I have been collecting game worn uniforms for almost thirty years, with the casual goal of finding “one of every style” for every team since the Double Knit Era began back at the start of the 1970s. Over the years I amassed a huge quantity of photographs and notes to myself that I kept in a dog eared notebook and flexible files in my drawers. When going to shows or seeing items advertised for sale, I’d check my files to see if what was being offered looked authentic. If I didn’t buy it, I’d often take pictures anyway, just to have for the future. Since I started collecting in 1979, I have amassed a collection of about 650 authentic jerseys, about half of them game worn.
The hobby has changed incredibly in recent years. Now, with the Internet available to everyone, dealers and private collectors are buying and selling MLB memorabilia in ways that would have been unimaginable to us in the mid- 90’s. Back then, you had to “know somebody” to find a game worn uniform. Today, buying one is just a mouse click away on eBay.
The problem is, not all of these jerseys being sold are truly authentic. Some are outright fabrications, being sold by people trying to separate enthusiasts from their hard earned money. Others are being sold by dealers who may have no real idea that an item they are offering for sale is not authentic, as they may have bought it themselves believing in its authenticity.
People often ask me “How can I tell if it is authentic?” It’s often a difficult question to answer, because sometimes it is impossible to be completely sure. But relying on my hundreds of pages of notes there are many clues that can tell a collector if an item he is about to buy is NOT authentic. A convincing “Letter of Authenticity” can also be fabricated, by anyone with a devious mind and a dollar to spend at Kinko's.
I compiled the first edition of this massive guide after many fellow collectors asked me for copies of my notes and research. The “first edition” of this guide was made for friends. Now, in this Fifth Edition, I have completely rewritten the entire book, researching and collecting thousands more period photographs and comparing them to items in private collections and offered for sale through dealers and private individuals.
I am a member of SABR- the Society for American Baseball Research. I compiled this guide as a service of sorts for other collectors. This work was never intended for wide distribution, and was not commissioned or licensed by Major League Baseball.
The new and updated Fifth Edition for 2009 is now shipping! This is more than just an update. Besides adding all year specific content for 2007, 2008 and 2009, the following changes and improvements are found inside:
Chapter 1: Introduction : 35 pages with photographs. Covers the basics of the hobby, explaining significant milestones in the marketing of game worn and non-game worn Authentics from 1970 to 2009, gives an overview of lettering sewing styles and methods, coverage of Jackie Robinson Day chronology and events.
Chapter 2: Counterfeit Authentics: An explosion of counterfeit merchandise has hit from foreign shores, making every garment at nearly every outlet suspect. Learn what to look for to avoid being taken by a bargain that might be too good to be true.
Chapter 3: “Is it Game Worn?” A thoughtful analysis to help collectors determine whether jerseys advertised as Game Worn or Team Issued actually are.
Chapter 4: Manufacturer Tagging: The tags sewn by the manufacturer into the jersey offer a wealth of clues to the knowlegeable searcher. Tiny year to year changes in tagging that would be unnoticed by nearly anyone else are cataloged here. This information can help pinpoint the year of manufacture of a jersey, and help determine if it can possibly be game worn for the player it is claimed to belong to.
Chapters 5 through 36: 31 Team Chapters (click here for a sample) Each team chapter ranges from 25 to 65 pages and contains the following:
Chapter 37: MLB and League Commemorative Patches: A complete photo guide to all the patches worn in All-Star Game and post-season play, as well as special commemorative patches worn by multiple teams in every year.
Chapter 38: Overview of Team Player Name/Number Fonts: provided as a sample of the different fonts and variations in player name and number lettering over this period, as a guide to determine if collector jerseys are original and properly lettered.
Chapter 39: 
Game Worn Exam: 45 test questions challenge you to examine jerseys and determine if you think they are real or counterfeit, with a chance to explain why. Great to test the skill of anyone from novice to expert. Answers are provided and scoring is optional. Click here to see a sample from the exam.
Chapter 40: Reader Questions and Answers: A selection of questions I am frequently asked and their answers. Examples are, What’s the best way to judge the value of a jersey in my collection? Should I get insurance? Who can I get to letter my jerseys?
Chapter 41: Bibliography and Research Summary: Explains how this reference guide was researched, and how each type of research was used, including baseball cards, news photos, collector contributions acknowledgements, web research and team publications.
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