Canseco GU jersey on eBay. Any red flags?

[paul457]

Hoping some of the experts can chime in on this Canseco jersey that's listed as game used.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/White-Oakland-athletics-game-jersey-signed-by-Jose-Canseco-number-33-GAME-WORN-/321462538755?ViewItem=&ssPageName=ADME%3AX%3ARTQ%3AUS%3A1123&item=321462538755&nma=true&si=cnFlHnYdgDS%252BKw7gXy6wa2r89Ac%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I realize that the seller has 0 feedback, and the pictures are poor. Given the price I paid I'm willing to overlook those things in hopes that this *could* be a legit Canseco. He said it came from a charity auction, and has no paperwork for the jersey or signature. There are no obvious signs of use from the pictures, but again willing to roll the dice...

Can anyone see any blatant red flags with the pictures posted on the listing?

Really appreciate any help and insight. :)

[sox83cubs84]

It looks like the bidding has ended, and the winning bid was $500.

Without seeing it in hand, I can't say for sure if it's a gamer or not. The Rawlings tag is of the 1988-89 variety, meaning it's NOT a Score Board jersey (those were issued in 1990).

Dave Miedema

[paul457]

Thanks Dave. I didn't see anything glaring, but I'm far from an expert on older jerseys. That old saying "if it seems to good to be true, it probably is" keeps popping into my head...

The wash tag seems legit (and like you said, it's def not a Scoreboard), right number and placement of buttons, size seems right for Canseco in 88/89, the numbers and name font appear correct. But as you said, probably the only way to know for sure is to get it in hand.

I just paid for it, so I'll post better pictures once it arrives.

[Phil316]

In my opinion it is at least team issued. Nice pickup by the way.

[paul457]

Thanks Phil. I'm a bit skeptical, but we'll see once it arrives!

Here's an 88 that sold for $3k through SCP recently, the two jerseys seem very close to me. This example is what made me pull the trigger.

http://catalog.scpauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=27012

[Chess2899]

Just out of curiosity, why are they so expensive?
I have a few lying around in my closet that I got from his agent a couple years ago for a couple hundred dollars. I thought they are worth about $200. Am I wrong?

[paul457]

Just out of curiosity, why are they so expensive?
I have a few lying around in my closet that I got from his agent a couple years ago for a couple hundred dollars. I thought they are worth about $200. Am I wrong?

The jersey I linked to was from 1988, the year where he was the first 40/40 player in history, won MVP, and the A's won the WS that year. So that jersey had some history behind it.

If you're looking to part with any of yours, please email me at tobey457 at gmail. Would love to see some pictures.

[Phil316]

Just out of curiosity, why are they so expensive?
I have a few lying around in my closet that I got from his agent a couple years ago for a couple hundred dollars. I thought they are worth about $200. Am I wrong?

200.00 for a Canseco gamer? I am interested for sure.

[paul457]

Received the jersey, I can safely say the jersey was never worn. The cloth, patches, etc are bright white and stiff. No sweat stains, hell not a stray stain or mark on the entire jersey. The wash tag is pristine. So that question is put to bed I think...

So now I'm of the opinion that this may be an issued jersey. Two things that concern me with that theory:

1) this jersey does not have the velcro behind the Athletics writing on the front (between buttons 2+3). Any ideas on when the A's started doing that?

2) the jersey size seems small. Jose is 240 lbs and I am 190lbs, and this jersey fists me snug with at shirt underneath. I've met Jose... I can't believe this jersey would have ever fit him properly, although he was probably closer to 220-230 in 88.

So I'm back to looking for advice. Could this be an issued jersey? Is there any way to tell if it was from 88 or 89? What would be the approximate street value of a signed Canseco issued jersey?

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr274/tobey457/imagejpg1_zps214171cd.jpg

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr274/tobey457/imagejpg1_zps521a6baf.jpg

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr274/tobey457/8a3c43e5-12b8-452c-a678-d36b57901b08_zps07db320e.jpg

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr274/tobey457/imagejpg3_zps15c161c8.jpg

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr274/tobey457/imagejpg1_zps1619991d.jpg

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr274/tobey457/imagejpg2_zps1048642e.jpg

[sox83cubs84]

I've seen Canseco A's gamers sized in a manner like this one. This was right around the time that sizes began transitioning. In the early 1980s, MLB players wore size 38 and 40 jerseys, if they were small. By and large. by the mid-1990s, these players were wearing 42s and 44s....apparently, as the years went on, sizing was figured differently.

Here's jut a few random examples of sizes of stars in 1988 and 1998

Mark Grace: 42/46
Sammy Sosa: 42/48
Wade Boggs 42/48
Roger Clemens: 44/50
Robin Yount: 40/44

The progression of sizing between the late 1980s and mid-1990s for Canseco is similar to many of the above.

The size doesn't concern me, but the lack of wear on it keeps it from being a $500 jersey, as the winning bid suggests.

Dave Miedema

[paul457]

Thank you very much Dave for sharing your insight. It's very much appreciated.

Any thoughts on the missing Velcro? Not sure when the A's jerseys started with that strip.

I plan on contacting the seller, as you said it's not a GU jersey, and what I paid should reflect the actual condition. Using the Scoreboard jerseys as a reference, my thought is that this is a $250 - $300 jersey at best.

[Phil316]

Two ways to look at it. The seller said it was "very mint". So you got what he described. You yourself admitted to taking a chance on it being game worn.

On the other hand you have him because he used game worn in the title and it clearly is not.

In my opinion the jersey is a game issued Canseco and is worth more than a Scoreboard jersey. Your jersey is tagged exactly like one he would have worn/ordered. The size is right along with the 2 inch extra length tagging. I have held legit Oakland A's Canseco gamers that did not have the Velcro.

[rufusandherschel]

So you've been had.

You, yourself, admit "rolling the dice."

You rolled the dice and lost.

Now you have "buyer's remorse".

Whose fault is that?

[paul457]

In my opinion the jersey is a game issued Canseco and is worth more than a Scoreboard jersey. Your jersey is tagged exactly like one he would have worn/ordered. The size is right along with the 2 inch extra length tagging. I have held legit Oakland A's Canseco gamers that did not have the Velcro.

Thanks Phil. In you opinion, what would the value of this jersey be? Being from 88/89, it's either from his MVP 40/40 season or his World Series winning season. So I think I'd agree it's worth more than a Scoreboard.

The last two Scoreboards I passed on were in the $200 - $250 range... I could almost make the argument that this is a $500 jersey. His last 88 gamer sold for $3k.

[paul457]

So you've been had.

You, yourself, admit "rolling the dice."

You rolled the dice and lost.

Now you have "buyer's remorse".

Whose fault is that?

Just to clarify your post - I haven't been had, I didn't lose anything, nor do I have buyer's remorse.

I have NO plans to return the jersey at this point.

I'm just trying to ensure that I got equal value for what I paid out. If there's a wild discrepancy, which I don't believe there is, then I'll fix it.

[Phil316]

Paul feel free to email me phillipriddell at hotmail and I will point you in the right direction on finding out if it was issued for Jose.

[mailman93]

I have the same jersey as this one, signed the same way. I also have An 88 jersey with the set tag in it. It is an issued jersey for sure, proper size and proper extra length. During his historic 40\40 season, I'm sure he started ordering more jerseys when the record came close. The Velcro was only used in 1990 and 1991, that's why you see it on the scoreboard jersey. Jose wore size 46 from 1986-88. He wore size 48 in 1989,1991,1992. He wore size 50 in 1990. He could of only worn it a few games, that's why it doesn't show any wear. I think it was a good buy at $500, as you don't see many Canseco gamers anymore.

[Phil316]

I have the same jersey as this one, signed the same way. I also have An 88 jersey with the set tag in it. It is an issued jersey for sure, proper size and proper extra length. During his historic 40\40 season, I'm sure he started ordering more jerseys when the record came close. The Velcro was only used in 1990 and 1991, that's why you see it on the scoreboard jersey. Jose wore size 46 from 1986-88. He wore size 48 in 1989,1991,1992. He wore size 50 in 1990. He could of only worn it a few games, that's why it doesn't show any wear. I think it was a good buy at $500, as you don't see many Canseco gamers anymore.

I agree 100% with your information. Even as a true jersey issued to Jose for use 500.00 would be fair. Jose ordered roughly 12 jerseys and wore them during the 1988 season and I can confirm none of those 12 had set tags.

[Phil316]

I should add that he ordered roughly 12 more than what he was given during the 1988 season. So on top of the ones that had set tags the 12 he ordered did not have set tags. Those 12 where a size 46.

[paul457]

I have the same jersey as this one, signed the same way.

Awesome info - do you remember where yours was sourced from? Wonder if they did a small run of these for a specific event or something.

Thanks for all of the help guys, at this point I'm convinced it's an issued jersey. Now I'd just like to learn the backstory, if possible.

[TwinLakesPark]

I should add that he ordered roughly 12 more than what he was given during the 1988 season. So on top of the ones that had set tags the 12 he ordered did not have set tags. Those 12 where a size 46.

Can you confirm your source and how you know this?

[Phil316]

Confirmed by his former agent whom I have purchased many items from.