Based in Philadelphia, at 1318 Chestnut Street; Mitchell & Ness is the company that is first mentioned when the topic of throwback jerseys is discussed. The company dates back into the early part of the last century when they primarily sold and manufactured golf equipment. They did dabble in jersey production throughout the 1960's to some Philadelphia baased pro sports teams, but but it has not been a staple of their business through the years outside of Philadelphia. Mitchell and Ness had some very bad years finacially during the mid eighties and the owner at the time, Peter Capolino was considering what his options were in the face of tough competition. It seems fortune was smiling on him as at about that time a jersey collector came into the shop and wanted two of his authentic jerseys repaired. When Mitchell n Ness were up to the task, Peter realised he may have found a niche for his business.

Long before the term "throwback jerseys" was born, Mitchell and Ness began researching and creating old, retired, unused, and out of style sports gear for fans who were interested in a bit of nostalgia from thier youth. Starting out with baseball, it was years before they finally inked a deal with the NBA, NFL, and the NHL to start reproducing vintage clothing from those leagues. But they now have a huge inventory of gear to choose from that would satisfy even the toughest shopper. Clients incude a who's who of the sports and music world. With their flagship store being a destination for every pro athlete that passes through the city.

As with any success story, imitators followed. Reebok, Majestic, and Nike have all ventured into the retro market. But none have enjoyed the success of or have been able to recreate the quality garment that M&N have. Besides those big name companies that have produced liscensed team issued jerseys, there have been many less honorable individuals who have also tried to muscle in on Mitchell & Ness' success. These individuals have mass produced phony, counterfeit jerseys and in some places have flooded the market with cheaper imitation jerseys. Many even have Mitchell and Ness tags stitched into the material. There is plenty of information on the web as to how one can avoid ending up with one of these fake shirts. Ebay is awash in illegitimate jerseys for sale, so buyers need especially to be aware of that.

Mitchell and Ness is a success story for many reasons. It has made it's owner a wealthy man, and has brought a smile to the face of many sports fans over the years as they relive thier youth. The company is interested in establishing throwbacks as a historical collectors item, not just a fashion craze as it has been through the early part of this century. With quality men at the helm of this great American company, success seems to be ensured for many years to come.