If there were really any rules within our Threads project, where we use jersey swatch cards as platforms for autographs, one would likely be that the swatch itself has to come from a jersey (or sweater, for the purist) worn in an official NHL game.Well, that isn't the case here. The swatch on this card, which St. Louis' Brad Winchester signed for us last Sunday, came from a photo shoot.
If so, which photo shoot? The photo, taken during Winchester's days with Edmonton, shows him wearing a white jersey. As you can see, the swatch is dark blue.
In a way, I feel a little cheated. Not by Winchester, mind you, but by Upper Deck. Then again, I really shouldn't have been surprised, should I?
Thankfully, I got this card as part of an eBay lot, where the average cost was about $1.50 per card.
It's come to light recently what exactly UD considers a photo shoot or event worn jersey. Theres a story (granted this was posted online, so take that as you will), where a dealer or some kind or store with a player making an appearance was sent a box of assorted jerseys by UD for the player to wear, and the store owner simply had to take a photo of the player wearing it, and then on to the next. Pretty lame but the player did, technically, wear it for a "photo shoot."
ReplyDeleteOR, looking more closely at Oilers jerseys, it could be from one of the blue stripes on the sleeves. So it could in fact be from that white jersey.
ReplyDeleteYes, it could be, but it's still kinda cheap on Upper Deck's part. Nothing UD does any should surprise us.
ReplyDeleteI remember one time in Boston that the Bruns were auctioning practice-worn jerseys for a fundraiser (the Wives Carnival, I think).
Some Bruins staffer handed jerseys to players as they came off the ice. They took off the ones they wore during practice, pulled on the auction pieces and simply took them off again. Practice-used jerseys, right?
Only Brad Stuart, and that should put a finer point on the date, went back onto the ice, fell down and rolled around a bit, to give his jersey an appearance that they were used.
Funny thing, later that year, you could buy used practice jerseys, with all kinds of scuff, nicks and tears, for $25 a pop at the Ristuccia Arena's pro shop. I still the one I bought.