Autographs - Many game-used jersey collectors will attempt to acquire autographs on their prized game-used jerseys. The effect an autograph can have on the valuation of a jersey can really vary depending on the player but, for the most part, the presence of an autograph on a jersey will not have nearly the significance that an autograph on a bat will. For the most part, game-used jerseys are significantly more expensive than game-used bats. An autograph on a Mickey Mantle game-used bat might increase the value from $15,000 to $20,000 so the effect is great. That is an increase of over 30%. The autograph on a jersey, on the other hand, may not have nearly the effect because a 1958 Mickey Mantle game-used jersey might sell for $90,000. Even if you add $5,000 for the additional autograph, it becomes less significant to the overall price increase. Placement, content and strength of the autograph can also be factors.

Restoration and Repairs - This issue is complex and certainly controversial to some degree. When it comes to restoration, like the replacement of patches or the name on the back, the collecting world is somewhat split. While mild restoration is not taboo by any means, it can lower the value of a jersey in certain cases. Some collectors are afraid to buy a jersey that shows any evidence of restoration because of the concern of authenticity. Other collectors don't cringe at restoration at all. They realize that jerseys were reused in many cases so restoration, in their minds, shouldn't affect the price. For instance, once a major league team received new jerseys, the old ones were often reused in the minor leagues so, in turn, the name was changed in some cases. Situations like this were commonplace in days past, it was just the way things worked and it is sometimes literally unavoidable. Still, other collectors prefer all-original jerseys.

Repairs are entirely different. The word repair should be used when referring to a jersey that has had a tear fixed or a stain removed. There are still those collectors who prefer that their jerseys be left in the original condition that they were found in but repairs do not, in any way, affect the authenticity of a jersey. The jersey was either worn by Lou Gehrig or not. Fixing a tear would simply be for aesthetic reasons; it has nothing to do with the authenticity of the game use. Assuming that the repair is minor, it should not have a dramatic affect on the value of the jersey. In many cases, the area of restoration and repair is entirely subjective. Remember that this price guide refers to all-original jerseys only. Evidence of repairs or restoration could lower the price depending on the severity of the alteration.

Usage - The topic of usage inevitably comes down to personal taste. Collectors who prefer jerseys with heavy game use value the fact that the jersey was worn for a long period of time. These collectors look for strong evidence of sweat marks on various areas of the jersey, general wear and tear throughout the shirt, pad or brace evidence, and genuine player characteristics such as pine tar stains along the shoulder where a player might rest his bat in between swings. Other collectors, who prefer light use, enjoy the eye-appeal that that "fresh looking" jerseys offer. Most collectors want at least some legitimate showing of true game wear but the taste, in regards to the amount of wear, varies. Some jerseys, due to the color and materials, make wear much easier to locate than on other jerseys. For example, sweat stains will be much more visible on a white home jersey than a grey road example. Remember, while the taste may vary, these are not sportscards, they are supposed to have wear from game use. More use means that the player wore the jersey for more games and thus increasing the odds that the player may have accomplished more on the field.

Game-issued Jerseys - Some professional player jerseys never see game action. These jerseys are simply called game-issued jerseys. They were made for game use but were left in the locker room on a hanger. These jerseys do have value but the value is somewhat lower than that of game-used jerseys. Much of the value turns on the fact that the jersey saw game action. Unused bats seem to retain more value, at least with regards to the vintage examples, than do jerseys. In almost every case, you want to see some legitimate game use.

Rookie Jerseys - Rookie jerseys, much like rookie cards in sportscard collecting, command a premium in the marketplace. In some cases, depending on the importance of the jersey and the player, rookie jerseys can command significantly more than standard game-used jerseys from an athlete's career. In cases where any jersey is difficult to obtain, such as a jersey worn by Ted Williams, a rookie jersey may not carry a significant premium. In other words, since any Williams jersey is rare, collectors will pay nearly as strong for a Williams jersey worn during any season. A rookie Ted Williams jersey may sell for somewhat of a premium but, due to overall scarcity, the urgency for a rookie example is not as strong. On the other hand, a rookie example of someone such as Reggie Jackson will sell for significantly more than a jersey from later in his career due to the availability of 1980's knits.

Postseason and All-Star Jerseys - Due to extremely limited production, baseball jerseys that exhibit attributes of postseason or All-Star action might command a significant premium over regular issue jerseys. On the other hand, Football Pro Bowl jerseys and Basketball All-Star jerseys will not command the same premium. All-Star jerseys, in general, will exhibit unique characteristics such as distinctive patches commemorating the event in question. Some jerseys may not have distinctive patches but they may have an autograph or letter explaining the significance of the jersey. Due to the varying styles of the patches that signify these events, it is important that you do as much research as you can by analyzing auction catalogues and photographs when you get the chance. You might even be able to contact the team equipment manager who can offer quality assistance.

Special Jerseys- Some players will mark jerseys with special notations. The signature might relate to a significant accomplishment such as a record breaking touchdown or no-hitter. The jersey may not even exhibit a special notation but it can be placed at a certain event in sports history. This can be found on vintage and modern player jerseys. These jerseys usually sell for a significant premium depending on the importance of the notation or accomplishment and the rarity of such an occurrence.

College, Minor League Jerseys or Practice Jerseys - There is certainly a market for college, minor league and practice jerseys but this guide and pricing section deals with professional game(for football, basketball, etc.) or Major League game jerseys (for baseball) only. Some jerseys, like minor league and college jerseys, have brought tremendous prices at auction but they are so rare and the market is so thin in this area that it is virtually impossible to establish any type of legitimate guide or price structure for them. On the whole, these jerseys sell for somewhat less than the type of jerseys discussed in this guide. Practice jerseys, such as the ones used for batting practice or spring training in baseball, are worth significantly less than actual game jerseys.

Flannels versus Knits - Until the early 1970's, flannel jerseys were the norm throughout baseball. A brief experiment with knit jerseys in 1970 led to all teams using knits in 1973. Flannels are very scarce in comparison to most knit jerseys and, as expected, more desirable where there is a choice. For example, a Hank Aaron flannel is far more desirable than a knit from the mid-1970's. In addition, players wore far fewer flannels throughout their career than they did knits. Knits, especially today, are produced and worn at a much higher rate than flannels were 30 or so years ago. Finally, the potential for fraud is much, much greater with knits than it is with regards to flannels due to the comparable ease in which a knit can be replicated or altered. As you may notice in the price guide, the difference between a flannel value and a knit value can be significant in some cases.

Rarity - Like most collectibles, jerseys are often judged by rarity. For example, a Willie Mays game-used jersey from the 1950's is much tougher to find than a later shirt from the 1970's. Other times, a jersey may be rare because the player had a brief stay with a particular team or the team itself has stringent policies regarding access to team equipment. The bottom line is that rarity can make a very significant difference when it comes to price.

Provenance - Jerseys can be affected by provenance significantly. There are respected authenticators within the hobby but, when a jersey is accompanied by some legitimate provenance, a significant premium usually follows. Provenance is probably best described as evidence of origin; however, the strength of evidence is what matters. For instance, the existence of a letter from a former teammate, official, umpire, family member, sports organization or the player might show strong provenance. These are just some examples. The fact that a jersey once resided in a particular collection should not, in itself, play a significant part in the valuation of the piece. The jersey is what it is regardless of who owned it but, if the collection the jersey came from can help show a chain of custody or an important relationship that can help explain the acquisition of the jersey, it may be a factor.

Fraud - The potential for fraud, in regards to game-used jerseys, is far greater than it is for game-used bats. The bottom line is that jerseys can be more easily manipulated, copied or altered than just about any other piece of professional sports equipment. Again, knits are where the majority of fraud occurs because they can be recreated much easier than flannels can. The other area where fraud can occur is in the game use itself. In modern times, athletes receive many times more jerseys than they did as recently as 10-15 years ago.

There are a few different reasons for the production explosion but the most significant reason might be the development of the jersey market as a whole. Collectors desire jerseys whether they are in one piece or cut into 1,000 pieces to be used as part of a sportscard. Demand alone has caused a great increase in production. For this reason, more game-issued jerseys are available. If unethical individuals acquire game-issued jerseys, game use can then be manufactured on the shirt to make it appear as if it saw true game action. Remember, this is not a major problem with the majority of flannels and even most knits, but it can occur and collectors need to be aware of the problem. It is primarily a modern one.

Salesman Sample - This is a problem that can affect both modern and vintage jerseys. Salesman Samples are jerseys that are produced by the manufacturers and are basically exact replicas of the real thing. When these jerseys get out into the hobby, some of them are unfortunately sold as real gamers. They are detectable but that is why provenance and expert authentication are so important.

Teams - Many collectors focus on particular teams or prefer a jersey that links a player to a certain team. For example, a Reggie Jackson game-used jerseys that was used during his stint with the Yankees would sell for a slight premium over a jersey used during his time with the Angels. Whether a player accomplished more from an individual standpoint or from a team standpoint, the jersey price will be affected. Another example would be Mark McGwire. His St. Louis jerseys sell for more than his Oakland jerseys do, even though he won a World Series with Oakland, because of the fact that he emerged as a star as a member of the St. Louis team. In Oakland, he was slightly overshadowed by other star players.

The affect a team might have on values can be dramatic in some instances. Game-used jerseys from legendary or World Championship teams can be highly desirable even if the jerseys are from common players. The team factor can turn a common player jersey into a highly valuable one depending on the year. For example, any jersey from the 1927 New York Yankees is highly desirable due to the historical importance of that squad. Significant premiums for star or common player jersey should be added when applicable.

Authentication - This, like provenance, is extremely important. There are a few different ways you can have your jerseys authenticated. There is authentication that comes directly from the player or team and 3rd party authentication. Team letters or player letters carry a great deal of weight in the hobby and for obvious reasons. In fact, some equipment managers will actually authenticate your items for a small fee. The majority of the time, however, a jersey will not come with such iron clad documentation.

It is important, before you purchase a game-used jersey which is absent of direct source documentation, that you consult a jersey expert that is nationally recognized by advanced sports memorabilia hobbyists. I would recommend that collectors ask around the hobby, at its highest levels, to find the jersey expert that is best qualified to authenticate your jersey. The reality is that there are very few individuals qualified to render an expert opinion regarding the authenticity of game-used jerseys but, the experts who are qualified, provide a highly valuable service for collectors. Having your game-used jersey properly authenticated will ensure that other potential buyers will accept the jersey as being legitimate in case you ever have to sell and it can prevent a collector from losing money on a jersey that fails industry standards.