Monday, April 22, 2013
MeiGray Suffers a Huge Loss in Its Family: Ryan Folger (1989-2013)
I am very sorry to bring you this sad, sad news from MeiGray.
Ryan Folger, who began working here as an intern from Rutgers University in January 2011, and recently joined our sales department to direct our ebay auctions and sales, died early Sunday morning in North Brunswick, New Jersey, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Ryan was 24.
Ryan, who graduated from Rutgers in June 2011, was a quiet, cheery, wonderful guy. He was a talented high school soccer player and an avid professional soccer fan. In the short time he was a member of the MGG family I know he communicated with a number of you, and I'm confident he enhanced your enjoyment of our hobby.
We are heartbroken here today.
MeiGray will be making a donation in Ryan's name to a charity of his family's choice.
We ask only that all of you remember to drive safely, and follow the automobile laws of our country that might seem annoying, but save lives.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Generalizing about Generalizations
Wow, it's been a month ... sorry about that , but it gets busy here as the hockey season heats up.
I want to talk a little about generalizations in the game-worn jersey world. I was having a conversation with a collector at the Northern Virginia Expo last Saturday, an Expo by the way that just finished its Seventh Year and is wonderfully handled by Francis Rady.
In the game-worn jersey generation that proceeded the MeiGray Generation, with team participation and absolute authenticity and serial-numbered tagging to ensure that collectors know exactly when their jersey was worn, generalizations abound.
Assumptions are made based on the available information, the good work done by credible (and the questionable work by not-so-credible) authenticators, and the astute observations of those who have collected the jerseys over the years.
While we believe that all information available can help, it's important that collectors and dealers not assume because something happened to one jersey, it happened to all. Or because something did not happen to one jersey that happened to another, that one jersey contains a problem. Or because something may have happened once, it could have happened 10 times.
That's the most dangerous generalization of all.
My point? When we authenticate jerseys from yesteryear, ones that lack the tracking, documentation, and information of today, we must tread very carefully. Research and information must be considered carefully, and each jersey needs to be examined individually. Because one generalization never fits all.
I want to talk a little about generalizations in the game-worn jersey world. I was having a conversation with a collector at the Northern Virginia Expo last Saturday, an Expo by the way that just finished its Seventh Year and is wonderfully handled by Francis Rady.
In the game-worn jersey generation that proceeded the MeiGray Generation, with team participation and absolute authenticity and serial-numbered tagging to ensure that collectors know exactly when their jersey was worn, generalizations abound.
Assumptions are made based on the available information, the good work done by credible (and the questionable work by not-so-credible) authenticators, and the astute observations of those who have collected the jerseys over the years.
While we believe that all information available can help, it's important that collectors and dealers not assume because something happened to one jersey, it happened to all. Or because something did not happen to one jersey that happened to another, that one jersey contains a problem. Or because something may have happened once, it could have happened 10 times.
That's the most dangerous generalization of all.
My point? When we authenticate jerseys from yesteryear, ones that lack the tracking, documentation, and information of today, we must tread very carefully. Research and information must be considered carefully, and each jersey needs to be examined individually. Because one generalization never fits all.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
MeiGray Select
Have you seen MeiGray's newest department?
At MeiGray Select, we've created a virtual museum to show off the jerseys we often display at Expos and arenas around North America.
We figured that since so many historic items pass through our offices, we ought to share the most exciting ones with the hobby. We're starting MeiGray Select by uploading jerseys in our possession, the ones that have been fully authentic, with perfect provenance.
Our first display is Eddie Shore's 1927-29 Boston Bruins sweater.
We are unveiling Ken Morrow's 1980 Miracle on Ice Team USA jersey next week.
As we continue to acquire the best hockey items in the world, we will continue to build our museum. We welcome suggestions, comments, and ideas on how to make MeiGray Select the Hockey Hall of Fame of the Game-Worn Jersey Hobby Community.
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Our 2012-13 ECHL Program is in full swing. The home and road jerseys worn in Set 1, over the first half of the ECHL's 25th Anniversary season, are starting to arrive at MGG for authenticating and delivery to those of you who have pre-ordered.
For those of you who like to see the jerseys first, we are starting to upload the jerseys team-by-team. The ECHL added the Evansville Icemen, Fort Wayne Komets, Orlando Solar Bears, and San Francisco Bulls this season, and these Inaugural ECHL Season teams have very cool jerseys.
At MeiGray Select, we've created a virtual museum to show off the jerseys we often display at Expos and arenas around North America.
We figured that since so many historic items pass through our offices, we ought to share the most exciting ones with the hobby. We're starting MeiGray Select by uploading jerseys in our possession, the ones that have been fully authentic, with perfect provenance.
Our first display is Eddie Shore's 1927-29 Boston Bruins sweater.
We are unveiling Ken Morrow's 1980 Miracle on Ice Team USA jersey next week.
As we continue to acquire the best hockey items in the world, we will continue to build our museum. We welcome suggestions, comments, and ideas on how to make MeiGray Select the Hockey Hall of Fame of the Game-Worn Jersey Hobby Community.
-------------
Our 2012-13 ECHL Program is in full swing. The home and road jerseys worn in Set 1, over the first half of the ECHL's 25th Anniversary season, are starting to arrive at MGG for authenticating and delivery to those of you who have pre-ordered.
For those of you who like to see the jerseys first, we are starting to upload the jerseys team-by-team. The ECHL added the Evansville Icemen, Fort Wayne Komets, Orlando Solar Bears, and San Francisco Bulls this season, and these Inaugural ECHL Season teams have very cool jerseys.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Crunching Some Hobby Numbers
Recent comments on a few different Forums regarding the number of jerseys being worn nowadays by NHL teams, the racks of jerseys in stock in our Branchburg, NJ warehouse, and the health of the game-worn jersey market got me thinking today.
How well are game-worn jerseys selling? How robust is the market?
So I crunched some numbers.
Since MeiGray was formed in 1997, since we began working with the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils in 1997, and since we began partnering with the NHL in 2002, we have kept a database that records every jersey we have ever sold and logs every jersey we have in stock that is unsold,
Want some numbers?
MeiGray, since 1997, has acquired 61,071 NHL jerseys ... roughly 4,000 per season for 15 seasons. That number includes practice jerseys and game-issued jerseys.
Of those 61,071 NHL jerseys, MeiGray has sold 53,033, or 86.8 percent of the jerseys acquired.
Of the 8,038 unsold NHL jerseys currently in our warehouse:
1,828 are game-issued. Teams for years have made up extra jerseys (mostly high numbers) prior to training camp for players that never make it to the NHL With the turnover from Airknit to Edge 1.0 to Edge 2.0, and with so many teams tweaking their jersey styles, these are no longer able to be reused. So they make it to our warehouse.
584 are practice-worn. We get approximately 50 per program team per season.
422 are consignments, which means they are unsold now, but have sold previously.
What do the numbers tell us?
The NHL game-worn hockey market is robust, and jerseys are selling. And re-selling. Any business in a market with a sell-through rate of 86.8% is thriving.
More people are collecting than ever before, authentication procedures are better now than they were years ago, and the internet has made buying/sell/trading open to the world.
So for you collectors worrying about the game-worn hockey jersey market, relax. Our hobby is stronger than ever.
How well are game-worn jerseys selling? How robust is the market?
So I crunched some numbers.
Since MeiGray was formed in 1997, since we began working with the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils in 1997, and since we began partnering with the NHL in 2002, we have kept a database that records every jersey we have ever sold and logs every jersey we have in stock that is unsold,
Want some numbers?
MeiGray, since 1997, has acquired 61,071 NHL jerseys ... roughly 4,000 per season for 15 seasons. That number includes practice jerseys and game-issued jerseys.
Of those 61,071 NHL jerseys, MeiGray has sold 53,033, or 86.8 percent of the jerseys acquired.
Of the 8,038 unsold NHL jerseys currently in our warehouse:
1,828 are game-issued. Teams for years have made up extra jerseys (mostly high numbers) prior to training camp for players that never make it to the NHL With the turnover from Airknit to Edge 1.0 to Edge 2.0, and with so many teams tweaking their jersey styles, these are no longer able to be reused. So they make it to our warehouse.
584 are practice-worn. We get approximately 50 per program team per season.
422 are consignments, which means they are unsold now, but have sold previously.
What do the numbers tell us?
The NHL game-worn hockey market is robust, and jerseys are selling. And re-selling. Any business in a market with a sell-through rate of 86.8% is thriving.
More people are collecting than ever before, authentication procedures are better now than they were years ago, and the internet has made buying/sell/trading open to the world.
So for you collectors worrying about the game-worn hockey jersey market, relax. Our hobby is stronger than ever.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Seventh in an NHL-MGG 2012-13 Series: Philadelphia Flyers
Hi everybody,
The Philadelphia Flyers and MeiGray have enjoyed a great working relationship since 2002.
This perennial NHL Stanley Cup contender has one of the most veteran collecting bases, a large number of serious collectors who own and enjoy Flyers game-worn jersey collections dating to the 70s and 80s.
In fact, the Flyers' first style of game-worn jersey, dating to their Inaugural Season in 1967-68 and worn through 1969-70, with single-color sleeve and back numbers, is one of the rarest game-worn jerseys of the durene era.
Flyers captains jerseys have always been popular, and the first set jerseys of new captain Claude Giroux were pre-ordered within days of the start of the season, when the Flyers introduced the superstar forward as their new on-ice leader.
The Flyers will be wearing two sets of home orange and two sets of road white jerseys this season.
Set Dates:
White Set 1: January 20, 2013 – March 24, 2013
Orange Set 2: March 26, 2013 – April 25, 2013
White Set 2: April 4, 2013 – April 27, 2013
If Philadelphia qualifies for the playoffs, they are expected to wear set 2 jerseys
The Philadelphia Flyers and MeiGray have enjoyed a great working relationship since 2002.
This perennial NHL Stanley Cup contender has one of the most veteran collecting bases, a large number of serious collectors who own and enjoy Flyers game-worn jersey collections dating to the 70s and 80s.
In fact, the Flyers' first style of game-worn jersey, dating to their Inaugural Season in 1967-68 and worn through 1969-70, with single-color sleeve and back numbers, is one of the rarest game-worn jerseys of the durene era.
Flyers captains jerseys have always been popular, and the first set jerseys of new captain Claude Giroux were pre-ordered within days of the start of the season, when the Flyers introduced the superstar forward as their new on-ice leader.
The Flyers will be wearing two sets of home orange and two sets of road white jerseys this season.
Set Dates:
White Set 1: January 20, 2013 – March 24, 2013
Orange Set 2: March 26, 2013 – April 25, 2013
White Set 2: April 4, 2013 – April 27, 2013
If Philadelphia qualifies for the playoffs, they are expected to wear set 2 jerseys
Friday, February 8, 2013
Autograph or no autograph?
There's supposed to be a tremendous snowstorm this weekend here in the Northeast, so of course I'm thinking about game-worn jerseys ... and a question that's been discussed for decades.
The autographed game-worn jersey.
It's probably the most commonly asked question I get from newer collectors. "Should I get the jersey signed?"
The reason people ask is because there are two very passionate views in our hobby. There are the collectors who consider an autographed game-worn jersey to be a devalued relic marred by the ink, and there are the collectors who consider the autograph the final element of a very personal and desired memento.
For years I have been telling collectors the same thing I believe today: "Do what will make you the happiest. If you are a collector who intends to hold the jersey for years, or hang it on a wall, or hand it down to the next generation, get the jersey signed if the attachment to the player is your prime desire.
On the other hand, I believe that for those in the hobby who buy and sell and trade and consider monetary values of each jersey, the autograph adversely affects the jersey. Here's why.
In MeiGray's experience, the autograph decreases the number of collectors who would be interested in the jersey, but increases its value to the smaller number of people who might want the jersey. In other words, many more collectors would not want it all with an autograph. The smaller number who do, might agree that the jersey is worth a little more.
And that's a generic autograph ... the player's name and number.
A personalize autograph virtually ruins the jersey to the vast majority of people. If your name is Mike and the jersey is autographed "To Mike," you are going to have a tough time finding another Mike who wants that jersey.
Did you know, though, that there are ways to safely remove an autograph. We don't do it at MGG, but there are a few dealers and collectors who can completely remove an autograph if the autograph appears on the garment and not the crest or numbers. So if you find a jersey you really want, with an autograph, you may be able to have the autograph removed.
For those of you who like the autograph but want to hedge your bets, get the jersey signed inside, on the fight strap or behind the crest. That seems not to irk collectors very much, even the ones who despise autographs. Or get the letter of authenticity signed. That's my favorite, seeing an unautographed jersey signed on the LOA by the guy who wore it.
The autographed game-worn jersey.
It's probably the most commonly asked question I get from newer collectors. "Should I get the jersey signed?"
The reason people ask is because there are two very passionate views in our hobby. There are the collectors who consider an autographed game-worn jersey to be a devalued relic marred by the ink, and there are the collectors who consider the autograph the final element of a very personal and desired memento.
For years I have been telling collectors the same thing I believe today: "Do what will make you the happiest. If you are a collector who intends to hold the jersey for years, or hang it on a wall, or hand it down to the next generation, get the jersey signed if the attachment to the player is your prime desire.
On the other hand, I believe that for those in the hobby who buy and sell and trade and consider monetary values of each jersey, the autograph adversely affects the jersey. Here's why.
In MeiGray's experience, the autograph decreases the number of collectors who would be interested in the jersey, but increases its value to the smaller number of people who might want the jersey. In other words, many more collectors would not want it all with an autograph. The smaller number who do, might agree that the jersey is worth a little more.
And that's a generic autograph ... the player's name and number.
A personalize autograph virtually ruins the jersey to the vast majority of people. If your name is Mike and the jersey is autographed "To Mike," you are going to have a tough time finding another Mike who wants that jersey.
Did you know, though, that there are ways to safely remove an autograph. We don't do it at MGG, but there are a few dealers and collectors who can completely remove an autograph if the autograph appears on the garment and not the crest or numbers. So if you find a jersey you really want, with an autograph, you may be able to have the autograph removed.
For those of you who like the autograph but want to hedge your bets, get the jersey signed inside, on the fight strap or behind the crest. That seems not to irk collectors very much, even the ones who despise autographs. Or get the letter of authenticity signed. That's my favorite, seeing an unautographed jersey signed on the LOA by the guy who wore it.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Sixth in an NHL-MGG 2012-13 Series: Dallas Stars
MeiGray was proud to bring the Dallas Stars back into the fold this season, as the Stars were one of our first NHL team partnerships.
We began working with the Stars in 1998, and they proceeded to win the Stanley Cup in 1998-99. We think we were good luck!!!
We worked with the Stars from 1998-2011. When they went through its reorganization during the 2011-12 season, they did not have a game-worn jersey partner. We re-signed with them, acquired their 2011-12 inventory, and began our program as follows:
Set Dates:
Black Set 1: January 19, 2013 – March 18, 2013
White Set 1: January 20, 2013 – March 9, 2013
Black Set 2: March 23, 2013 – April 27, 2013
White Set 2: March 20, 2013 – April 23, 2013
If Dallas qualifies for the playoffs, they are expected to wear set 2 jerseys.
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Nothing better than a photo match, and nothing more rewarding than photo-matching a 36-year-old jersey. Stu Oxenhorn, our MeiGray Vintage Director, just photo-matched Bob Girard's 1975-76 home white No. 26 California Golden Seals game-worn jersey. This is the heavy knit softball style teal, white and gold jersey. Road teals are far more common than home whites, but we matched this one to a publicity photo of Girard, whose arms are sprayed with stick marks and visible repairs.
We began working with the Stars in 1998, and they proceeded to win the Stanley Cup in 1998-99. We think we were good luck!!!
We worked with the Stars from 1998-2011. When they went through its reorganization during the 2011-12 season, they did not have a game-worn jersey partner. We re-signed with them, acquired their 2011-12 inventory, and began our program as follows:
Set Dates:
Black Set 1: January 19, 2013 – March 18, 2013
White Set 1: January 20, 2013 – March 9, 2013
Black Set 2: March 23, 2013 – April 27, 2013
White Set 2: March 20, 2013 – April 23, 2013
If Dallas qualifies for the playoffs, they are expected to wear set 2 jerseys.
-----------
Nothing better than a photo match, and nothing more rewarding than photo-matching a 36-year-old jersey. Stu Oxenhorn, our MeiGray Vintage Director, just photo-matched Bob Girard's 1975-76 home white No. 26 California Golden Seals game-worn jersey. This is the heavy knit softball style teal, white and gold jersey. Road teals are far more common than home whites, but we matched this one to a publicity photo of Girard, whose arms are sprayed with stick marks and visible repairs.
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