBERT KOPPEL
                              Skyking26 - 35 year collector of Dave Kingman memorabilia. Also seek 500 HR and 3000 Hit GU Bats,
                              and 1968, 1984, HOF Tigers GU Bats...Skyking442@hotmail.com

                              Comment

                              • chakes89
                                Senior Member
                                • May 2006
                                • 1706

                                #45
                                Re: Wearing Game Worns.

                                Originally posted by AWA85
                                I am wearing my Jay Bruce game used home jersey right now, trying to figure out how to get this spaghetti stain out of it though Any ideas Chris?
                                You must have it out on loan from the Reds HOF and Museum

                                BAHAHAHAHAHA
                                I collect Jay Bruce and Cincinnati Reds Minor League stuff


                                My email address: hakes89@gmail.com

                                Comment

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