Throwbacks and Sports

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Wed, 13 May 2009 05:17:00 +0000

A look at the AFL legacy uniforms: The 1963 Boston Patriots
May 12, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Eight former AFL teams will wear 1960s throwback uniforms during "legacy games" in the 2009 season. Shutdown Corner takes a look back (or ahead, if you will) at those throwback jerseys in advance of the season. Today, we look at the 1963 Boston Patriots. These are a strong contender for my favorite among all the AFL throwback uniforms. I'm not sure if I like them because I actually like them, or ...

Beware fans - some NFL gear hardly Super

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:02:00 +0000

Reported by: Mike Celizic, NBCSports.com contributor

Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 @10:42am CST

TAMPA, Fla. - The contraband lie in heaps on the floor, piled there by more than a dozen federal and local law enforcement officials. The haul's street value was pegged at $500,000, but authorities said that’s just a drop in the bucket on this front of the never-ending war on crime.

The language officers used was nearly identical to that used by drug agents, but the cache of contraband taken into custody wasn’t marijuana or cocaine. It was counterfeit athletic apparel, including hundreds of NFL jerseys complete with the authentication tags, holograms and serial numbers that would lead most consumers to believe they were the genuine article. Instead of being hidden away from prying eyes, this contraband was stacked on shelves and hanging from display racks, waiting for unsuspecting buyers.

The raid was a joint venture spearheaded by the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) division. Tampa Police and an NFL counterfeit expert also participated in a campaign against goods geared to the shopping surge for the Super Bowl.

I.C.E. officials invited reporters along for Wednesday’s raid on a kiosk in a humble cinderblock building that houses the “International Flea Market” in Tampa's Sulfur Springs area. An undercover “shopper” had spotted counterfeit goods and agents responded in an organized raid. The agents had expected it to be a small seizure. They were surprised at the huge take of counterfeit NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA jerseys and athletic shoes.

Before the raid, I.C.E. officials said that $200-300 billion worth of counterfeit goods are annually shipped into the United States. They range from cigarettes to athletic gear to electrical cords to clothing, watches and fashion accessories. Like the war on drugs, the war on counterfeiting is a holding action. A division spokesperson said that seizures of knock-off goods represent only about 15 percent of the total traffic.

“It is definitely not victimless,” said special agent Fred Chow. Investigators following the money trail of knock-off goods have found profits going to organized crime.

“The proceeds are funneled to other criminal activities both here and abroad,” he said.

Sales of knock-offs steal business away from legitimate retailers and jobs away from Americans, he added. The goods, he said, are produced in Southeast Asia, Indonesia and China often by workers in sweatshops.

From the NFL’s perspective, knock-off goods tarnish the league's reputation and ultimately rip off consumers.

An NFL spokesman said the damage is, “to the fan who buys the T-shirt, the graphics will wash away; the local retailer who suffers lost sales.” Then there’s the damage to the league. “Fans associate inferior merchandise with the NFL. We don’t want fans to have a poor experience with anything we do. The NFL is the gold standard.”

Other leagues and manufacturers face the same problem. Among the goods seized in Tampa Wednesday were knock-off Air Jordan sneakers that were selling for $35 — far below the price of the genuine article. Every fake shoe sold is money out of Nike’s coffers, and when the shoes fall apart, the manufacturer’s reputation is tarnished.

Even to semi-discerning eyes, knock-offs may appear legitimate. In another raid on Monday in a shop in Tampa's Ybor City tourist area, knock-offs were being sold mingled in with legitimate NFL-licensed products. The knock-offs have tags that look official and special holograms that are supposed to indicate the genuine article.

But, Chow said, if consumers were to check the serial numbers on the holograms, they will find that the number is the same on different articles. On official articles, every number is unique to the item to which it is affixed. The counterfeiters may also make spelling mistakes. On one alleged Steelers throw-back jersey, the counterfeiters spelled Pittsburgh as two words — “Pitts Burgh.” That, Chow said, would be an easy giveaway. Another tag misspelled “football.” But the spelling mistakes are in the fine print that customers normally don’t even look at and go unnoticed, he added.

Official league articles can be pricey. Throwback jerseys go for $350, and a retailer can make good money by selling fakes for less than $100. But there’s more wrong with the garments than just the spelling on the tags and the serial numbers, agents say.

The finish can be inferior. The garments can fall apart or fade after washing. The colors are also frequently off. The fabric is frequently of lighter weight, the stitching hastily done and the quality shoddy at best.

On a Reggie White throwback jersey seized Wednesday, the player’s name as sewn on the jersey upside down.

“These people aren’t graphic artists, they’re con artists,” the NFL spokesman said.

“This is the annual struggle that we face,” he said. “The Super Bowl is a popular event for fans. It’s also a popular event for counterfeiters. It is truly an ongoing struggle. These counterfeiters go from major event to major event. This merchandise is anything but a bargain.”

In Wednesday’s raid, agents had expected to simply seize the counterfeits in a civil action and not charge the shop owner. But when they discovered just how many fakes he had, they arrested Junior Raphael Prentice, 38, of Tampa, and charged him with dealing in counterfeit items. Authorities said they intended to return with a warrant to search another kiosk run by Prentice that sells trendy, designer women’s wear.

Last year, an I.C.E. spokesperson said, the biggest single haul of Super Bowl-related merchandise in Arizona was worth $100,000. They exceeded that by a factor of five Wednesday — and the week for the enforcement teams is just beginning.

Consumers wishing to know more about counterfeit goods were advised to visit www.iacc.org, a website sponsored by a coalition of manufacturers to fight knock-off goods.

For many, it’s more than just a shirt

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 05:22:00 +0000

DAVE BOLING; The News Tribune
Published: September 5th, 2007 01:00 AM

As for status in the closet, these things rate well above the normal shirt, and somewhere slightly below the typical superhero costume.

But no illusions come with NFL jerseys … even the pricey “authentics.”

Fans don’t actually believe they look like Shaun Alexander when they put on a No. 37 Seahawks jersey.

And they don’t really envision a series of injuries leaving the Seahawks without a middle linebacker, causing the staff to scan the Qwest Field stands for somebody in a Lofa Tatupu jersey to race down onto the turf for a key goal-line stand.

Still, the buying of a jersey is actually a very personal – and expensive – tribute to their favorite players.

When readers of The News Tribune’s Seahawks Insider blog were asked about their jersey buying/wearing habits, 79 readers responded. Some produced lists of as many as 25 jerseys in their collections.

Quality of play, character, citizenship and longevity are variables in the purchasing equation, they reported.

Many follow strict regimens regarding whose jerseys are to be worn for home games, away games, preseason and postseason games … most based on habit and superstition.

And, as one contributor pointed out, numerous options sometimes become necessary.

“It’s nice to have more than one jersey in case you get disgusted by a player’s crappy performance, then you can strip it off in a fit of anger,” said Johnny Peel, a Seahawks fan from Springfield, Ill.

But, when you buy your jersey, you take your chances.

“I don’t buy Hawks jerseys anymore … I am cursed,” said Brett Snyder of Anacortes. Snyder has owned jerseys of Joey Galloway, Shawn Springs, Anthony Simmons, Chad Eaton, Koren Robinson and Ken Hamlin. All of them were traded, allowed to leave the Seahawks via free agency or were involved in some manner of controversy.

When Snyder produced his list of doom, fellow bloggers quickly asked him to go out and purchase the jerseys of star players from other teams in the NFC West Division.

Some fans are clearly more intuitive. Chris Olson, manager of the Just Sports store in the Tacoma Mall, said that several fans had sought out replacements for their Michael Boulware jerseys … at least three days before his trade to Houston was announced.

The three most popular Seahawks jerseys at Olson’s store are Tatupu, receiver Deion Branch and placekicker Josh Brown. But two national standouts – San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson and New Orleans’ Reggie Bush – are the best sellers overall, Olson said.

Buying players’ jerseys requires a significant investment. Olson pointed out a number of options, including replica jerseys at $75; premier/replithentic jerseys, $99; authentic jerseys, $300 (away, white) and $256 (home, blue).

In addition, the Mitchell and Ness throwback jerseys can cost up to $400.

Still … “some people come in and buy three or four at a time,” Olson said.

A throwback that’s still popular is Steve Largent’s No. 80, even though Largent hasn’t played for 18 seasons. Olson has them for $280.

Jim Kelly of Pullman said he owns three Largent jerseys because “he’s the reason I love Seahawks football.”

“Do I associate (with) Largent’s characteristics when I wear it? Not really,” Kelly said. “I was lucky. I grew up as the Hawks grew up. From them, as a team, I learned that it was better to have integrity, and not win, than to win at any cost while not being able to look myself in the eye … (like) the Raiders.”

A number of readers said they’ve marched to the nearest Goodwill store to donate the jerseys of any Seahawk who has been involved in off-field scandal or illegal activities.

Jake Wiley, a Seahawks fan in Hamilton, N.J., listed some 22 jerseys, including a number from his swelling “jersey graveyard” of traded players. Wiley’s 14-month-old son should be able to top his father’s collection some day. He already has Matt Hasselbeck, Tatupu and Marcus Trufant jerseys.

Another long-distance fan, Dan Abraham from Toronto, Canada, said that his No. 45 Ken Easley jersey, bought in the early 1980s, still fits. “I’ve worn it for every Hawks game since,” he said.

Clearly, the jersey fanaticism is contagious among families. Abraham said that his wife also got into the Seahawks spirit.

“To surprise me one night last year, my wife appeared in the bedroom in a pair of Seahawks panties,” Abraham said.

We may presume that they had the name “Easley” written across the back.

HOW MUCH?

Price ranges for men’s current jerseys on nflshop.com:

• Customized authentic: $189.99 to $369.99

• Pre-numbered authentic: $239.99 to $284.99

• Premier/replithentic: $99.99 to $109.99

• Customized replica: $99.99

• Pre-numbered replica: $74.99 TOP TEAMS

The top-selling teams for jersey sales from April to August, according to the NFL:

1. Dallas Cowboys, right

2. Chicago Bears

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

4. San Diego Chargers

5. Indianapolis Colts

6. Philadelphia Eagles

7. New Orleans Saints

8. New England Patriots

9. Denver Broncos

10. Washington Redskins

Dave Boling: 253-597-8440

Top Sellers in April

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 15:43:00 +0000

According to the M&N website, here are the top sellers at the moment:

1. Julius Erving
2. Mickey Mantle
3. Vince Papale
4. Tracy McGrady
5. Lou Gehrig
6. Gale Sayers
7. Ron Santo
8. Johnny Bench
9. Allen Iverson
10. Keith Hernandez

Top Sellers for Spring / Michael Jordan update

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 10:34:00 +0000

Current Top Sellers for March

1. Wayne Gretzky
2. Joe Montana
3. Lawrence Taylor
4. Cal Ripken Jr.
5. Tony Gwynn
6. Andre Tippett
7. Reggie Jackson
8. Mickey Mantle
9. Junior Seau
10. Sonny Jurgensen

Oddly, the new Michael Jordan release did not make the list. Mainly because only 500 were produced one can assume. In a perceived snub to the long time faithful, the jerseys release was oddly done with none of the online specialist shops getting any stock at all. Nike and Jordan Brand are keeping a tight check on the release and most aspects of this jerseys production. Fortunately for those who manage to get their hands on one, the jersey is being made in the USA and not farmed out to overseas manufactorers who in recent years have contributed to the demise of the once mighty Mitchell and Ness brand.

The jerseys will come encased in a handmade wooden collector's box and includes interior detail such as faux lizard skin, a commemorative 20th Anniversary patch and a signed letter of authenticity.

New Releases

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 07:58:00 +0000

1985 New England Patriots
New NFL releases this week include Andre Tippett and Irving Fryar, part of the '85 Pats team that set an NFL record by winning three road playoff games on their way to Super Bowl XX. Patriots jerseys are in short supply and will sell out quickly, click here to get yours now.

Many new releases and re-stocks of the most popular jerseys have just arrived. Quantities are limited and some jerseys are sure to sell out, so shop all the New Releases now. This season's line up includes:

Sonny Jurgensen
Jim Brown
Roger Craig
Dan Marino

Top Sellers for October

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 06:36:00 +0000

For the month of October, here are the hottest sellers of throwbacks according to Mitchell and Ness:
1. Joe Montana
2. Ronnie Lott
3. Babe Ruth
4. Phil Simms
5. Dan Marino
6. John Elway
7. Deion Sanders
8. Magic Johnson
9. Marcus Allen
10. Thurman Thomas

Dream Team

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 19:27:00 +0000

Mitchell & Ness has been asked by SI (Sports Illustrated) to make throwbacks for the magazines "Dream Team," which includes Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Mike Schmidt, for its upcoming "Sports Illustrated: The Baseball Book."

A spokesman for the retailer says M&N designed jerseys, pants and jackets to recreate the uniforms of athletes throughout baseball history. Sports Illustrated digitally added the players' heads onto the models' bodies. Part of the "Dream Team" appears on SI's Oct. 9 cover.

The hot sellers for September were:

1. Reggie White
2. Ronnie Lott
3. Babe Ruth
4. Phil Simms
5. Dan Marino
6. John Elway
7. Deion Sanders
8. Magic Johnson
9. Marcus Allen
10. Thurman Thomas

Top Sellers for August

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 12:02:00 +0000

Here are the most recent top sellers for August, 2006.

1. Reggie White
2. Deion Sanders
3. Ted Williams
4. Carlton Fisk
5. Ronnie Lott
6. John Elway
7. Dave Winfield
8. Willie Mays
9. R. Clemente
10. Larry Bird

As always, check out my top sellers page for a breakdown by sport.

New Releases

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 11:53:00 +0000

Firstly, we have the release of the ever popular Reggie White and his Eagles '92 Dark Jersey. His story is that once the USFL went belly up, Mr White hopped over to NFL and joined the Philadelphia Eagles. That was in 1985. With the Eagles, Reggie made a name quickly as arguably the game's greatest defensive linemen. His knickname was "The Minister of Defense" and he led the "Gang Green Defense" through 8 years in the "City of Brotherly Love". Reggie is listed as #2 on the all time list with 198 sacks.

Next up is a San Francisco 49ers 1994 White Jersey, and the name of Deion Sanders on the back. It seems that in 1994, after Deion finished three Pro Bowl seasons with the Falcons, ‘Prime time’ took his show to the west coast as he joined the San Francisco 49ers. Helping the 49ers to a NFL ring by leading them to a Super Bowl title. Sanders would spend one season in the bay area and was one of ten 49ers to be selected to the Pro Bowl in Honolulu. As a side note, I am happy to say I've got a Sanders Rookie card from his days with the Yankees, somewhere.

Ronnie Lott is the next release it's a -Los Angeles Raiders 1991 Mitchell & Ness Dark Jersey. From 1981 to 1990, Ronnie Lott was the catalyst of the San Francisco 49ers secondary. Lott helped lead the 49ers to four Super Bowl titles and was named All Pro at three different positions during his career. In 1991, Lott signed with the Los Angeles Raiders where he recorded nine interceptions in two seasons. Lott was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 with former Raiders teammate Howie Long.

Finally there is the release of Larry Birds Boston Celtics 1986 Road Jersey. The 1985-1986 Boston Celtics finished the season atop the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division. The Celtics tallied an impressive 67 win season, losing only one regular season game on the parquet floor of the Boston Garden. The Celtics were led by the legendary Larry Bird, who won his third straight MVP award. The Celtics won their 16th NBA title when they defeated the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals.

For these and other releases, please see my site. Thanks!

RHarley

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 09:39:00 +0000

I've got GoogleAlerts on my email for the term throwback jerseys, and this morning an lert came in talking about Big Rube, who is all of 32, and made his fame as the marketing guru behind Mitchell & Ness' rise to the top in the sports fashion world. He succeeded in getting the throwbacks onto the backs of the biggest hip hop stars and athletes of the day. Not long ago he split from M&N to focus on his own clothing label and took with him M&N head designer Ryan Gagliardi. The line should be available soon in certain areas, and it is going to be known as 'rharley'.

30% off at DR

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 14:23:00 +0000

DR has revamped their site and as a promotion they are having a site wide 30% off sale. Try and use my coupon 'heckle' and at the moment you are not allowed to use it on top of the blow out sale. Too bad, but at 30% off, nobody can really complain.

Now here is an auction on ebay that you may or may not want to check out. As posted by the maker himself (so excuse the caps, it's his text not mine): WELL, HERE IT IS FOR THE LAST TIME. THE JERSEY IS FINALLY FINISHED! JUST IN TIME TO GET MY DAUGHTER THE PLAYSET WE PICKED OUT FOR HER BIRTHDAY COMING UP! I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO PART WITH IT AND HAVE HAD IT UP FOR SALE A FEW TIMES NOW WITH NO LUCK, BUT I HAVE A FEELING THAT THIS TIME IT WILL GO FOR A GOOD AMOUNT TO THE RIGHT PERSON!

WHAT I HAVE DONE HERE IS TAKEN A FULL SIZED NEW YORK METS JERSEY AND GLUED ONTO IT OVER 250 DIFFERENT PIECES OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS' GAME USED JERSEY CUTS. THESE JERSEY CUTS WERE PULLED RIGHT FROM CARDS THAT WERE INSERTED INTO PACKS FROM THE MAJOR BASEBALL CARD COMPANIES. I HAVE SAVED EVERY CARD THAT THE JERSEY CUTS WERE PULLED FROM AS TO PROVE THIER AUTHENTICITY. THE CARDS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE AUCTION AS THEY ARE PRETTY CUT UP TO WHERE I FEEL THEY CANNOT BE RE-INTRODUCED INTO THE TRADING WORLD WITH FAKE PIECES IN THEM.

THIS PROJECT HAS TAKEN OVER A YEAR-AND-A-HALF TO COMPLETE AND MANY MANY HOURS OF GLUING AND CUTTING AND NUMBERING AND DOCUMENTING. EACH PIECE HAS A NUMBER WRITTEN IN BLACK SHARPIE MARKER UNDERNEATH OF IT AND THAT NUMBER WILL BE FOUND ON A SPREADSHEET THAT IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE AUCTION SO THAT THE WINNING BIDDER WILL BE ABLE TO POINT TO A PIECE AND KNOW WHICH BASEBALL GREAT WORE THAT JERSEY CUT IN A MAJOR LEAGUE GAME. A FEW OF THE NUMBERS BLED THROUGH (4 OR 5) FROM WHEN I FIRST WAS NUMBERING THE BACKS OF THE JERSEY, BUT ALL IN ALL, THE JERSEY CAME OUT GREAT AND IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD! IT IS OBVIOUSLY A ONE-OF-A-KIND, NEVER-SEEN-BEFORE, NEVER-TO-BE-SEEN-AGAIN PIECE OF SPORTS HISTORY!

BABE RUTH, HONUS WAGNER, BARRY BONDS, NOLAN RYAN, MARK MCGWIRE, ROGER MARIS, WILLIE MAYS, ALBERT PUJOLS & MEL OTT ARE JUST A FEW OF THE PLAYERS THAT MAKE UP THIS JERSEY! LOOK AT THE COMPLETE LIST BELOW FOR EACH AND EVERY CARD THAT WAS USED IN THE MAKING OF THIS GREAT PIECE!

I WILL ANSWER EACH AND EVERY LEGITIMATE QUESTION THAT IS ASKED OF ME DURING THE DURATION OF THE AUCTION, BUT PLEASE BE NICE. AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN UP FOR AUCTION BEFORE AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PRETTY RUDE PEOPLE OUT THERE AND THOSE EMAILS WILL JUST BE DELETED AND IGNORED SO DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!

THE WINNING BIDDER OF THIS AUCTION WILL RECEIVE: THE JERSEY, A DISC CONTAINING THE SPREADSHEET WITH ALL OF THE CARDS, NAMES & SERIAL #'S OF THE CARD & OVER 100 PICTURES OF THE PROCESS OF MAKING THE JERSEY, AND THE CUT UP CARDS THAT THE PIECES CAME FROM. WINNING BIDDER WILL PAY $25.00 VIA UPS GROUND TO THE LOWER 48 STATES (OUT OF THE LOWER 48 STATES OR COUNTRY WILL BE HIGHER). PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY 7 DAYS FROM THE END OF THE AUCTION OR I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO RELIST AND LEAVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK. PLEASE DO NOT BID IF YOU DO NOT INTEND TO BUY!

THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL BIDDERS!

I WILL BE ADDING MORE PICTURES AS THE AUCTION PROGRESSES, INCLUDING EACH AND EVERY SINGLE CARD USED TO MAKE THE JERSEY!

and check out the comments this guy got...

Q: Just to let u know, us beckett people aren't jealous at all, we just know that this jersey is just plain stupid and a waste of money and time. 250 jersey cards? Like, what were u thinking? Would've made a hellavu lot more money on the cards than that thing of urs
Jun-03-06

A: Wow - by the way u spell, you must be the CEO of Beckett. If you read through all of my description and all of the questions asked of me, you will find that I never hoped anyone would be jealous or pissed off or even happy that I did this. I made this jersey for me because I thought it was a cool idea and really don't give a (bad word inserted here) what anyone else thinks about it. And once again I'll play along - REALLY!?!?!?, I COULDV'E MADE MORE MONEY SELLING THE CARDS!?!?!? DAMMIT - LET ME TRY TO RI[P THEM OFF THE JERSEY AND PUT THEM BACK IN THE CARDS - I HADN'T THOUGHT OF THAT!!!!!! I'll go ahead and add you to my list of stupid people that has mentioned that to me - you should feel honored! Your'e welcome!

Q: Why would anyone make this jersey to sell instead of sell the $1000+ easily in cards?
Jun-03-06

A: Because I wanted to see how many stupid people out there would ask me that same exact stupid question!

Q: Awesome, Screw what people tell you, I will remember this when others start doing it. Good luck and Keep up the good work.
Jun-03-06

A: Thanks for the kind words! I've been screwing them since the auction began! HaHa!

Q: I honestly think you have waaaaaay too much time on your hands but that isn't my complaint. My complaint is that the 'jersey' you made is easily one of the ugliest things I've ever seen. No design or thought. Just an 'interesting' idea that was very poorly executed.
Jun-03-06

A: How do I have way too much time on my hands if this has taken almost 2 years to create? And are you sure that this is uglier that that mirror you look into every morning? I heard that was Pretty Ugly!

Q: GOOFYAUCTIONS would like to congratulate you on being featured on our website!!! Keep up the goofy work!!!
Jun-03-06

A: WoooooooooooHoooooooooooooooooo! Thanks Goofy!

Q: Awesome work of art/revenge? I still want to know why anyone wants to own a piece of a jersey anyway? Way to go!
Jun-03-06

A: Thank you! Much appreciated!

Q: could you make me some underpants out of a game used football?
Jun-03-06

A: Actually, I was waiting for the game used jockstrap cards to come out so I can cut them up and put them back together and streak the field in it at a Dolphins game!

Q: In my opinion, your jersey is a true example of outsider art! If it is a protest against the card companies who cut up the jerseys...then it is genius! Give Beckett a map to Hell, then show them the fastest route!
Jun-02-06

A: I don't know exactly to spell TOUCHE', but if that is correct, then add a bunch of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!

Q: Is the jersey wearable (i.e., is it mounted on a board ... or is it loose?). Perhaps you would consider taking a picture of it with you in it ... and posting it on this auction site! I suspect a few folks would love to see the fellow who did this, and a good shot of the back of your head might enhance the intrigue (ha!). Personally, I might consider wearing it somewhere ... it would likely generate more interest than the exotic beer label and bottle cap suit I currently wear. Love the concept, and plan on bidding on it again in a day or so!
Jun-02-06

A: I just went to the Mets-Marlins game this past Sunday and was going to wear it but decided against it because I promised my daughter some blue cotton candy at the game. It was a good idea too, seeing as how the David Wright jersey I did wear now has some extra cotton candy stains on it! Just for you though - I am going to post a picture of the jersey on the auction so people can see that it really is wearable and it is no hoax! I think I will omit the back of my head though, because I do not want to imagine how many pictures of it would be printed out for target practice! Thanks for the question/comments! Good luck on your bidding!

Q: Next time, just give me the money and I will kick your removed balls.
Jun-02-06

A: How can you kick them if they were removed? And why would I want to give you money for kicking me in the balls? That would be almost as stupid as removing jersey pieces from expensive baseball cards! Some people! Jeez!

Q: Hey love the idea!! man I was just gonna make a bid but noticed you took it out of the frame and stuck them on the jersey. I would of loved to have them all together in that nice frame. damn don't think i'm gonna bid now. cool idea though
Jun-02-06

A: Hey - thanks for the comment though! I might start to take requests! Kepp a watch on the auction anyway!

Q: i'm not a card collector but i think yours is a novel idea and the cutting up of jersies (especially vintage ones)is such a waste i bid on your game worn shirt and if i'm the winning bidder i plan on ADDING more jersey pieces to the shirt, taking more of those game worn cards off of the market forever!! i applaud your insight in this area and GOOD LUCK!!
Jun-02-06

A: Thank you! And to all of those people pissed off about me cutting up the cards that 'you could have bought', first of all - you didn't buy them - I did! Second of all - knowing that these cards are off the market - your cards value should go up! Ha Ha! Thank you for the applaud - it is well appreciated!!! Good luck on your bidding!

Q: BRAVO! I collect hockey jerseys and I don't know whether to cry (if it's indeed real), or get pissed off (if it isn't).
Jun-02-06

A: It's real (here is a tissue?). Better than being pissed on (here is another tissue). Thanks (I think).

Q: What a great work of art. I like the cut of your jib. Now if your detractors would show the same type of passion for not cutting up these historic jerseys in the first place, we'd have one more Babe Ruth jersey in the world. Hell, if a card company was smart enough, they should buy it and make even more worthless cards with the pieces. Best of luck withthe auction.
Jun-02-06

A: Don't think I could've said it better myself! Thank you!

Q: My boyfriend found this auction this morning and thought it was insane. we went through your q and a's, and found people thought it was either insane or brilliant. i don't know anything about baseball cards, but my boyfriends teaching me, and I do know that Babe Ruth is a legend, so my ? is, With all the time effert and money that these Game-used jerseys normally fetch online, What do you hope to get for this in terms of money for this jersey?
Jun-02-06

A: Very good question. I have been buying and selling Baseball cards, Autos, Game used cards, etc... for over 6 years now on ebay and I have seen a lot of changes over the years. I used to get a decent player's jersey card in a pack of cards and be able to get say 10-20 dollars for it. Nowadays, you'd be lucky to get 99 cents for a decent players jersey card because of the abundance of cards in the market. It really has changed. When I purchased the first 200 or so cards to make this jersey, I probably spent an average of a dollar a card, and sometimes 4 or 5 for the better players. Then I got to thinking - if I am going to do thi, I am going to do it right and have some hall of famers on there as well. I paid 40-50 dollars for the Mcgwire, Maris, Bonds, Mays, etc... Then you get into the Wagner for over 100.00 and the final piece of the puzzle was the Ruth/Thorpe combo - of which I paid over $350.00 for. But I had to have the Ruth on there to make it Great, you know? I probably have well over $1500.00 in the making of the jersey and although I would love to make a profit on the jersey - I know it will not sell for that much(unless Golden Palace sees it and likes it), I guess I will have to settle for whatever somebody is willing to pay for it. That is the great thing about ebay! You never know untill the auction is over! Thanks for the great questions!

Q: Wow ~ amazing how unbelievably rude some people are, isn't it? Pretty cool idea, and it that's how you wanted to spend your money, why is it bothering THEM so much? Too bad you used a Mets jersey, though! Good luck!
Jun-02-06

A: Wow - I can't believe it took this long for somebody to mention about it being a Mets jersey. I was planning on keeping it and that is my team - First place all year so far - hope they can keep it up! Thanks for the comment!

Q: Ive actually thought of taking game used jerseys from cards, but my intention was to use the same player and make one jersey. It would have taken forever and lots of money though. What I want to know is even when the buyer wins how is he guarenteed he is getting the jersey you said you took from the card? Maybe you kept it and glued on chuck knoblach in place of the bambino!! Although you say its patch is from the empty cut up card how are you gonna prove it? Your word?? good luck hope it sells BIG!!
Jun-01-06

A: I am and always have been a very honest seller. I think if you take a look at my feedback, you will see that. Whoever wins this jersey will have no doubt what-so-ever that the pieces are authentic. I have documented every single jersey piece by taking a digital scan of each card, so when you see a Todd Helton jersey piece with a stripe and a stain on the scan, you can find the number that goes along with it and see that exact piece on the jersey I have made. There should be no doubt of the authenticity of this jersey. I will post more close-ups and many more pictures over the next few days, so keep a watch on it! Thanks for the question!

Q: I can provide the blender for you to stick your head in...LMK!
Jun-01-06

A: Well, I have one of my own, but I will need someone to push the button while I hold it still. You are definetly the front runner. Thanks!

Q: Hello. So; I think you very well may be a genius amongst geniuses, a true pioneer! I think some of the folks whom have commented negatively on your idea are obviously not all that bright & more than likely less than good souls. Both my fiancé & I are in agreement of your work! You should be proud & please don't allow others' to make you feel anything less than such. Thanks for your time & take care, Jman
Jun-01-06

A: I think I am starting to like both of you very much and you are obviously both brilliant people! Pioneer - I like that one! Thanks for the kind comments and keep watching the auction as I will be posting pics of the process of making the Ultimate Jersey! Thanks again and if you intend to bid - Good Luck!

Q: I'm just curious. Are you on any kind of medication? If not, do you think you should be? Also, do you still collect and what will be your next masterpiece? Good luck!
Jun-01-06

A: I have been trying to find medication, but the doctors in this asylum won't let me out to get it! I still do and always have collected Nolan Ryan stuff. My next masterpiece? I was thinking of cutting up a bunch of game used shoe cards so I can form a Giant shoe and kick myself in the butt with it for spending $2000.00 on jersey cards and cutting them up! Whatcha think?

Top Sellers for May

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Sun, 28 May 2006 05:44:00 +0000

Here is a list of the top jerseys that are moving over at M&N. Not much change from last month.

1. Paul Molitor
2. Darryl Strawberry
3. Kobe Bryant
4. Tracy McGrady
5. Clyde Drexler
6. Dominique Wilkins
7. Mickey Mantle
8. Jackie Robinson
9. Reggie White
10. Tim Brown

No Jordan

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Fri, 05 May 2006 11:36:00 +0000

Well it looks like the excitement surrounding the wide release of a Jordan Mitchell & Ness jersey was a bit premature. The deal was never a sure thing, as nobody was officialy confirming or denying it, even at the height of the rumours. Now it looks like the deal is certainly dead with the apparent reason being contractual problems with Jordan, Nike, and the NBAPA. When your image and likeness is a multi-million dollar industry all unto itself, as is the case with MJ, then nothing is simple. Too bad, that would have been a huge seller.

Most Expensive Throwback Ever

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 04:55:00 +0000

Bloomberg News is reporteing that one of two known Washington Senators jerseys worn by Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson will be auctioned by Sotheby's Holdings Inc. in June. The road jersey, which should bring as much as $300,000, is believed to be one of the most expensive throwback jerseys of all time.

Top Sellers and dropped products

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 02:41:00 +0000

Got this from the boards at nextleveltalk.com. :

The following NFL jerseys have been dropped from production for this season:

Mike Webster 1975 Steelers Black
Archie Manning 1971 Saints Black
Christian Okoye 1989 Chiefs Red
Steve McNair 1997 Oilers Blue
Barry Sanders 1994 Lions Blue 75th Anniv.

Hottest jerseys at the moment at M&N:
1. Paul Molitor
2. Daryl Strawberry
3. Tracy McGrady
4. Clyde Drexler
5. Dominique Wilkins
6. Mickey Mantle
7. Jackie Robinson
8. Reggie White
9. Tim Brown
10. Shaquille O'Neal

New coupon code

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 05:57:00 +0000

There are few things people enjoy in life more than saving some money. The great folks at Distant Replays have come through with an offer totally unique to my throwbackjerseys.us site, they have offered a coupon with no expiry that is good for 10% off any item. Simply place your order on the phone at 1-888-241-8807 and tell the operator you want to use coupon code "heckle".

Notes and Press Releases

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 17:11:00 +0000

Alonzo Mourning – Miami Heat 1999

In the 1992 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets took Georgetown standout Alonzo Mourning as the second overall pick. After playing three seasons in Charlotte, Mourning was traded to the Miami Heat where he further distinguished himself as a defensive force. Mitchell and Ness has recreated Mourning’s 1999 Miami Heat jersey to its exact specifications. It was during the 1998-1999 season that Mourning earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. Mourning’s quality of play is captured within the makeup of our jersey.

Shaquille O'Neal – Orlando Magic 1993

Shaquille O’Neal has been the games most dominate player since his arrival in 1992. Mitchell and Ness has captured the dominant play of O’Neil through the authentic reproduction of his rookie jersey. O’Neil earned Rookie of the Year honors as he averaged 23.4 ppg and 13.9 rpg, officially putting Orlando on the basketball map. In just his third year in the league, the 22-year old O’Neil led the Magic to the NBA Finals. The quality of our jersey reflects the image O’Neil upholds within the NBA.

Tim Brown – Los Angeles Raiders 1994

In 1994, the NFL celebrated its 75th Anniversary. Many teams displayed the history of their franchise by dressing in distinguished uniforms from the past. The Raiders Tim Brown enjoyed another successful season in the silver and black. For the second straight year Brown collected over 1,000 receiving yards. Brown arrived in Los Angeles in 1988, after winning the Heisman Trophy for the University of Notre Dame. Rookie of the Year honors was bestowed on Brown for his performance during the 1988 season. Brown has etched his name into the Raiders record books, leading the franchise in many offensive categories.

Bernard King – Washington Bullets 1991

At the peak of his NBA career, superstar Bernard King went down with a critical knee injury. King would be sidelined for two seasons, and upon his return the Knicks released him because they were unsure of his future ability. On October 16, 1987, King signed with the Washington Bullets. King proved his critics wrong as he scored over 20 points three times during his four years in the nation’s capital. In 1991, King averaged 28.4 ppg and returned to the All Star game for the first time since 1985. Mitchell and Ness has captured the hard work ethic and determination of Bernard King in the making of his 1991 Bullets jersey,

Barry Sanders – Detroit Lions 1996

Barry Sanders won his third career rushing title after gaining 1,553 yards during the 1996 season. In accomplishing this feat, Sanders became the only player in NFL history to rush for over 1,500 yards in three consecutive years. In 1997, Sanders would make it four as he rushed for 2,053 yards and picked up the MVP Award along the way. Mitchell and Ness has captured the grace of the quick footed Sanders in the authentic reproduction of his Detroit Lions jersey. Sanders supernatural ability is captured within the quality of our jersey.

Larry Johnson - Charlotte Hornets 1993

Larry Johnson entered the NBA in 1991 and won the Rookie of the Year award for the then Charlotte Hornets. Johnson immediately became a force within the league as he led the Hornets to their first playoff appearance in the history of their franchise in just his second season. Mitchell and Ness has captured the dominance of Johnson through the authentic reproduction of his Hornets jersey.

Jerome Bettis – 1994 Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams helped celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the NFL by wearing a throwback uniform. Jerome Bettis led the Rams offense as he rushed for over 1,000 yards for the second straight year. Bettis was the Rams lone representative at the Pro Bowl and Mitchell and Ness’s reproduction of his jersey captures his all star season.

Mickey Mantle - New York Yankees 1951

Tremendous power, unbelievable speed, high average and the ability to perform in the clutch all describe the play of Mickey Mantle on a baseball diamond. Combine these skills with a passion for the game and an All American image and you have the most popular player on the best teams of his generation. Mitchell and Ness’s 1951 Yankee wool flannel home jersey is a historically accurate replica of the Mick’s rookie year uniform, right down to the # 7 on the back and the patch commemorating the American League’s 50th Anniversary on the sleeve. If you saw him play, the images are unforgettable and our jersey will rekindle those memories with the first touch.

Joe Namath – New York Jets 1968

Super Bowl III featured the New York Jets and the Baltimore Colts, a David verse Goliath match up. Joe Namath, quarterback of the Jets, boldly guaranteed a victory against the heavily favored Colts. Coming through with his word, Namath upset the Colts by leading the Jets to a 16-7 Super Bowl win. Mitchell and Ness’s authentic reproduction of Namath’s 1968 jersey captures the swagger of one of football’s most revered players. Namath’s daring Super Bowl prediction echoes through the heavy nylon durene material and fine cut tackle twill which depicts his famed Broadway name and #12. Namath’s affect on football extended beyond the playing field and our reproduction of his jersey captures the amazing allure of this very special player.

Marcus Allen – Los Angles Raiders 1984

On January 22, 1984, Marcus Allen ran into the record books as he helped lead the Los Angeles Raiders to victory in Super Bowl XVIII. Allen’s MVP performance during Super Bowl XVIII is caught within the legendary silver and black of his authentically reproduced Mitchell and Ness jersey. The nostalgia of this piece features the notable silver tackle twill stitched into the prominent black textured mesh. Allen’s historic performance during Super Bowl XVIII has been honored through the reproduction of his jersey. Every time you wear it, you will feel the pride of the Silver and Black on one of their greatest days.

2006 MLB Throwback Releases

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 17:12:00 +0000

Taken directly from our partners, the distant replays website, here are the Mitchell & Ness releases for 2006 for my favorite genre - baseball.

* 1993 Baltimore Orioles Alternate Black #8 Cal Ripken Throwback Jersey -$275
Two-button henley top pullover jersey with the 1993 All Star Game patch from the newly christened Camden Yards!

* 2000 Montreal Expos Road Gray #27 Vladimir Guerrero Throwback Jersey -$300
The road jersey of one of the great players from the now-defunct Expos! Three-layer lettering, Expos patch on the left sleeve, and a black number 9 on the right sleeve in memory of the late, great Maurice "Rocket" Richard!

* 1990 Milwaukee Brewers Road Gray Robin Yount (#19), Paul Molitor (#4), Gary Sheffield (#11) Throwback Jerseys -$300 Each
The button-front road uni with royal blue and yellow "Milwaukee" in script-- available in three great players!

* 1977 Miineasota Twins Road Blue #29 Rod Carew Throwback Jersey -$250
The classic light blue Twins pullover with the Twin Cities patch and "Twins" in red script from Hall of Famer Rod Carew!

* 1985 Kansas City Royals Road Blue #5 George Brett Throwback Jersey -$290
The all-time classic jersey from the all-time classic player! Light blue button-front jersey with "Royals" in white script.

* 2000 New York Yankees Road Gray #2 Derek Jeter Throwback Jersey -$250
The timeless Yankee road uniform with Jeter's 2000 All Star Game patch and a black armband in memory of former manager Bob Lemon.

* 2000 New York Yankees Home White #42 Mariano Rivera Throwback Jersey -$250
The pinstriped Yankee home uniform with the World Series patch and a black armband in memory of former manager Bob Lemon.

* 1981 Philadelphia Phillies Burgundy Batting Practice Jacket -$150
The burgundy BP jacket with the fold-down collar and "World Champions" embroidered on the chest!

* 1990 Oakland Athletics Dark Green Batting Practice Jacket -$150
Green BP jacket with gold and white stripes and the "A's" logo on the front!

* 1987 Pittsburgh Pirates Black Batting Practice Jacket -$150
Black jacket with yellow stripes and "Pirates" in yellow and white on the front!

* 1988 New York Yankees Navy Batting Practice Jacket -$150
Classic navy jacket with white striping and the "NY" logo on the front!

* 1975 Cincinnati Reds White Batting Practice Jacket -$150
Fresh white BP jacket with a fold-down collar, red stripes, and the Reds "C" logo with Mr. Red on the front!

Latest ramblings

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 15:37:00 +0000

Thought I'd just update whoever is reading on the latest word out of Mitchell and Ness HQ. First of all, the Michael Jordan release is reportedly still a go - even though there hasn't been any official release date or press release. So we keep waiting and keeping an eye open. Also, the boards at DR, and in perticular the resident throwback guru - MdiddyAJ23 - says that the release of the Barkley threads has been put off a bit due to contractual problems.

Top jerseys for the winter of 2005/06 are as follows:

1. Deion Sanders
2. Jerome Bettis
3. Tim Brown
4. Joe Namath
5. Marcus Allen
6. Bernard King
7. Larry Johnson
8. Mickey Mantle
9. Barry Sanders
10. Shaquille O'Neal

In School Sports Magazine, this past September (2005)Philadelphia High school hoops phenom Tyriq Evans wore a Mitchell & Ness Jersey for a spread in the Back to School issue of the magazine - proving that the throwback craze is far from over.

Slapshirts

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 15:43:00 +0000

Slapshirts is a Canadian company that makes t-shirts based on the old table hockey games. There are 7 teams available, and they're sure to bring a smile to the face of any 30-something hockey fan.

Mitchell and Ness now have the ushers blazers for sale on their site. The reaction by most has been luke-warm, due in large part to the price - at $300 it is a bit steep. I have not seen one in person yet, but the boards are buzzing with news that up close they are not that well made.

Milwaukees logo

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 18:31:00 +0000

It seems that the brewers will be bringing back one of the most loved logoes of recent years in 2006. Having departed ways with the "Glove Logo" back in 1993 - management has listened to fans and decided the interlocking M&B is worth wearing again. A fan T-shirt giveaway last year gave the public the opportunity to voice their preference and the old-school logo won hands down. It took me years before I even realized what I was looking at on the brewers uniform. A situation repeated with the Vancouver Canucks logo circa 1978. It turns out that was a stylized C made to look like a hockey rink and a hockey stick.

Coupons & Promotional Codes

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 12:55:00 +0000

The shopping season unofficially starts after the thanksgiving holiday, and to mark the occasion all the major players have issued coupon codes or promotional codes to entice shoppers to close the deal. Mitchell and Ness has come in with the low bid, only offering free shipping with the use of code FREEGND. Distant Replays has been much more generous by offering 15% off all their merchandise until December 3rd, 2005 with the code VIP2005. And MLB has topped everybody by offering 20% off all their merchandise with the use of MLBSORRY20. The other major player, Online Sports, does not have the practice of releasing coupons. The coupons are posted here and I will try and keep the list updated as much as possible.

New Releases

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 14:10:00 +0000

There are at least 5 new NBA jerseys available this week, M&N has been taking phone orders, Online Sports has been taking pre-bookings over their website, and DR - a bit late to the party, has no feature to order them at the moment. DR does have one of the new releases on it's site, the 1973-1974 Milwaukee Bucks green road #33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The other new releases are:

*1997-1998 Sacramento Kings Mitch Richmond
*1994-1995 Dallas Mavericks Jason Kidd
*1993-1994 Atlanta Hawks Dominique Wilkins
*1966-1967 NBA Western All Star Rick Barry
*1979-1980 Houston Rockets Moses Malone
*1973-1974 Seattle SuperSonics Spencer Haywood
*1995-1996 Detroit Pistons Grant Hill
*1998-1999 Miami Heat Alonzo Mourning

As always, check out My Site for all these releases, search by jersey #, or by team. The prices range from $250 - $300, proving true the fact that M&N is trying to keep the prices under control since the heady days of '01 & '02.

Ramblings

noreply@blogger.com (James Tolley) — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 10:35:00 +0000

Google's new update, nicknamed Jagger3, was not kind to my main site. In a way it's a bit of a relief, as I was scared to do anything to my homepage just in case I got knocked down the rankings. That means I've had McGrady's Raptor release on my index page for about 6 weeks now. Interestingly, sales of the throwbacks were not that great in the month that I was on top of the rankings for 'throwback jerseys' on G. That surprised me a bit, especially leading up to the shopping season as we are. Is it a reflection of the interest left in throwbacks? I certainly hope not. The days of every baller and his brother scrambling to wear the latest release may be gone, but the true enthusiasts are still out there. M&N went from something like 2 million in sales in 1999 to 25 million in 2003, so I believe that sales figures must be quickly settling back to the pre-p.diddy era. The craze certainly opened my eyes to a universe I had not been aware of, in the process I've become an enthusiast and a collector.

There are still some releases that will cause some interest in the near future, most notably Jordan's long rumored debut with the M&N brand. No release date on this yet.