Buying Retro Jerseys- A Guide To Retro Jerseys

Retro sports jerseys have become a big business.  Sports apparel companies have used the appeal of stars like Allen Iverson to sell a wide array of throwback jerseys, including jerseys harking back to eras in which Iverson never played.  Sports nostalgia companies like Mitchell and Ness (one of the most popular manufacturers of retro jerseys) can charge upwards of several hundreds dollars for one of their shirts. 

Top grade manufacturers like these can command high prices for their shirts partly because savvy marketing tactics (like encouraging celebrities to wear their jerseys) have broadened the market for this kind of sports memorabilia, and partly because the best manufacturers make quality products with stitched on logos.  As a consequence, fans of the retro jersey look have to make a choice between paying higher prices for mass-produced jerseys or taking the time and trouble to search out rare authentic vintage jerseys at auction or thrift stores. 

Of course, buyers of throwback jerseys have other choices to make, too.  Are they buying the jerseys as a fashion statement?  Do they want jerseys for particular players to express fan loyalty?  Do they want to build a collection?  Do they mind buying authentic vintage jerseys if it means there is some wear and tear?  Do they want to stick to just one sports league (e.g., the NBA, MLB, or NHL) or buy the coolest jerseys from a variety of sports?  Do they want to stick to a particular era (e.g., the 1970s)? 

Since there are so many choices, it pays to do some shopping around.  Decide what you want from a retro jersey, and how much you're willing to pay.  Verify if the logo is stitched on or screen-printed.  Finally, remember to have fun!