Card Companies and "Game Used" Cards

[Eric]

Re: How do card companies get game used items?

I check the Beckett site every once in while. There are always post on there linking to auctions on ebay where there are cards with fake patches on them. Not saying this one is, but apprently there are alot of folks that have figured out how to cut up a patch or piece of a jersey and put multi colored patches on the card. Of course the multi colored pieces sell for alot more then single color cards.

That's a different issue entirely. What you're mentioning is people taking cards and doctoring them to make rarer cards with fake patches.

We are discussing card companies who have purchased and cut up items that are not authentic.

[Jags Fan Dan]

Re: How do card companies get game used items?

I have posted this same scenario a few times on this board in these types of threads, but what really hammered the questionable nature of these cards home to me was the "Pro Bowl jersey" cards. I emailed Mark Brunell and he responded that he still has all of his game used Pro Bowl jerseys. And I imagine this is the case for most players. So what are all of the red and blue jersey swatches in the "player worn" Pro Bowl jersey cards? Did they all use the "player worn" statement so that it could be any jersey the player put on, maybe for skills competition or just a photo shoot, because they never said it was game used? If so, it seems that people were ignorant to that fact because some of those Pro Bowl swatch jersey cards went pretty high back in the day.

[Eric]

Re: How do card companies get game used items?

Has anyone on this site ever sold to the card companies?

[godwulf]

Re: How do card companies get game used items?

A few years ago, out of curiosity, I emailed one of the major card companies - I've forgotten which one, but it was probably Topps or Upper Deck - and mentioned that I had a large collection of game-used bats, and was interested in selling them. (I really wasn't, at all, but I was curious as to whether they bought them from individuals, and how much they paid.) I never heard back from them.

I used to despise the sight of those cards, because it just seemed to me to be borderline sacrilegious to cut up, for example, a Babe Ruth jersey, or a Ted Williams bat, or even something belonging to one of Baseball's lesser lights. Then, in a discussion on some board, someone asked the question, "If you could ask Babe Ruth whether he'd rather that one of his jerseys was hanging in some rich guy's den, or cut up so that hundreds of his fans could own a piece, what do you think he would say?"

I have to confess that the question (the answer to which I think is pretty obvious) changed my thinking on the matter. I still think it's plenty silly that a card with what is purported to be a tiny sliver of somebody's bat can sell for more than an entire bat of the same player...but it doesn't bother me like it used to that the cards exist.

I buy memorabilia cards now, for players of whom I'm particularly fond, because I like the design of the card; if it's a cool design, and it's cheap, I buy it like I would any other card. This morning, for example, I bought a couple of very attractive cards - a Conor Jackson bat card, and a Brandon Webb jersey card - for one and two dollars, respectively...and I could really care less whether or not the "memorabilia" is legitimate, because I like the cards. As far as I'm concerned, the greater the public suspicion that the cards are b.s., the better...it keeps the prices down.

[thomecollector]

Re: How do card companies get game used items?

I too have also been questioning the authenticity of these cards. I recently picked up a bunch of cards from Upper Deck. The cards show a Thome Sox throwback uniform on the front. The swatch is grey like the uniform pictured. But, which uniform did it come from ?? Obviously not that uniform. Because I own that one . Makes me wonder..............

[allstarsplus]

Re: How do card companies get game used items?

Has anyone on this site ever sold to the card companies?

I was never contacted directly, but another dealer wanted a Ryan Zimmerman jersey I had for a card company but they wanted to pay less than 1/2 of what I was offering it for and I didn't sell it to them.

[suave1477]

Re: How do card companies get game used items?

A long time ago I was contacted by a member of here (I don't remember who) for a card company and he wanted to buy several Jerseys from me. When he told me it was for a card company I told him politely I appreciate the interest in my items but immediately turned him down as I do not believe these items should be used for that.

I enjoy this hobby too much to see any of the items I sell to be chopped up and that even goes for common player game used items. I am even against people wearing the items but I would rather that than being chopped up because at least the person wearing it is appreciating the item.

[Eric]

Re: How do card companies get game used items?

NFL Auctions sold a 2007 Shawne Merriman jersey which was a size 48.

Donruss has a card with a size 50 tag

American Memorabilia sold a 2006 Merriman in size 50 authenticated by the 100% Authentic Team

http://www.americanmemorabilia.com/Auction_Item.asp?Auction_ID=41047

All could be real. But confusing...

[Eric]

Re: How do card companies get game used items?

Our resident Favre expert Guy Hankel says Brett Favre wore size 52.

What do you make of this 2006 (Donruss) Leaf card?

[gwh11]

Re: How do card companies get game used items?

Is it possible that a size 50 tag made it's way onto one of Favre's size 52 jerseys? Yes, it's possible. It's also possible that Barack Obama will pick me as his running mate.

It is very, very unlikely that a size 50 tag makes its way onto a legit Favre gamer. I've seen a few fraudulent Favre jerseys sporting a size 50 tag up for auction over the past few years. This appears to be one of them.

Ironically, Donruss does the hobby a favor in this instance by destroying a fake jersey.

Guy

[gwh11]

Re: How do card companies get game used items?

For reference, Favre wearing a size 52 jersey:
Guy

[Eric]

Re: How do card companies get game used items?

Here's a Donruss Steven Jackson card from 2008 Donruss Elite- Size tag shows 46

Sure, it's possible. NFL Auctions sold one that's a size 48. It's in our friend Roger's collection

http://www.nflauction.nfl.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=90902002&prmenbr=65664914&aunbr=91248712

A forum user was selling one authenticated by WeTrak/Prova Group which was also a size 48

http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=12433&highlight=steven+jackson

[Eric]

Re: How do card companies get game used items?

I spoke to a fellow forum member who is familiar with the way Donruss has purchased game used football items.

He says Donruss would send around lists to various dealers of star players' jerseys they were looking to buy

Bottom line is- whoever sold to Donruss for the lowest price would get the deal.

A couple of very familiar names to these parts offered star jerseys and rookie jerseys to Donruss for about half the price that the other dealers were offering, so guess what- their stuff went right to Donruss.

The dealers signed documents saying the item was authentic and if there was a problem, it was the fault of the dealer.

This is a very scary scenario. Personally, I would never buy from the people who's names I have removed. If they have been furnishing Donruss with high end pieces to be put on cards, this is potentially a very disturbing situation.

[Eric]

Re: How do card companies get game used items?

Drew Brees has only played for the Saints for 2 seasons, 2006 and 2007

Drew Brees jersey from american memorabilia which he signed "game used 2006" and is a size 46

http://www.americanmemorabilia.com/Auction_Item.asp?Auction_ID=35804

Here is a Donruss 2007 Leaf Limited Brees card size 50

http://cgi.ebay.com/Drew-Brees-2007-07-Leaf-Limited-Jersey-TAG-5-9-SAINTS_W0QQitemZ140252423053QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item140252423053&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318#ebayphotohosting

[allstarsplus]

Re: How do card companies get game used items?

I spoke to a fellow forum member who is familiar with the way Donruss has purchased game used football items.

He says Donruss would send around lists to various dealers of star players' jerseys they were looking to buy

Bottom line is- whoever sold to Donruss for the lowest price would get the deal.

A couple of very familiar names to these parts offered star jerseys and rookie jerseys to Donruss for about half the price that the other dealers were offering, so guess what- their stuff went right to Donruss.

The dealers signed documents saying the item was authentic and if there was a problem, it was the fault of the dealer.

This is a very scary scenario. Personally, I would never buy from the people who's names I have removed. If they have been furnishing Donruss with high end pieces to be put on cards, this is potentially a very disturbing situation.

Eric - You know the old saying, "You get what you pay for". You have shown a pattern here of jerseys that just don't add up.

You also have to wonder if Donruss or these other companies do any due dilligence when buying these "cut rate" jerseys.

It is also a good news/bad news scenario as the price for these jersey cards are only a couple of $'s and kids in my neighborhood love collecting them and they are now affordable which is the good news---the bad news is if they ever read this thread they may discover that their Brett Favre jersey card might never have been worn by Brett Favre!