is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

[camarokids]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

I disagree in regard to bats. In most cases, the players will select certain makes and models of bats and have bats made with certain traits relative to that player. So to me game issued bats do have a tie to the player. More so than a game issued jersey, since in a lot of cases the player is ordering the bat directly.

Of course game used is more of a tie to the player. My reasons for going game issued over game used:

1) No guessing games as to what it is or if it was used by the player
2) Its cheaper
3) Its cleaner looking

Hell, I think they are more rare than game used. Sometimes you canh't even find a game issued bat when there are 100's of game used ones out there.

A bat is a bat is a bat. I have never seen a fake game used bat!

Do your homework and you will be fine.

There have been issues with bats being doctored.

I did read about a Cal Ripken Jr bat that had the 125 underline filled in, but that is a doctored bat.

For the majority of players, minus superstars. Buying a doctored bat is a non-issue.

With most of the big name players whoring their equipment, authenticity can be a breeze with buying their stuff.

To each collector their own. But a game used bat is where it is at!

An issued bat may have never even touched the said players hands.

I think you would have to speculate much more where the bat came form it is not used. If it used, you can check the ends for writing and compare to other know examples. You can check use characteristics with pics found on gettyimages.com etc......

If I were collecting coins I would want an unused coin as issued, but of course we are talking baseball bats.

[Copa]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

Looking at these responses, I think my opinion is in the majority...as much as I would love to own game worn/used stuff over issued, I just don't have the money to spend on them!

One of the most prized pieces of my collection is a game-issued Mike Modano jersey, prepared for the home game he would have scored his 503rd goal, making him the highest-scoring American-born player in NHL history...since he scored the goal in Nashville, the home jersey wasn't used, but the equipment manager had written 503 on the fight strap, indicating when the jersey was to be used...Modano has long been my favorite player and this is the closest I'll ever come to owning such a significant piece of American hockey history.

[mariner_gamers]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

There is one instance game issued items really stand out to me and that is for a signing. I have been able to pick up reasonably priced game issued bats and then gotten them signed. Yes, game used is my preference, however, game issued for a signing outshines the standard 16x20, generic bat, jersey etc that most folks get graphed.

[yankeesjetsfan]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

I don't mind owing game issued stuff. The only bat I have is a Game Issued Jorge Posada and it was a gift. It means a lot to me that I own something that Posada ordered and probably handled as the handle is taped up.

I collect Mark Teixiera, Tino Martinez, Martin Brodeur, Yankees and Devils. I'm not rich and most of the game used stuff I want, I can't afford. I'm perfectly happy with owning a game issued item. If I could get a bat at an affordable price, I'd jump on it. But I'd settle for a Game issued bat.

[allstarsplus]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

I disagree in regard to bats. In most cases, the players will select certain makes and models of bats and have bats made with certain traits relative to that player. So to me game issued bats do have a tie to the player. More so than a game issued jersey, since in a lot of cases the player is ordering the bat directly.

Of course game used is more of a tie to the player. My reasons for going game issued over game used:

1) No guessing games as to what it is or if it was used by the player
2) Its cheaper
3) Its cleaner looking

Hell, I think they are more rare than game used. Sometimes you canh't even find a game issued bat when there are 100's of game used ones out there.

Brian - You definitely have a great collection of game issued bats. Like you said, they are tough to get if you are collecting the same brand/style that a player predominantly uses.

[legaleagle92481]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

I'm not starting another thread on this but if you had the choice of purchasing a future hall of fame player's game issued jersey or an above average bordeline superstar game used jersey, which would you prefer?

Neither I would save until I could get the gu one of the hofer because I do not like to collect guys below that standard as a personal prefereance, unless I really like the above average player then I would pick up his GU item. When a item is gu the player used it to accumulate stats which for hof caliber players is historic. To have a bat that Jim Thome or Arod used to hit a home run or that Jeter used to get a basehit or a jersey that Peyton threw a touchdown in. And stats aside the fact that the player wore it in competition even if he went o for 4 that day or did not throw a td. And to be able to see in photos the player using or wearing YOUR item is a cool thing.

[yankees24]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

I'm not starting another thread on this but if you had the choice of purchasing a future hall of fame player's game issued jersey or an above average bordeline superstar game used jersey, which would you prefer?

[brianborsch]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

I disagree in regard to bats. In most cases, the players will select certain makes and models of bats and have bats made with certain traits relative to that player. So to me game issued bats do have a tie to the player. More so than a game issued jersey, since in a lot of cases the player is ordering the bat directly.

Of course game used is more of a tie to the player. My reasons for going game issued over game used:

1) No guessing games as to what it is or if it was used by the player
2) Its cheaper
3) Its cleaner looking

Hell, I think they are more rare than game used. Sometimes you canh't even find a game issued bat when there are 100's of game used ones out there.

[halzeus]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

I think game used items have the highest priority for me, but I also enjoy finding a nice team issued item as well.

Unlike many, I'm not collecting items from one player, I collect University of Michigan football items.

If I can get a game used jersey or helmet, I'm estatic. However getting a team issued jersey is also exciting because it is associated with the team.

So I have some of both in my collection and hope to add many more in the future.

[GarkoCollector]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

I guess I'm the odd one out here. As far as I am concerned, if its not game used, it might as well be off the rack at a store. The whole point of game used, at least from my perspective, is that it has a tie to a player, a game, a season. Just because the jersey is issued to a player, I feel like its not really theirs unless they have worn it. A glove isnt worth having unless ts game used.

I truly understand the financial aspect of this, and fortunately, the player I collect can have items available to me for a few hundred dollars at most. If the items were more expensive, I still think I would rather hold out to have a game worn item than settle for anything, even if I had to pass up on a couple of smaller game used to be able to afford it.

[suave1477]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

Thank you all for your perspectives, I had a good read. I just feel that the game issued is not the cream of the crop when it comes to our hobby. It serves as the lesser, more inferior piece to a game used. It's like coming in second place.

I agree with you a 100% of course it is the inferior part in a collection, the whole point to the Game Used Hobby is hence GAME USED.

But the point I think we are all making is (using your comparison) it's nice to have a close second place item in your collection than nothing at all. Especially if it is from your favorite player or team.

[yankees24]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

Thank you all for your perspectives, I had a good read. I just feel that the game issued is not the cream of the crop when it comes to our hobby. It serves as the lesser, more inferior piece to a game used. It's like coming in second place.

[legaleagle92481]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

It is your collection, collect what makes you happy and don't worry about what others think. To afford alot of game used stuff out there today you have to be rich and game issued is the next best thing at a fraction of the price. And from an investment perspective none of this stuff is a great investment anyway. The people making the profit off of it are JO, Steiner, MeiGray, the charties that receive the money from NFL Auctions, etc. and not the collector. Even the riskiest stuff that worn by rookies and young players is through the roof. If you spend 25k on a Favre jersey most likely you will never see most of that money ever again.

[coxfan]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

Collectors are individualists, and that's the way it should be. The value of any item is just what it means to that collector. It may mean something totally different to the next guy, but that's his business.

This discussion reminds me of the small-town culture I grew up in in the 1950's. Back then you couldn't walk for exercise, for fear that people would gossip that you couldn't afford to drive your car or keep it in good condition! If a family ate in a local restaurant, people would gossip that the wife was a bad or lazy cook, etc. Small-town culture left little room for just being yourself; you had to meet all sorts of arbitrary social standards.

These days, individuality is more acceptable, and that's the way it should be.

[ned flanders]

Re: is there any shame owning a game issued instead of game used?

I don't see anything wrong w/ it under one circumstance. Ex: You cant afford the $8,500 Adrian Peterson game worn jersey from JO. Instead you buy the $2,000 issued jersey. When your spending that type of money for an issued jersey, there's something wrong w/ that. Just my thoughts.

I agree, nothing wrong with it at all. JO was at the CSA last year in Chantilly, Va and had an Adrian Peterson THROWBACK game issued I seriously considered buying for A VERY GOOD PRICE - Much less then $2k. I am still kicking myself for not buying it.