Adults wearing team jerseys

[Jim65]

I'm 48 and I wear my Devils and Mets jersey when I go to games.

I never watch ESPN and couldn't give 2 shits what anyone there thinks about anything, period.

[Prof_Plum]

I'm not into wearing jerseys. But then, I'm also a Chicago fan who lives in St. Louis.

[basesareempty]

I have no problem with it except for the dorks who have their names put on a players jersey. I personally think its stupid.

[Jayworld]

Originally Posted by basesareempty

I have no problem with it except for the dorks who have their names put on a players jersey. I personally think its stupid.

Guess I'm a dork, then.
And proud to be one!

I collect game used Padres jerseys, and no, I don't put my name on them or alter them in any way (other than washing them…some GU collectors don't wash their jerseys, and that's a matter of preference).

I do have 1 jersey with my name on it; I also collect former SWC football jerseys. I am friend with the former equipment manager at SMU, and I bought several GU jerseys from him over the years. One I purchased had never been worn in a game and was brand new with no nameplate, so he created a nameplate for me, which I thought was cool. Hence, my dorkiness…

I have no problem with fans wearing jerseys, or adults wearing jerseys, or adults asking for autographs. Not sure if the side topic was sports autographs or any autographs, but I used to also go to local Sci-Fi and com icons and get autographs from current and former TV and movie stars, and I am as old as they were in some cases. I've also gotten autos in-person (as an adult) from Darrell Royal, Jackie Sherrill, Grant Teaff, etc., and they have no problem with it and were glad to talk and visit about the old SWC….

Not sure where ESPN is going with this; I think just enjoy your hobby. That's why there are penny sleeves, protective sheets, card savers, hobby boxes, TPG, etc. so that everyone in the hobby can store/view their cards the way they choose. Likewise for jersey and GU collectors….

[EvilKing00]

I don't wear jersys, (unless im playing) & have never asked for an auto.
I have no issue with adults who do, its just not something I would do.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Originally Posted by basesareempty

I have no problem with it except for the dorks who have their names put on a players jersey. I personally think its stupid.

The irony calling someone a "dork" for wearing a jersey with their name on it - on a baseball card forum - is not lost on me. We are all dorks.

[steve B]

Wearing Jerseys has become mostly acceptable for adults. Especially the souvenier jerseys. I'm not sure I'd wear a game used Jersey around, although I did wear the one I own as a Halloween costume one year.

Wearing team jerseys used to be very frowned upon in bike racing circles. The idea being that it took some serious ability to earn one. Early team and club ones were almost like biker gang jackets.
By the late 70's there were some team replicas for fans, and with the 7-11 team being big in the US by the late 80's the marketing value overcame that resistance.
But you'd NEVER wear a championship jersey - Not the TDF yellow, WC or Olympic stripes, none of that.
The US team jerseys looked similar to older national championship jerseys, and there are some period replicas from the early -mid 80's.

Eventually the marketing value of the jerseys became enough that now any fat middle age wannabe can wear the world championship rainbow stripe without much teasing. Maybe the odd look from those of us who still believe those stripes NEED TO BE EARNED......But that's a shrinking group. (I'm one of them)

Steve B

[packs]

From a Yankees fan perspective, the only jersey that no adult or child should ever wear in public is a Red Sox jersey.

I will let Mets jerseys slide only because it's nice to support the less fortunate.

[Jayworld]

Originally Posted by packs

From a Yankees fan perspective, the only jersey that no adult or child should ever wear in public is a Red Sox jersey.

I will let Mets jerseys slide only because it's nice to support the less fortunate.

I thought this funny…well played.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Originally Posted by packs

From a Yankees fan perspective, the only jersey that no adult or child should ever wear in public is a Red Sox jersey.



I will let Mets jerseys slide only because it's nice to support the less fortunate.

Much like the teams the jerseys are same quality.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by packs

From a Yankees fan perspective, the only jersey that no adult or child should ever wear in public is a Red Sox jersey.

I will let Mets jerseys slide only because it's nice to support the less fortunate.

My sentiments exactly. The most important thing for every baseball season is that the red menace is thwarted. If the Yankees win too, that's nice.

As for the OP, there are two venues where adults can proudly wear their team colors: the ballpark and the little league field. Everywhere else it just looks sad. Not to mention that there is no clothing product so uniquely unsuited to the middle aged male physique as a team jersey. And no, the vertical pinstriping is not slimming in that case.

As for the autographs issue, the list of people I'd ask for one is small but has nothing to do with age, just accomplishments. The last person I asked for a signature was Eric Idle; before that, Ken Norton. With most celebs I would probably ask to take a photo instead.