1: HOCKEY! My walls are nearly full of autographed pictures along with Jerseys and autographed sticks. Hockey is my life and the only sport I collect or really care about. Pretty much the only game used memorabilia I am able to get my hands on, at a reasonable price, comes from collecting cards. Once the card companies ingeniously started using game used items IN! their cards it added so much more to collecting that I dove in head first and never looked back. “Come on, you mean to tell me I can find an autographed Mario Lemieux card with a penguins patch in it that he actually wore in a game? I’ll take five boxes!”

2: If I had to choose a specific item it would either be the logo patch or a piece of a stick. The chest logos are always done so well by most any company. And can you really beat a piece of a game used stick in a card? I’d really like to see duals of sticks and logo patches on one card in the future. (that is, if they’re not already out there and I just haven’t seen them yet)

3: Upper Deck. I think they are the leaders in sports cards and I have always had great experiences with them in all aspects of being a collector.

4: This is certainly the hardest question to answer. I have to say no, there are so many different sets and companies that are great at suppling us with amazing memorabilia cards. In The Game certainly has some of the most interesting sets with stuff like, “Broad Street Boys”, “Enforcers”, and now “Forever Rivals”. But Artifacts, Panini, and Crown Royal, also have some beautifully designed and nicely put together cards. So no, I cannot choose just one. If a box catches my eye and its reasonably priced, I’m getting it.

5: I’d like to see some sets of the original six teams, there’s obviously alot of history to those teams, and if an all Blackhawks set became available you better believe I would be the first in line.

6: I would just like to reiterate that when game used memorabilia was started to be used in cards, it certainly reignited the passion of collecting for me. The industry is no doubt at its peak right now and I sincerely believe its mostly due to game used memorabilia.

Chris Foley

2. What one type of game-used item (any sport) do you prefer?
Letters and patch

3. Who do you trust when it comes to authenticity statements for items or cards?
Topps

4. Is there one set you feel is an absolute winner with game-used cards?
No

5. What one thing would you change about game-used memorabilia or cards?
Less multi game used cards and more jumbo patch or relics

6. Do you have anything else to add about the world of game-used … or is there more you want to know about?
How many game-used jersey cards do the companies make with one Jersey?

It is quite annoying to get a plain one color patch as your one memorabilia card in a box. It is even worse when the guy you get the card for is a no name.

Kris from Tuscaloosa, AL. I focus my game used card collection on the very early (1996-2000) and/or unique jerseys or patches (UD Exqusite, etc). The early jersey cards (ie. 1996 Upper Deck) were extremely difficult pulls which makes them rare and more collectible than others. From my perspective, there will always be some collectiblily in having the first or rarest; so being able to combine the two factors makes those intial jerseys satisfying to collect. Within that early jersey range, I also look for variations, whether they are multiple colors or autographed and hand-numbered variations. The only difficulty with the early jersey cards is you have to be extraordinarily patient when attempting to make a set. When there are only /13 1998 Upper Deck Dan Marino jersey autos, it can be difficult finding one and then getting it a reasonable price. However, as with most collectors, the hunt can be as much fun as finding and owning these truly unique jersey cards.

2. What one type of game-used item (any sport) do you prefer?

1996-2000 Upper Deck Game Jerseys, Game Jersey Patches, Game Jersey Autos for all 4 major sports.
2006-Present Exquisite & SP Authentic Rookie Jersey Patches for Football (3-Colors or more on the patches)

3. Who do you trust when it comes to authenticity statements for items or cards?

I generally trust the major manufacturers, however, the market has become so diluted since the turn of the century that it seems highly likely that even the major manufacturers have relaxed their standards in order to produce the multiple parallels and inserts that seem to continuely fill the market.

4. Is there one set you feel is an absolute winner with game-used cards?

1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jersey Basketball Set – These cards always sell with multiple bids, at or higher than book. The jersey swatches are much larger than the contempararies of the day. Plus, the Jordan Auto to /23 would be the pinnacle for many collections.

1996 Press Pass Burnin’ Rubber Racing Set – This was the first, so there should be a place for it.

5. What one thing would you change about game-used memorabilia or cards?

I wish manufacturers would focus on making one good quality product. I don’t need all the different parallels or inserts. Just give a good design, nice patch and in a limited number. The mass production in the beginning to cash-in on the craze has only diluted the market, and rendered only the truly rare and/or expensive cards valuable. Everything else appeals to a very limited market or isnt worth the paper its made of, and this is really unfortunate because jersey cards started out as an incredibly unique way to bring the average fan and collector a little closer to the game and players they loved.

One is to collect a GU uniform and/or bat for every Hall of Famer who played up to and/or into the 1970s, if they have a GU card available. I’m missing some big names still like Ruth, Wagner, and Mantle among many but do have some great vintage names like Gehrig, Ott, Frisch, Clemente, Musial, Banks, etc.

Secondly, I’m a huge Yaz collector and collect GU here, though I’m mostly focusing on Topps for now. If I spot a good deal on Nolan Ryan, Frank Robinson, Roberto Clemente, or Johnny Bench, I’ll buy it.

Third, I set a goal for a specific list of names of Los Angeles Rams, from Elroy Hirsch to Joe Namath to Eric Dickerson. Where Gu is not available, I’ve opted for factory certified auto cards from the likes of Vince Ferragamo and Pat Haden. This project has been fun in that it is short, quick and nearly complete.

2. What one type of game-used item (any sport) do you prefer? Baseball and dual relic of uniform and bat are best at helping me with my HOF goal.

3. Who do you trust when it comes to authenticity statements for items or cards? I’ve had to approach GU with the mindset that the manufacturers have to be trusted but I’ve also set some personal guidelines fro what GU really means. For some vintage players, I prefer wool uniform patches over polyester, which I believe may render an item more authentic, if not at least more reflective of the materials of their era. Take Frank Robinson for instance, I’ve seen uniform swatches that are clearly from his days in San Francisco, when he managed. The swatch may be GU but from the bench, as a manager, not his era as a player. I’ve also seen Mantle polyester pinstripes, which clearly weren’t around when he played. If from an Old Timers game, it’s not really the GU I’m interested in.

4. Is there one set you feel is an absolute winner with game-used cards? My personal preference is 2008 Topps Sterling. I also like 2009 Topps Sterling and just about any Topps Tribute issue, largely because some tougher names like Roush and Waner are available in earlier issues. I tend to favor Tribute 2009 and 2010.

5. What one thing would you change about game-used memorabilia or cards? On the card, state the uniform team, year worn, and mfg. For bats, list mfg, model, size, and year used.

6. Do you have anything else to add about the world of game-used … or is there more you want to know about? I only jumped into GU about 1.5 years ago and have roughly 160 GU cards, mostly baseball Hall of Famers and for me it has been a great way to mix vintage players & memorabilia with modern cards. I would really like to know more about the manufacturing of GU cards and what has improved in the process with each issue.

2. What one type of game-used item (any sport) do you prefer? Vintage game used jersey cards.

3. Who do you trust when it comes to authenticity statements for items or cards? Topps Company, Steiner.

4. Is there one set you feel is an absolute winner with game-used cards? Topps Allen & Ginter. It has a wide array of games used pieces from past and present. They also contain non sport memorabilia.

5. What one thing would you change about game-used memorabilia or cards? Put the date or dates of the games they jerseys, pants, bats, etc were used on the back of the card. I can see this increasing the value of a card.

6. Do you have anything else to add about the world of game-used … or is there more you want to know about?
I was sad to see in the news recently about the authenticity of certain baseball jerseys purchased by the Upper Deck Company. When collectors have to question if something was ever worn by a player it’s a losing situation for the hobby.

Now don’t get me wrong, I think that memorabilia cards are very nice. I like large swatches with visible wear, autograph, heck even racing sheet metal cards are cool. Inovate…..how about website address showing the jersey your card comes from or the authentication of the game it was used in.

Since the jersey, ball, or whatever can’t be truly authenticated if even the player touched the ball. Soon we will have cards of just the game ball. “This game ball came from the Pats/Ravens game but we can’t be sure it was ever on field or came out of the ball bag or anyone touched it besides the maker.”

I used to collect baseball and 49ers game used cards but after reading about the fakes out there. I also realized for a couple bucks more I can get an autographed card instead of just a little piece of jersey.

I no longer trust the “game used” term with card companies for one fact. Rookies have game used cards with their jerseys in it, yet have not even stepped foot on the field.

I don’t feel there’s any absolute winner with any set. I think the card company’s are just slapping game used label on cards just to jack up the price. There’s no responsibility when it comes to the company. They can say its game used knowing its not and nothing happens to them.

The thing I would change would be certificate of authenticity to each card that’s deemed game used. It doesn’t have to come with a letter but a number just like psa uses.

Conversely, the AS patch cards from 2012 Topps Update look great.

At this point, a nicely designed card is all I look for, and whether it has a piece of jersey or not is inconsequential. Many times, I would rather NOT have a jersey card, because I think it makes the card look worse. For me, the only value of the game used stuff at this point is the fact that it is often inserted into otherwise uniquely designed cards (see: A&G Framed Minis), and I would prefer to go after those cards WITHOUT the swatch, in all honesty.