The Hobby Boards

So...I was looking at my GU cards and I was wondering what you guys think of the language used on these two cards. Any one notice what I'm noticing?

Here's a hint, it gets worse as you scroll down. I will annotate briefly:



No mincing words here, authentic patch from a jersey actually worn by KG in a NBA game.


This card's COA states that it's a VC game used jersey trading card, great, but it also explicitly states that it's an authentic piece of a jersey worn by VC in a NBA game. Not much wiggle room for any f*ckery.


You just got yourself a PLAYER X game used trading card. On the front of the card is a piece of memorabilia that has been certified to us as having been used in a NBA game. WTF does that mean? Did KG wear the jersey this patch came from while in NBA COURT COMBAT or what? Or is it from Sam Cassell? VC? did he wear this thing? ALSO can any one spot the grammar problem(s) - the one on the back of the VC card was amusing, they have a five year old type this up, or was the guy running short on caffeine?




Maybe it was game worn by Shawn Kemp, maybe it was game worn by Terry Cummings who played for the Sonics after Shawn left for the Cleveland Cadavers, maybe I had my assistant buy this at a yard sale held by Old Man McGillicutty down the street who originally purchased it for his son in the 90s at an athletic store in the mall, but I can guarantee that it is indeed fabric and has some stitching!

Oh yeah, there's for sure been an increase in ambiguity in their language guarantees for memorabilia, and as your examples show that applies to UD and Panini. Topps too. I feel like I tend to have some confidence just based on contextual info.

1. Wax Museum has done great work on matching source material on his YouTube historically. There's tons of examples of him researching his own PC cards, but also some videos that take a broader look at memorabilia cards in general, particularly from Panini.

Here's a link to his playlist of patch sourcing videos


2. Panini's switch to using language that indicates relics in basketball rookie cards and rookie/vets in basketball are unassociated. I feel like if the integrity of the materials was dubious, they wouldn't have bothered changing the language they used. The fact that they changed their wording to me indicates that the stuff that says it is game used is so. Like you mentioned, is it game used by the player on the card? Yeah, I wish they would be explicit about that, but given the research Wax Museum has shown and the history we are aware of at this point, I'm at best no confident, although I wish I also had no doubts about the legitimacy. But I don't think we have any evidence of reasons to doubt, if that makes sense. I'm pursuing the game dated stat line memorabilia set and hope to try to photomatch the patches as a fun project.

I have to think that the relics from older players are actually legit, ironically the Kemp Flawless dual patch I posted looks to have a name patch and number patch, but there is always an uneasyness about the vague language. I remember looking to grab some Zion GU and finding out their basically all his GU was from the Panini 88 jersey, no thanks. If there is any manufacturer I'd trust the most, it would be UD because they really got that whole train started and they routinely put out sick patches, but still, I had no idea that UD got a little vague on their card-back COAs until I looked right at them lol.

I think I've seen this video before, he's another one of the small handful of guys putting out meaningful videos on basketball cards. I wish more sellers on eBay would watch this video lol, I see a ton of jersey swatches listed as patches. So annoying, it's like the people who list base chromium cards as refractors.

If you like that video check out the rest of the playlist. I couldn't figure out how to get the playlist itself linked because I think it just directs to the first video in the playlist.

I do think the Zion thing is a little different of a situation. It is lame that they started giving rookies like him arbitrary jerseys to put on to try to maximize patch space, but you could get a 2nd year Zion card with game worn jerseys and patches that wouldn't have those issues. But I did always find things like Luka and Zion NT RPAs so off-putting when they include patches that don't belong based on their numbers.

SacKingsCards wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2025 11:23 pm If you like that video check out the rest of the playlist. I couldn't figure out how to get the playlist itself linked because I think it just directs to the first video in the playlist.

I do think the Zion thing is a little different of a situation. It is lame that they started giving rookies like him arbitrary jerseys to put on to try to maximize patch space, but you could get a 2nd year Zion card with game worn jerseys and patches that wouldn't have those issues. But I did always find things like Luka and Zion NT RPAs so off-putting when they include patches that don't belong based on their numbers.

Remind me again, would that be 19/20 or 20/21 for Zion's 2nd year / legit patches? At this point I'd probably be second guessing myself, because I don't even know if he's still even playing lol. I got into watching his highlights and thought it would be cool to pick up some GU, but other than that I don't pay attention to anything modern.

His 2nd year would be his 20-21 stuff. But be careful, in hoops it was still player worn. I think 20-21 Donruss was the first with his GU stuff.

SacKingsCards wrote: ↑Fri Jan 17, 2025 8:14 pm His 2nd year would be his 20-21 stuff. But be careful, in hoops it was still player worn. I think 20-21 Donruss was the first with his GU stuff.

Man I keep seeing youtube videos pop up about how he's just sitting out and collecting a pay check lol - kinda' makes me not want to buy anything of his now unless it's dirt cheap. I think guys that invested in him heavily are less than enthused.

Oh yeah I can’t imagine his card values have maintained. Sounds like he’s essentially getting the load management treatment of Embiid and Kawhi without the accolades.

What's weird to me is there are new game-worn relics that list specific player and date, and others that are very vague. I don't expect them to have a date for every relic, but why will some name the player and others won't? My guess is the manufacturers are afraid of being liable for any major mistakes in labeling.

Deadshot wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2025 5:27 pm What's weird to me is there are new game-worn relics that list specific player and date, and others that are very vague. I don't expect them to have a date for every relic, but why will some name the player and others won't? My guess is the manufacturers are afraid of being liable for any major mistakes in labeling.

And in baseball Topps uses similar language to Panini, even for game worn relics. They say that the relic is not associated with any specific game or event. Obviously, the difference is that on the front of the card it usually lists the material as game worn, but I guess covering their bases of not listing specific dates like you said. But yeah, the language on game used relics is so varied and can seem arbitrary.

Deadshot wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2025 5:27 pm What's weird to me is there are new game-worn relics that list specific player and date, and others that are very vague. I don't expect them to have a date for every relic, but why will some name the player and others won't? My guess is the manufacturers are afraid of being liable for any major mistakes in labeling.

SacKingsCards wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 1:45 pm
And in baseball Topps uses similar language to Panini, even for game worn relics. They say that the relic is not associated with any specific game or event. Obviously, the difference is that on the front of the card it usually lists the material as game worn, but I guess covering their bases of not listing specific dates like you said. But yeah, the language on game used relics is so varied and can seem arbitrary.

I don't understand what is so difficult for these multi-bazillion dollar companies to just have a team dedicated to getting their shit together, with all the money people are throwing at each other in the sports industry, they can't afford to hire a small team of individuals dedicated to getting receipts on these game used uniforms? At the very least, to get confirmation that the thing was worn in an actual game, by the athlete stated / pictured? Meanwhile, Fanatics is crapping more money than a 600 pound fat guy who just ate 10 family meals laced with laxatives from Taco Bell.