Current Events > I, at times, become interested in obtaining "phantom" sports gear

(+) Yeah! (+)

Gear of a team that usually celebrates a championship they ultimately did not win. Specifically, I always wanted to own a "2013 St. Louis Cardinals World Series Champion" (The Cardinals lost to the Red Sox that year) shirt or hat since I know there is a limited amount of those out there somewhere as all the major sports leagues pre-print this merchandise in anticipation of one of the two teams winning in order to sell them immediately.

It may come as no surprise that the leagues do not want this merchandise hitting the states as it devalues the brand of this championship merchandise, and they have no intention of selling them to Americans (or any westerners for that matter). Typically, this gear is donated through an organization that will ultimately send them to third-world countries where the gear can find some actual use.

Still, I am shocked that a few don't slip by and end up in our hands where they'll inevitably make it to the ebay market over time. Seriously, I want a 2013 cardinals World Series pennant shirt, lmao.

bump.

Aw yeah, Phillies world series championship clothes arrive here in a few days.

I always though people did buy and sell that stuff on various collectors markets though? Is that not a thing anymore, or I it just too hard to find something?

feel free to ask around in Africa or Central America for a hookup

Hmm interesting. I wonder if we'll see a day where these people who receive such items through charity start selling them. If they had the ability they surely could make a nice little profit that would ultimately do them more good.

I understand though TC. Not this in particular but I have a collection of stuff from prison that woulda been discarded otherwise. I have the desire to collect these things simply because they are items you simply just can't get through normal means.

I can understand looking for Texas Rangers World Series Champs shirts from when they went down to the last strike... twice, and lost to St. Louis.

But the Cardinals have plenty of titles and plenty of shirts. Seem a bit, I don't know, useless? Rangers have no titles so seeking that shirt makes sense.

I'm not trying to criticize collecting by any means. I collected cards growing up and still have unopened sets.

Edit: But the entire premise of phantom memorabilia is absolutely fascinating.

Aridi posted...

I can understand looking for Texas Rangers World Series Champs shirts from when they went down to the last strike... twice, and lost to St. Louis.

But the Cardinals have plenty of titles and plenty of shirts. Seem a bit, I don't know, useless? Rangers have no titles so seeking that shirt makes sense.

I'm not trying to criticize collecting by any means. I collected cards growing up and still have unopened sets.

Edit: But the entire premise of phantom memorabilia is absolutely fascinating.

Yeah as I said there is a certain fascination with owning things that is next to impossible for the average person to obtain.

I always like the ring of the Patriots perfect season (including the Superbowl) I had a picture of it somewhere on my laptop but I didn't remember what it was named (clearly not that). Good thing Eli thwarted the Patriots twice what an odd choice for kryptonite.

Sufferedphoneix posted...

Hmm interesting. I wonder if we'll see a day where these people who receive such items through charity start selling them. If they had the ability they surely could make a nice little profit that would ultimately do them more good.

I understand though TC. Not this in particular but I have a collection of stuff from prison that woulda been discarded otherwise. I have the desire to collect these things simply because they are items you simply just can't get through normal means.

Yeah, it's an interesting perspective on value to me. Over there, the shirts are worthless, and strictly clothing. Over here, though, they become valuable collector items.

Aridi posted...

I can understand looking for Texas Rangers World Series Champs shirts from when they went down to the last strike... twice, and lost to St. Louis.

But the Cardinals have plenty of titles and plenty of shirts. Seem a bit, I don't know, useless? Rangers have no titles so seeking that shirt makes sense.

I'm not trying to criticize collecting by any means. I collected cards growing up and still have unopened sets.

Edit: But the entire premise of phantom memorabilia is absolutely fascinating.

I'm a Cardinals fan, and the 2013 team was a personal favorite of mine. I understand it's far from a notable one, but it would be fun to have.

PiOverlord posted...

Yeah, it's an interesting perspective on value to me. Over there, the shirts are worthless, and strictly clothing. Over here, though, they become valuable collector items

For me it's not a out value. Rarity alone doesn't mean something has value. For instance I have a bar of soap stamped with a insignia you'll only find in my states prisons. Surely nobody would care to spend much money on such a thing but at the same time you won't find many people who have such a thing either. Though that one I understand is more common than other items I have as apparently state issued soap is really good for cleaning jewelry or something like that so female staff tend to swipe some here and there.

I'm most fond of the blanket though. Even during summer I feel the need to have a blanket and theirs are miserably thin so it satisfies my need without being too hot.

Sufferedphoneix posted...

For me it's not a out value. Rarity alone doesn't mean something has value. For instance I have a bar of soap stamped with a insignia you'll only find in my states prisons. Surely nobody would care to spend much money on such a thing but at the same time you won't find many people who have such a thing either. Though that one I understand is more common than other items I have as apparently state issued soap is really good for cleaning jewelry or something like that so female staff tend to swipe some here and there.

I'm most fond of the blanket though. Even during summer I feel the need to have a blanket and theirs are miserably thin so it satisfies my need without being too hot.

That's fair, and tbh, even if the 2013 cardinals ws win is worth $1, I'd want it. Bought ET for the Atari because to me, it has great historical value, even if you can buy it for a few bucks on ebay.