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Collectible Sporting Clothing

There are collectible sporting cards, coins and stamps, but did you know there is also a market for collecting clothing worn by sportspeople. If the item of clothing is also signed by the athlete, or worn at a significant time, the value goes up.

The most valueable item would have to be the shirt worn by Diego Maradona when he scored his controversial “Hand of God” goal for Argentina against England in the 1986 World Cup. This shirt sold for US$9.3 million in 2022, the highest price ever paid at auction for a piece of sports memorabilia. Until ....

Another clothing item went for a high price in 2022. Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls jersey from Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals (which is the season featured on the ESPN and Netflix documentary "The Last Dance"), fetched $US10.1 million!

Diego Maradona showing his hand

What clothing items do sports collectors look for?

• Jerseys: Game-worn jerseys of professional athletes, autographed jerseys from iconic players, and limited-edition or throwback jerseys.
• Caps and Hats: Autographed baseball caps from star players, championship or commemorative caps, and vintage or rare team hats.
• T-Shirts and Sweatshirts: Event-specific T-shirts (e.g., Super Bowl, World Series), Vintage team T-shirts, and limited-edition or artist-designed sports apparel.
• Jackets and Outerwear: Team jackets, especially those from championship seasons. autographed or game-worn jackets, and limited-edition outerwear released by sports brands.
• Footwear: Game-worn or autographed sports shoes, limited-edition sneakers, ssociated with athletes or teams, and vintage or retro sports footwear.
• Shorts and Pants: Game-worn shorts from basketball or soccer players, athlete-endorsed or signature shorts, and vintage team pants or warm-up bottoms.
• Training Gear: Official team training jerseys and shorts, athlete-endorsed workout gear, and limited-edition or special-release training apparel.
• Event Merchandise: Clothing from major sporting events (e.g., Olympics, World Cup), Limited-edition event T-shirts, hoodies, or jackets, and commemorative clothing released for specific milestones or anniversaries.
• Player-Branded Clothing: Clothing lines endorsed or created by athletes, and limited-edition releases from collaborations between athletes and fashion brands.
• Authentic Team Apparel: Officially licensed team apparel, special releases from sports brands featuring team logos and colors, and vintage or retro team gear.
• Accessories: Team scarves or bandanas, player-endorsed accessories (e.g., wristbands, headbands), and championship or commemorative accessories.

Related Pages

• Collecing Sports Footwear
• Clothing for Sports - a guide for athletes
• Cards for sale in the Online Memorabilia Store.
• About Diego Maradona
• Also books about card collecting.

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