Relics? I thought they were game used?

[michaelstepper]

about 90% of mine are Panini or DLP game used cards. Alot of the newer panini cards can be traced back to an auction where the material was bought. or if you are not too greedy about how much info you want you can ask panini and they will tell you where it came from. Panini inherited DLP game used vault and they have given me info on older cards too. The only topps game used I own is from 2001-2003 tribute, and I believe that they are the real deal. Plus buying newer panini game used helps me because not many people like them so I get them cheaper. I can live without the logos.

Guess I should have stated half of my hof GU is from NT but as an overall it is very little of my collection

 

[predatorkj]

But don't most cards (Triple Threads being an exception) say "Game Used" somewhere on the front of the card?

Relic isn't really interchangeable with Game Used. Relic is a noun, Game used is an adjective.


"The relic contained in this card is not from any specific game, event or season" is letting you know that the Relic, the Game Used Memorabilia, or whatever the front of the card states, was not used in any specific game, event or season.

No, there are instances where it just says player worn relic on the front. I don't have anything in front of me right this second but trust me, it's been used and on more than just TTT.

 

[metallicalex777]

But don't most cards (Triple Threads being an exception) say "Game Used" somewhere on the front of the card?

Relic isn't really interchangeable with Game Used. Relic is a noun, Game used is an adjective.


"The relic contained in this card is not from any specific game, event or season" is letting you know that the Relic, the Game Used Memorabilia, or whatever the front of the card states, was not used in any specific game, event or season.

Over the span of history of cards with relics in them, yes most would say Game Used with earlier ones being very specific that it was worn in a game by said player. Recently, especially with 2013 Topps, the wording certainly is questionable. Along with your statement above that they all say "The relic contained in this card is not from any specific game, event or season" here are 5 baseball Topps products that state "game-worn", 6 if you include Triple Threads. In my opinion, stating "Game Worn" doesn't mean it was worn by the player (even though it most likely was worn by said player) let alone that if so the player played during the game it was worn in. With the example of the Mussina below, it proves that it was not Game Used as well:

2013 Topps Tier One "Event Worn"

2013 Topps Series 2 "Game Worn"

2013 Topps Museum Collection "Game Worn"

2013 Topps Inception "Game Worn"

2013 Topps Five Star "Game Worn"

The Mussina is a perfect example as it has the authentication sticker. When looking it up on MLB it states they are pants he wore in a November 13th, 2008 game which he did not play in. Also, this is just baseball cards alone. Football cards have been very specific that they are player worn and definitely not used in a game. I remember seeing photos of players wearing jerseys during their card/sticker signings which were then used in the card itself.

 

[MansGame]

Nice post Alex.

 

[Dilferules]

For all of those holding up Donruss/Leaf/Playoff and Panini as the paragon of real game-used stuff because Topps stupidly put benches in 2 products (which they corrected after the outcry, but clearly it should have never happened in the first place) - DLP bought plenty of fake jerseys from people involved in the whole Mastro mess, which they put in cards and were then transferred to Panini so THEY could put it in cards. Plus it appears from the article that they bought a further $165,000 in fake jerseys from the guy in the years 2009-2011. (The article is confusing, the $165,000 number could possible include the $125,000 in DLP stuff they got, but regardless they had a hell of a lot of fake GU stuff. I'm sure there is a better article out there but I can't find it.)

http://www.cardboardconnection.com/...s-memorabilia-card-companies-await-sentencing

I wouldn't be ready to place bets on DLP and Panini in a contest for "highest percentage of real GU items in cards".

 

[ASTROBURN]

I always use Relic with Game Used cards

Bat Relic, Pants Relic, ect

And this is also one of the reasons for my confusion. Seeing you say Relic and the pictured card to me looks like a normal game used type card.

The Mussina is a perfect example as it has the authentication sticker. When looking it up on MLB it states they are pants he wore in a November 13th, 2008 game which he did not play in. Also, this is just baseball cards alone. Football cards have been very specific that they are player worn and definitely not used in a game. I remember seeing photos of players wearing jerseys during their card/sticker signings which were then used in the card itself.

And that game used Mussina card... He may have not played, but they still need to suit up for the game. Sure, he may have not pitched, but he wore it sitting on the bench. So its technically a game used bench sat relic.

 

[metallicalex777]

And this is also one of the reasons for my confusion. Seeing you say Relic and the pictured card to me looks like a normal game used type card.



And that game used Mussina card... He may have not played, but they still need to suit up for the game. Sure, he may have not pitched, but he wore it sitting on the bench. So its technically a game used bench sat relic.

This all depends on what the true definition of "Game Used" would actually mean. That will never happen, at least in the Webster Dictionary, but I am confident a huge majority of collectors would define "Game Used" as relic pieces from a jersey/pant/bat that were used from the player performing in an actual game.

 

[MansGame]

Up on the soap box here but seriously, perception is reality guys in this hobby... can't stay up at night thinking if the freaking stamp size piece of wood in my Belle card was ACTUALLY from a game used bat that Albert Belle used in a MLB game. I hope everything I own is real but odds are that they're not.

Who knows, one day we could find out that Topps is one of the biggest frauds to ever walk the planet and they could come out in some Madoff like story saying that they never had game used stuff... they've been tricking us for years... nothing is game used or real... jokes on everyone who bought this stuff up and thought it was all game used and true pieces of memorabilia.

I'm sure I'd have a different opinion if I collected cards worth thousands of dollars but I don't and for good reason. Autographs, yes... memorabilia or game used relics, no.

 

[vwnut13]

Over the span of history of cards with relics in them, yes most would say Game Used with earlier ones being very specific that it was worn in a game by said player. Recently, especially with 2013 Topps, the wording certainly is questionable. Along with your statement above that they all say "The relic contained in this card is not from any specific game, event or season" here are 5 baseball Topps products that state "game-worn", 6 if you include Triple Threads. In my opinion, stating "Game Worn" doesn't mean it was worn by the player (even though it most likely was worn by said player) let alone that if so the player played during the game it was worn in.

Not quite sure what you are getting at. I stated that in addition to the wording on the back, the front of the card states what the Relic is. You proved that point.

The Mussina is a perfect example as it has the authentication sticker. When looking it up on MLB it states they are pants he wore in a November 13th, 2008 game which he did not play in. Also, this is just baseball cards alone. Football cards have been very specific that they are player worn and definitely not used in a game. I remember seeing photos of players wearing jerseys during their card/sticker signings which were then used in the card itself.

I'm pretty sure that you must realize that there were no baseball games played on November 13th, 2008. The pants were authenticated at the "cleaning out the clubhouse" event where MLB authenticates anything and everything as Team Issued, as they will not authenticate an item as game used unless they saw it come off the player.

The Mike Mussina pants were most likely purchased through Yankees-Steiner and were most likely certified through them as Game Used. Steiner is the "exclusive retailer of New York Yankees Collectibles and Memorabilia." One of Andy Pettitte's game used cards featured a Steiner Sports hologram (Link)

I did a few searches and found several mentions on GameUsedUniverse of Red Sox items (circa-2008) sold by RedSox-Steiner stating Game Used, while the MLB states Team Issued.