Question about game issue vs game worn

[hagerstownpensfan]

Hope this isn't a horribly stupid question, if so please pardon my newbie-ness. I recently purchased a "game issued", team customized jersey on ebay. The story with it is that it was issued to a player who ended up not making the team out of camp and was traded soon after, therefore this jersey was never worn. I bought the jersey planning on having it stripped and redone. However, after doing some reading here I've seen some opinions that sound like doing that to a gamer is taboo. Does this apply to both game worn and game issued? I had a few reasons that I was thinking it would be ok to strip this one.

(1) it never used on ice

(2) player was not even on team the year the jersey was issued

(3) number on the jersey doesn't even match the number he used the one year prior that he was with the team

(4) I wanted an authentic, can't get more authentic than one that comes from the team, however of a different player

So to me the jersey seems to be in between authentic and game used. I'm not concerned at all with resale value since I don't plan on the jersey going anywhere for quite a while. So I was looking for some feedback on whether or not I would be making a mistake by redoing this jersey. Thoughts?

[akteon]

While I'm normally firmly in the camp of don't do anything to a gamer (alter it, strip it, or even wash it), what you're suggesting doesn't strike a chord with me for a couple reasons. In my book, a training camp jersey is pretty much the lowest rung on the gamer ladder, just below a pre-season jersey. Toss in the fact that it wasn't even worn and the player had a different number than his usual and I personally I don't see a reason not to strip it. I mean if this guy couldn't hold on to a roster spot or even his number from season to season, it's not like he's a future hall of famer.

Does the jersey have a MeiGray tag? For some reason that might be the part that gave me pause, taking off the MeiGray tag with the unique ID for that exact jersey, a jersey soon to be forever destroyed (but resurrected with a totally cooler player on the back).

[Dr. D]

I don't see a problem with that at all. It's not like you're desecrating an extremely nice or important jersey. A training camp jersey that was never worn is barely above a retail authentic in my books.

[hagerstownpensfan]

While I'm normally firmly in the camp of don't do anything to a gamer (alter it, strip it, or even wash it), what you're suggesting doesn't strike a chord with me for a couple reasons. In my book, a training camp jersey is pretty much the lowest rung on the gamer ladder, just below a pre-season jersey. Toss in the fact that it wasn't even worn and the player had a different number than his usual and I personally I don't see a reason not to strip it. I mean if this guy couldn't hold on to a roster spot or even his number from season to season, it's not like he's a future hall of famer.Does the jersey have a MeiGray tag? For some reason that might be the part that gave me pause, taking off the MeiGray tag with the unique ID for that exact jersey, a jersey soon to be forever destroyed (but resurrected with a totally cooler player on the back).

I don't think it has MeiGray tag. At least there wasn't anything in the auction about it. I do know it comes with a letter of authenticity from the Pens though. I'll check that out when it arrives.

[Nathan]

When it comes to something like this, I'm still in the "leave it as it is" camp.

I know that there are a couple of TC/preseason jerseys that I'm still trying to find, and my only guess is that someone bought them and stripped them without realizing that there was some historical significance to them.

[IIHFjerseycollector]

what player is it?? just curious.

[hagerstownpensfan]

Chris Wells, the jersey is from 96-97. It's customized with number 39, his original number in 95-96 (his only year with the Pens) was 12. Here is his profile from Hockey DB, which shows that he wasn't on the team that season. Also, here is the number history for the Pens showing him with number 12, but not number 39.

[St. Patrick]

Me personally, I would leave it. I think it would be cool and unique. I always try and get a unique players number put on a jersey. It's nice to stand out of the crowd.

[flountown]

Me personally, I would leave it. I think it would be cool and unique. I always try and get a unique players number put on a jersey. It's nice to stand out of the crowd.

Meh, a guy who never made the team with the number on the jersey isn't in that category. When I think of a 'unique' jersey, its like getting a Brooks Laich instead of Ovechkin, or a Betts/Powe jersey instead of Pronger or Richards...

Not trying to rain on your parade, but I think this is more in that category especially since the guy never even played a preseason game.

[St. Patrick]

Meh, a guy who never made the team with the number on the jersey isn't in that category. When I think of a 'unique' jersey, its like getting a Brooks Laich instead of Ovechkin, or a Betts/Powe jersey instead of Pronger or Richards...

Not trying to rain on your parade, but I think this is more in that category especially since the guy never even played a preseason game.

True, but if your a die hard Pens fan, and followed every move that team made, then maybe more then likely that jersey would stick out.

[TMLFAN]

Is this the black Starter mesh jersey that's on Ebay? I say strip it, it was never used and is a player that 95% of people never heard of so who cares.

[hagerstownpensfan]

Is this the black Starter mesh jersey that's on Ebay? I say strip it, it was never used and is a player that 95% of people never heard of so who cares.

It was from Ebay. It's the black road jersey with Pittsburgh written diagonal on the front. But I don't think its a mesh. According to this the Pens started using mesh later on in the next season.