Game issued turning into game worn

[emann]

Re: Game issued turning into game worn

I'm not too familiar with how MLB does it with issued vs worn but if they label everything they don't see come off the players back as issued then don't you think there will be people who buy "issued" jerseys that are actually just issued jerseys then start to see use that doesn't actually exist?
Does that make sense?

Absolutely—but that is sort of the risk with anything in this hobby. It takes a pretty decent level of faith... Unless you only buy "authenticated as game worn from the team" and I believe there have even been instances of those being incorrect. It's been said on the forum before, but unless you get a player to hand you his jersey during the game, you can't ever really be 100% sure. I think there have even been instances of photomatched use being faked at this point...

I agree that sometimes you see what you want to see. From the buyer's POV in the aftermarket, you just need to make as much of a judgement call based off due diligence...

[G1X]

Re: Game issued turning into game worn

Not to continue this (since nobody else is really weighing in), but what about any items that predate authentication without photomatches? Can none of those be sold as "game worn"? That probably constitutes 95% of the jerseys in circulation...

See, that's where I think this attitude falls short in the game used hobby. You need to be able to evaluate on a per item basis and have an ability to do so. Then it comes down to an individual feeling of trust in both that ability and in the items you're looking to purchase for your collection.

Anyway, just my take...

emann - I agree with you 1000%. Furthermore, those who collect older items need to have the ability to tell the difference between game-used and team-issued items (not to mention the difference between team pieces and replicas or fakes) as actual photo matches are nearly impossible to find because of the lack of available photos, and team/league COAs and other types of certification were non-existence. In addition, these collectors have to know the various tagging and other nuances of the teams/players they collect as unlike current-era jerseys that use the same manufacturers (Nike in the NFL and Reebok before that, and Majestic for baseball and Russell before that), there were a number of manufacturers involved. Some NFL teams, for example, would typically use a manufacturer for a few years and then switch to another.

Takuleechch - I agree with you in that on rare occasions, a collector might be a bit optimistic and see wear where perhaps others might not see it (and it probably doesn't exist). However, experience is a great teacher in this hobby and seeing a number of jerseys eventually gives many collectors the "eyes" to accurately differentiate a game-used jersey from a team-issued jersey. Having made a few bulk buys directly from pro football teams over the years, I can attest that it is usually easy to quickly see the difference between the jerseys that show game use and those that appear to have never been worn.

For those of you who are new to the hobby, if you live near a team that sells their game-used jerseys or a uniform dealer such as MeiGray, spend some time going through their racks of jerseys as it is good way to gain valuable information about game jerseys and make side-by-side comparisons of jerseys that show wear to those that are mint. It will quickly become apparent which jerseys show wear and which do not. As the old saying goes, a jersey will speak for itself.

Team/league COAs and photo matches are great if you can get them, but that won't always be the case, and it will almost never be the case if collecting older items (basically, anything from the 20th century).

Mark Hayne
Gridiron Exchange
gixc@verizon.net

[mbrieve]

Re: Game issued turning into game worn

I recently purchased a jersey from a well-known dealer who did a bulk buy with a team. This dealer listed all the jerseys as team-issued because they could not guarantee use. Some of the jerseys had crisp tags and looked to be lightly used if at all.

Going by the photos posted, I selected a jersey that displayed signs of multiple washings, numbering and lettering showed plenty of loose threads, etc. Again, unless I can photomatch it, there is no guarantee the jersey was worn on the field. All the evidence apparent in the photos posted in the auction listing pointed to it being used (and used a lot).

Because of the team issued distinction, I was able to purchase the jersey for less than a new retail authentic jersey from the team. I'll take that deal!

[scottishcowboy41]

Re: Game issued turning into game worn

mbrieve, that was the same senario as my purchase of my McCray Cowboys gamer. Brad from Shafrancollectibles, who is a forum member here, bought hundreds of Cowboys game issued jerseys in a massive Steiner clearout. Brad advertised the jersey as issued because it came with an issued Steiner card, but the photo's of the pounded jersey showed me it was in reality very much game used. I got it at a great price because Steiner had designated it as issued. All the Cowboys game issued jerseys he had were well priced and a few showed game use. I think he shifted all of them in under a month!

I was lucky enough to photomatch my jersey extensively, but even if I hadn't been able to, the game-wear, numerous team repairs and blueing of the jersey show clear game use. Not just some loose threads on this occassion. I'm happy.

[short84]

Re: Game issued turning into game worn

The reason Steiner sold the large lot of jerseys they received from the Cowboys as issued was because they did not receive any specific information from the Cowboys indicating which game or games the jerseys were worn in. Since their contract with the Cowboys was terminated, they simply printed up game issued COAs for each jersey and then sold them for $25 each to dump their inventory. I too, have several jerseys with the issued COAs that show game use with repairs, turf burns etc. I have one jersey in my collection that has over 30 repairs that was sold with an issued COA but for $25 I am more than happy with it.

[scottishcowboy41]

Re: Game issued turning into game worn

$25!!! Wow! I guess that's one of those right place at the right time kind of dealsl. I definitely need to relocate to the U.S! Lucky you! I was very pleased with what I paid for mine, even though it wasn't quite as good as $25, lol!