Destroying Lou Gehrig's Pants

[Topnotchsy]

In the 2000's, the card companies cut up some incredible jerseys from Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Gehrig etc. I collect the 'game used cards' that they made, but still, that is hard for me to stomach. I don't believe any card company has cut up a significant jersey in 15+ years (though I may have overlooked one).

I feel far less strongly about pants and almost feel like they are the perfect compromise. They don't have much presentation value whole (which is why they sell for a tiny fraction of what the jerseys sell for) and in a card, they look the same.

I do think it is amazing that one can own a card with a small piece of Babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig or Jackie Robinson's jersey for a few hundred dollars.

[polakoff]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

In the 2000's, the card companies cut up some incredible jerseys from Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Gehrig etc. I collect the 'game used cards' that they made, but still, that is hard for me to stomach. I don't believe any card company has cut up a significant jersey in 15+ years (though I may have overlooked one).

I feel far less strongly about pants and almost feel like they are the perfect compromise. They don't have much presentation value whole (which is why they sell for a tiny fraction of what the jerseys sell for) and in a card, they look the same.

I do think it is amazing that one can own a card with a small piece of Babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig or Jackie Robinson's jersey for a few hundred dollars.

+1

I could never own a Jackie Robinson uniform, but I can own a piece of it, and that's amazing to me.

If it were kept intact I'd be unlikely to see it anyway -- it would probably be in a private collection, or at some obscure museum somewhere.

It makes me sad to think they're being cut up but makes me happy that I can own pieces of these things, and as long as there are SOME preserved I don't see the need to preserve ALL of them. (What's the difference between these Gehrig pants and the ones that are inevitably at the HOF?)

[bbcard1]

I am sure I'm in the minority, but I'm completely fine with this. I wouldn't mind having one of those cards, I really wouldn't want the pants, nor I would not stare at the pants in wonder at a museum and ponder to myself,"The Iron Horse probably farted in those."

[NiceDocter]

I hate it. Especially with that great red stitched name. Put me in the minority here but I consider it a desecration. Cut signatures on cards can be cool unless they butcher the centering and cut off half the name as I’ve seen some times. What’s next? Cut up a 1952 Topps Mantle and get a little bit????

[tha-rock]

I agree with Topnotchsy and Polakoff. I like the GU cards, and its a way of owning a piece of a player uniform or bat when I could not afford the whole item. I have GU cards of every Hall of Famer that I know of that has a GU piece, except two that I am looking for: Walter Johnson and Billy Southworth.
If anyone has GU cards of those two HOFers they would like to sell, please contact me.

[yanks12025]

Game used cards have to be one of the biggest jokes in this hobby. Nothing like destroying historical items for a card. Probably less than 5 Gehrig pants left and now one is completely ruined.

Yeah I can understand it with modern players who probably wear 10 plus pants a year but leave the rare stuff alone.

[Beercan collector]

Originally Posted by yanks12025

Game used cards have to be one of the biggest jokes in this hobby. Nothing like destroying historical items for a card. Probably less than 5 Gehrig pants left and now one is completely ruined.

Yeah I can understand it with modern players who probably wear 10 plus pants a year but leave the rare stuff alone.

+1 and it’s not a piece of pants anymore , the Pants are gone forever .
And we’re taking card companies word that is what it is .
I don’t see the purpose unless you can collect every piece and stitch the pants back together ,
If somebody shows me a card says hey look a piece of Babe Ruth’s bat - I says prove it