Hobbies And Interests
Identification
When it comes to identifying authentic jerseys, the one common denominator across the four major pro sports in the U.S.--baseball, basketball, football and hockey--is the quality of materials. Authentic jerseys are made from durable quality fabric. The raised numbers, name lettering, team logos or crests and any other patches are sewn onto the jersey. Replica jerseys will have the embellishments heat-pressed or screen-printed on a lighter weight and less durable fabric.
Types
Assuming that two jerseys, both representing the same athlete from a specific sports team, are being offered for sale by a licensed dealer, the prices for the two should be considerably different, with an authentic jersey generally costing twice as much as its replica. The cost difference arises from the fact that the materials in the "authentic" jersey are the same as those used to create game jerseys for players. The replica jersey materials are less resilient to wear.
Features
If a jersey is purchased from the governing organization of one of the major sports in the U.S., (and they each have their own "official" store), the consumer can be confident that the item is as advertised. Each of the four major sports organizations--MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL, along with NASCAR--will prominently display the details of advertised jerseys and the words "authentic" or "replica" or "autographed authentic," among other details about the jersey, in the ad copy.
Considerations
Knowing the name of the official manufacturer of the jersey is another way to help reduce the risk of buying derivatives and knockoffs. As of July 2010, Adidas (TM) is the official manufacturer for new NBA jerseys. Adidas&'s subsidiary, Reebok (TM), is the official manufacturer of both new NFL and NHL jerseys, and MLB official uniforms are made by Majestic Athletic. As with all contracts in the American pro sports world, this information is subject to change.
Warning
Both authentic and replica jerseys are two items that criminals duplicate and attempt to pass off as the real thing, going so far as to plagiarize official logos and manufacturer tags. If consumers can directly inspect the merchandise, the chances of getting duped are reduced. However, caution is a necessity when buying online from auction sites and unknown businesses. To bypass these concerns, sports fans can find both authentic and licensed replica jerseys at sports apparel retail shops nationwide and, of course, directly from the "official" stores of the sports organizations.