My Seemingly Unpopular Opinion of Jersey Cards

[Stryfex]

So, I think most of us by now have probably noticed that Jersey cards (even game used and from high end products) are essentially worthless on the secondary market in terms of dollar value.

I generally understand this because of basic economic principles but just focusing on the cards themselves - I don't understand it!!

I think the idea of a piece of a jersey that was used in a game is awesome, and really gives me a connected-to-the-game sense that other cards do not. I think they look amazing and I generally feel like (when you ignore the value and demand) jersey cards are much cooler than Autograph cards.

I've noticed so many collectors really prize autographs over jerseys and I dont' really get it. In one case the player is sitting in his living room with a stack of 999 cards and a pen just whipping through them scratching a typically quick-n-dirty autograph every 3 seconds whereas in the case of jersey cards he's out there on the ice, playing the game and really kind of infusing some of the game's history into the product.

Plus in terms of buy-in-through-wax cost, jersey cards aren't cheap at all!! They're dirt cheap on the secondary market because traders just want to get rid of them but if you're a collector who wants them and just want to buy boxes/packs, they're extremely expensive.

What do you all think?

[RGM81]

I also struggle trying to understand it sometimes. We all want to get as close to the game as possible but yet the items that are actually worn/used in the games are not worth as much as one would think they *should* be. Exhibit 6.06 of this is a Shea Weber Premier Game Gear Card I picked up on eBay Saturday night. $300 a pack product, premium materials, #’d /10, popular player on the Habs. I got it for less than the cost of sushi date night with Mrs. RGM81.

Part of the issue—I feel—with a lot of GU cards is that they’re not made to feel like anything special. They’re simply there in almost every product with fancy designs but nothing usually to tie them to a particular game, event, or season. Yeah you can get the full tag cards in premium products and SPGU is good for having the Winter Classic materials. But imagine how much cooler some of these memorabilia cards could be if they were game/season/event matched. We know that most teams use 3 sets each for home and away jerseys, and UD will often make deals with the teams for one-off game-worn jerseys. But how neat would it be if they were to do the extra card design work and say in one release “This Jersey was worn by Jonathan Drouin on November 29, 2017. During the game, Drouin scored on his first career penalty shot. Enjoy your piece of Authentic game worn jersey!” And then have the image on the card be Drouin going post and in with the goal. That would link the memorabilia piece to a fond memory. Too many jersey cards are just there, an oddly cut swatch with no connection and usually just a random player. photo.


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[TyroneShoelaces]

Something just sacrilegious about destroying a jersey.

[odjickfan]

I agree with RGM81 that something could be made to make the jersey cards more special. Pacific listed on the back of their jersey cards when the jersey has been worn.

[clvc0017]

This is a good topic.

I have so many jersey card hits that go straight into my trade pile and never see my PC.
I would suggest that jersey cards start to come with larger swatches, and lower the print run. Also, if they were all serial numbered, I think this would help with value as well. I could care less if say, my box that normally contains 1 auto and 3 plain jersey cards comes with 1 auto and 1 larger, serial numbered jersey card. As much as we wall want as much value as possible from every box or case we as collectors buy, cutting out a couple $2 plain jersey cards would not affect my purchasing in any way.

I also agree with the specific game listed on the back of the card, as mentioned above. If you added this, with a nice large jersey swatch, I think the cards would be much more desirable.

Jersey cards have been played out for some time now, and I do not think they will be making any comeback as being a highly sought after card. When you look at some of the more popular products every year, jersey cards are either a small part of them, or non-existent. Series 1/2 have game-day jerseys. 99% of people buy for the Young Guns. SPA, only patch-autos. OPC Platinum, which is really becoming a fan favorite last few years, no jersey cards. Should UD get rid of them? I cannot answer that, but I think some minor changes to the design, size, write-up, etc. would for sure help make them more interesting and collected.

[MarkyBgin95]

I agree with you!

I came back in the hobby in 2011 and had never saw a jersey card before. The first time i got one in a pack i was... "Oh my god! That's so cool" Only to understand after that this wasn't a big deal...

But i agress with you, it is way "cooler" to think that the player wore the jersey in an actual game rather than signing a bunch of cards to get rid of them...


Great post!

[30ranfordfan]

I agree with what you're saying, but what has happened over time is that the rate of jersey cards being inserted has gone up so much - that people have lost interest.

The use of event used materials (rather than game used) killed it for a lot of people. A piece of a jersey that a player wore in an NHL game (or games) has its appeal. But when a player takes the ice for the official NHL Rookie Photo Shoot, wears a jersey with his team's logo on it... his name.. numbers... half a dozen extra NHL Shield... a and few extra special patches to commemorate this awesome event.... and swaps that jersey out for an identical one after each shift: Honestly, that piece of material has become way less special than one of those 999 autographs.

There are so many things that I think Upper Deck does that sabotage the value of their own products, and that's the first big one. You know how to make a Shield card really valuable? Only make 1 of them, for every GU jersey you slice.

I looked at McDavid really quickly - so maybe I missed one or two cards - but I count 7 Shield cards that were made in 2015-16 (Rookie Year) and 2 more that were made last year. I assume these all came from photo shoot jersey (though maybe one did not).

No, those McDavid cards are all very valuable - but 3rd tier plays in sets like that - they used to sell for huge dollars, not nearly as much anymore.

Then you get sets like UD Series 1/2. Who wants the jersey out of those sets?? People that collect the teams and/or players will... and people chasing the set. Except UD, in their wisdom, SSPs a card or two from that set every year. Maybe it will be a star, maybe it will be a lesser name. Doesn't really matter. This ends up making that card sell for $100s of dollars (because there are a bunch of people chasing the set) but what it also does is limit the number of people chasing the set, driving the value of every other card in the set down - because less people want them.

Patches (espcially really unique ones) I think still do well - but simple jersey cards, they don't... and I don't think will ever again.


One thing I believe UD could do, to create buzz around jersey cards again, is end the use of photo shoot jerseys.... which would mean virtually all RPA would have to go as well. This would have the effect of making 2nd year cards, when they're actually using a real gamer, much more desirable.

[canucksfan007]

Most jerseys arnt game worn.

So you should be weighing

NHL player sitting in a room signing cards VS NHL player sitting in a room signing cards wearing a jersey while his picture is being taken

[sparty07]

I love what UD did last year in SP Game Used, and included again this year, with the Frameworks inserts. They took what was a "boring" jersey swatch and made it have great design

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[subban7677]

Game worn memorabilia cards from guys who played 50, 75 or 100 years ago is still very, very cool in my opionion. Modern players...not so much, unless it is from a speclial event, like the Winter Classic, or something. I was watching the NHL 100 Classic thinking to myself "I'm gonna grab me some of those."