On Photo Matches and Blood

We're often asked about our photo-matching service, and how we can be so certain that clean jerseys without distinctive stick marks are matched. The next time you acquire a game-worn jersey, take a look at the crest and notice imperfections in the stitching. Then take a look at the sewn-on numbers and name plate and take a look at the threads and other imperfections.

Using the photo services with which we subscribe, and using our team licensed deals to acquire other high-resolution photos, it's not difficult to blow these photos up 10X and 100X and focus in on one number, one stitch mark, one imperfection. When we match 4 or 5 of these unique areas of a shirt, and couple that with the authentication information we receive from a team, we can be certain the jersey is the exact one in the photo.

Now a few words about blood ... We know all about how the Devils-Rangers line dance on Monday juiced the game-worn hobby, after Ryan Carter's jersey ended up blood-stained. Nowadays, seeing remnants of that blood still present when we acquire the jersey is rare. That's because health concerns, NHL recommendations, and modern cleaning chemicals enable equipment managers to rid any garment of blood within minutes. Each team carries strong enzyme-based fluid that cleans a soaked jersey beautifully. Not what fighter collectors want to hear, but that's what usually happens.