Retail Jersey History?

[transam85tpi]

Re: Retail Jersey History?

I started going in to M&N back in 1986 when I was stationed up in Philadelphia... I got to know Peter, Joanne, Ray, and Al quite well as I was in there quite often. Al didn't work there, but he knew A LOT about baseball jerseys. When M&N started with the baseball throwbacks back then, I remember that they had found a load of old wool fabric in one of the wherehouses on the waterfront and Peter bought all of it with the idea of remaking a few of the older jerseys, (Aaron, etc.) By 1987 I remember people coming into the store from up & down the east coast to buy these jerseys...

Just think, I just went in there to see if they had a Herschel Walker jersey, not knowing that they sold the actual Russell jerseys. I was happy because I never did like the SandKnit ones, I bought many Cowboys jerseys from them over the years. I'll have to get up with Peter sometime soon... I haven't seen or talked to him in over a decade.

[beantown]

Re: Retail Jersey History?

Hey everyone-

I was wondering if anyone out there in knew the history of retail football jerseys. I was thinking about how Sand Knit used to make fan jerseys in the 70s and thought someone might know how far back fans could buy jerseys of their favorite players.

Also, does anyone know if back in the day you had to buy the numbers that were available (of the stars) or if you could pick any number?

Any info would be appreciated.
Eric

I rememeber getting a Lynn Swann jersey back in the early 80's which was ordered through an ad in the Football Digest. It was nothing like a Steelers game jersey from that era. It had heat pressed #'s and name, and was not nylon durene. However, it is my understanding that nylon durene jerseys were made as authentics from that era and I have had a few over the years in single and double ply shoulders, some also had the "Designed Exclusiveley for the Pittsburgh Steelers Tag". When I look at game used jerseys from the 70's or ealry 80's of the Steelers, I always look at the length. The Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Heinz Field Hall of Fame both have Steelers jersey displayed and I have never seen one originally manufactured with one length and extra material added on. Have you seen how many auction houses have 70's and 80's Steelers jersey with the so called "extra length" added??? It has been quite a few recently....where were all these in years past? Moreover, there always the home jersey...no road white jerseys??? My conclusion it that these are authentic jerseys where someone has added extra durene material, exclusive/size tags and a year tag...more often than not, you don't find the exclusive tag, because it never existed on the jersey! Your trying to tell me that the Steelers of the 70', who were larger than life, couldn't get jerseys originally manufactured the right way for each player and the Steelers equipment manager had to add extra material??? Yeah, right!!! It's a shame that people are spending so much money on jerseys that are down right bogus....