Satchel Paige “69” Jersey Patch Photo Match!

[Randy Shields]

just a quick reminder...not jackie robinson, but satchell paige...the description on the old auction notes that while the jersey being sold did not contain paige's name , research showed he was the only member of the braves' coaching staff to wear number 65 during the 1969 season....it goes on to say that due to the excessive wear , it was almost certainly one used by a minor league affiliate after paige was through with it...

Oops...insert facepalm.. I knew it was Paige but when I wrote my thesis I had Robinson on my mind.

Corrections coming and thanks!

 

[Juan Gris]

Wow, this went sideways quick.

Jaun, I don't think mrmopar meant any malice or criticism of you or the tag here, rather just questioning the fact that the pics of the numbers from the auction and the numbers on your card look cleaned up and darker, moreso of the number 6. But I think in doing so maybe you took this personally because your proud of your pick-up and the work you put into it to prove it is a conclusion match from the auctioned jersey itself. I don't believe he meant any harm and I do think your being a little too sensitive about legitimate opinions or questions being put forth for this reason. I mean this is a messageboard and people will always question things and offer up varying opinions on any given subject or topic. That's stating the obvious but it's also fair.

So for what it's worth this is my take. That tag from the auction or any tag for that matter is like a fingerprint. If you look at the chain-stiching on the numbers 6 and 9 and look carefully at their exact shape, size and distance between them from every aspect of each number it is 1000% the exact same tag taken from the jersey that was purchased. Furthermore if you look at the stitching on the strip-tag to the jersey itself from every aspect, again it's a 1000% match. Also you have to remember that these numbers were hand stitched so no 2 numbers will ever look exactly the same. Just look at the 6 in the number 65 on that same strip-tag and compare it to the number 6 in the number 69 in question here. They don't look the same at all because again their hand stitched.

Looking at those comparisons this is without a doubt the exact same strip-tagged 69 that came from that jersey and definitely not from any other jersey. There's just no doubt about that.

So the question here is why are the chain-stitched blue numbers darker on the card then they are from the auction? I don't believe for a second that those numbers were inked in. For one, that would be a blatant alteration. Two, there would be 2 different colors on those numbers because there's absolutely no way that they could match the exact color of the original chain-stitching fabric that was used so long ago. And 3, what would be the reason for it? I mean why would you alter a game-used jersey at all? To compromise the integrity of an authentic game-used jersey in any way shape or form, especially one of such a historical nature of this Satchel Paige simply does not make any sense whatsoever. There's simply nothing to gain from it. It's an absolutely awesome piece of history here and to tamper with that in any way shape or form would be completely ludicrous at best.

From what I see here it's quite obvious that the material used for the blue chain-stitched letters are much more structurally sound then the material used for the strip-tag which is the case in most all older jerseys. This is also quite obvious because the strip tag was easily torn between the numbers 40 and 69 and as well it should be because this is a gamer and the constant moving of this strip-tag from Satchel's using it on a regular basis would have caused that.

I think the white that everyone is seeing from the auction photo is simply fluff from the strip tag that stuck to the blue chain-stitched numbers -again from it's movement of being used a lot by Satchel.

So it's just my guess but I think there a two possibilities here.
One is that someone "may" have simply used some tape or some other method to simply pull some of the fluff off, but not all, from the dark blue chain-stitching and the surrounding strip-tag material which now makes those numbers appear darker. If they did that I don't think it constitutes as an alteration or compromises the integrity of the jersey per say, but I'm sure some may have differing opinions on that. This is just my opinion. Did they have to or did they need to do that "IF" in fact that's what they did? Again, imo, no they certainly did not and I'm not exactly sure why they would see a reason to, but again I stress "IF" in fact that's what they did.

The other possibility is they simply flattened the patch out when they inserted it into the card, and Juan's much more high definition scan shows the patch more truly as it actually is than how it appears pictured in the original auction scan. The scan from the auction even when blown up appears to be quite a bit more fuzzy than Juan's scan.

Or, perhaps it's a combination of both?

I don't know for sure but what I do know is that with Juan having it in hand, that he is the only person here who can truly elaborate on what is the most likely scenario concerning this tag, and for that reason I have no reason to doubt him if he says there's been nothing done to the tag.

In any case this is a Great card, a Great piece of history and Juan, you should be very proud of this card and the work you put in to verify it.

The End.

This book goes on sale starting tomorrow at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and at other fine retail stores wherever books are sold!

Randy, thanks for the write-up and I'll take a signed copy!

I definitely can get a little sensitive/passionate when it comes to what I truly love in this hobby, no doubt. The way you laid everything out is just where my research and logic lead me. I really appreciate your taking the time to thoroughly break it all down and explain both sides, very cool of you to do!

Awesome pickup @Juan Gris ! And great job with your sleuthing as well, that is part of the fun of this hobby with some of the material pieces some of us collect. I'm not if sure if you saw one of my Satchel Paige patch posts years back, but I got (and still have) a patch piece of his also from Panini that I traced back to a Hunt Auctions jersey I found. You can see that thread here if you like: https://www.freedomcardboard.com/fo...s-and-a-possible-jersey-auction-match.144089/

In my opinion, I think you found the jersey yours came from. What I like to see is the similarities in the threading details. Awesome add to your collection, and don't forget...For that era of Paige he was a player and coach that year

Thanks and I was hoping you would pop in here to share that card thread! When I was researching my card I re-read your thread and was doubly inspired to post mine. You are the Satchel auction match O.G.

For anyone interested, there is a 1996 movie called "Soul of the Game" available to watch for free on YouTube that really is quite good. The IMDB synopsis:

Black baseball greats, Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson, vie to be the first afro-American major leaguer, only to see the outspoken rookie, Jackie Robinson, be chosen.

It has a really good cast including Mykelti "Bubba Gump" Williamson as Josh Gibson. Highly recommend it to any baseball fan!

 

[gracecollector]

It was a dead on overlap when I positioned them in photoshop. The stitching around tag is spot on. Just lint on the original. Tag got flattened a little when adhered to card, and lint was removed. I see no foul play. Nice card Gris and good matching skills!

 

[magicpapa]

It was a dead on overlap when I positioned them in photoshop. The stitching around tag is spot on. Just lint on the original. Tag got flattened a little when adhered to card, and lint was removed. I see no foul play. Nice card Gris and good matching skills!


View attachment 115687

 

[goobmcnasty]

Didn't read the whole thread. Once this took a crybaby turn, I veered off the road a bit.

But my initial thought was the same as everyone else. You personally inked the tag to make it display nicer. Shame.

 

[Juan Gris]

It was a dead on overlap when I positioned them in photoshop. The stitching around tag is spot on. Just lint on the original. Tag got flattened a little when adhered to card, and lint was removed. I see no foul play. Nice card Gris and good matching skills!


View attachment 115687

Thank you for checking it out, much appreciated!

Didn't read the whole thread. Once this took a crybaby turn, I veered off the road a bit.

But my initial thought was the same as everyone else. You personally inked the tag to make it display nicer. Shame.

You got me!