In all of the galleries that I post, if you click on a particular jersey for an enlarged view, you’ll see that I provide the season that particular style of jersey was first issued for each player. But when you are collecting, if you want to more accurately pinpoint which year a jersey was issued, you can look at the tags and labels to determine the season that Champion issued a particular jersey. For instance, Champion produced thousands of Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls jerseys from 1991-1992 through 1997-1998. For a collector, it might be important to have a first-issue or early issue Jordan road jersey. But since they basically all look the same, how can you tell which year a particular Jordan jersey actually came off of Champion’s production line? This post will tell you what to look for when trying to date a particular jersey that you otherwise can’t date by obvious traits like the style/color, team logo/graphics, player font, etc. It will show you the various labels and tags used by Champion over the years that will allow you to dive a bit deeper when collecting. This post only deals with REPLICA jerseys. I’ll address Authentic (sewn) jerseys in a future post. And of course, this isn’t an exact science…there are variations to what I layout below and I’ll be sure to address some of those.
NBA Logo Patch
Let’s start with the NBA logo patch. All Champion replica jerseys produced from 1991-1992 through 2001-2002 have the NBA logo patch and Champion logo patch on the left shoulder strap (the one exception are the Atlanta Hawks “Big Hawk” black road jerseys produced for the 1998-199 season…on these jerseys the NBA patch and Champion logo are on the right shoulder strap) . The Champion logo is always an embroidered patch that has been sewn onto the jersey. The NBA logo patch however can be used to date a particular jersey . From 1991-992 through the 1994-1995 season, Champion used an iron-on NBA logo patch. The patch is felt-like and slightly fuzzy and it is ironed on to the jersey and not sewn. Starting in the 1995-1996 season, Champion switched to an embroidered NBA logo patch which was sewn on to the jersey. So if a jersey has an iron-on patch, that means it was made between 1991-1992 and 1994-1995, and if it has sewn-on patch it was made between 1995-1996 and 2001-2002. The one exception to this rule is Michael Jordan’s #45 Bulls jerseys. These were released upon his return late in the 1994-1995 season but do not have the iron-on patch. They were the first run of jerseys to have the sewn-on patch. In addition, you might find some jerseys produced from 1995-1996 onward that still have an iron-on patch. This would be typical for a team that didn’t have a uniform design change for a long period of time. For instance, the Phoenix Suns had the same jersey style from 1992-1993 through 1999-2000. As a result, Champion was able to use back-stock to produce jerseys for upcoming seasons. For instance, I have seen Jason Kidd Phoenix Suns jerseys with iron-on patches, and Kidd didn’t start playing for the Suns until the 1996-1997 season (which means the NBA logo should have been sewn on). However, Champion was using back-stock/overstock from 1994-1995 (or before) to print that particular production run of Jason Kidd jerseys.
During the 1996-1997 season the NBA celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary and selected the 50 greatest players of all time. Champion released special edition throwback jerseys to commemorate the occasion. The jerseys from this collection have a gold NBA sewn logo.
Jock Tag
When collecting, I always like my jerseys to have the jock tag attached. This is the size tag located near the bottom left hemline. Champion replica jerseys came in five adult sizes: 36 (S), 40 (M), 44 (L), 48 (XL) and 52 (XXL). The sizes on the label represent the chest measurement. So for instance, I’m 5’10 and 160lbs, and normally wear small or medium t-shirts. I like my Champion jerseys to be somewhat snug because I’m not a fan of the oversized look, so I wear size 40 (M). A size 40 means that the width across the front chest fro armpit to armpit is 20″ (a size 44 means the with from pit to pit is 22″). So if you are unsure of what size to get, you can just measure a t-shirt that you own and get the measurement across the chest from pit to pit and multiply it by two to verify which size jersey works best. Champion jerseys for the most part proceeded the oversized craze that started in the late 90s/early 2000s, so for people used to oversized jerseys, Champion jerseys will mostly run a size smaller. The most common sizes that Champion produced are 44 (L) and 48 (XL). However, the vests (unlike the traditional tank-top style jerseys) that Champion started producing in the early 2000s began reflecting the preference for oversized jerseys, so you’ll see vest mostly produced in size 48 (XL) and 52 (XXL). Sometimes, kids removed the jock tags from earlier Champion jerseys. If the jock tag is missing, there is no other size label on the jersey (for jerseys produced from 1991-1992 through 1997-1998). So to verify the size before purchasing, just ask the seller for the chest measurement from pit to pit.
While the jock tag’s main purpose is sizing, it can also be used to date a particular jersey. For replica jerseys released by Champion during it’s inaugural season of 1991-1992, the jock tags have an attached label that says “100% Nylon” (indicating the fabric makeup of the body of the jersey). In addition, the jock tag states the jersey was “Made in U.S.A.”. The “Made in U.S.A.” designation remains on jock tags through the 1994-1995 season. So any jersey produced from 1991-1992 through 1994-1995 season will have a jock tag that says “Made in U.S.A.” Starting in 1995-1996 (the same year that Champion started using sewn NBA logo patches), Champion moved production from Winston Salem, NC to Mexico for it’s replica jerseys. As a result, the jerseys were no longer made in the United States, and the jock tags reflect this by no longer having “Made in U.S.A.” on them.
However, there are exceptions to this general rule-of-thumb. For instance, the Houston Rockets changed uniform design and color for the 1995-1996 season. Champion produced these new jerseys at the end of the 1994-1995 season for unveiling/release during the early summer of 1995 (prior to the 1995-1996 season) to get fans excited. So you’ll see jerseys from the 1995-1996 season for the Rockets that are still made in the USA because Champion made these early in their production cycle for the 1995-1996 season before moving production to Mexico. The same is true for the Vancouver Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors. They were both expansion teams for the 1995-1996 season, but you’ll see Damon Stoudamire and Bryant Reeves jerseys for the 1995-1996 season that were still made in the U.S.A. rather than Mexico. Again, this is because Champion produced these blank jerseys prior the conclusion of the 1994-1995 season in their US production facility, and therefore could print them quickly following the June 1995 draft and get the Stoudamire and Reeves jerseys on the market immediately. In addition, the 1995-1996 All Star replica jerseys that Champion released for the game in San Antonio were produced in the USA. And the 1996-1997 NBA 50th Anniversary special edition throwback jerseys were also made in the USA. I have also seen jerseys like the Milwaukee Bucks 1995-1996 alternate jersey that were made in the USA rather than Mexico.
It should also be noted that if you see a jock tag that does not have a numerical size, but rather has S, M, L or XL, that is a European-issued jersey. I’ll dedicate a future post to Champion jerseys that were released overseas in Europe.
Collar Label
From 1991-1992 through 1994-1995, Champion did not sew a label into the collar of replica jerseys. In 1991-1992, the manufacturing information (made in USA) was contained on the jock tag, as well as the fabric content of the jersey (100% Nylon). Starting in 1992-1993 and continue through 1994-1995, Champion sewed a tag into the left, interior side hemline that contained the fabric makeup of the jersey, as well as washing instructions (which were the same word-for-word as the washing instructions contained on the jock tag). So any jersey produced from 1991-1992 through 1994-1995 will not have a tag sewn into the collar. If you don’t see a collar label that most likely indicates the jersey was produced from 1991-1992 through 1994-1995. To confirm, you can just look at the jock tag. If the jock tag says “Made in U.S.A.” that means the jersey can be dated between 1991-1992 and 1994-1995. If “Made in U.S.A.” is not written on the jock tag, that means someone cut out the collar tag (which is common) and the jersey was produced from 1995-1996 onward. And as mentioned, if there is no collar label and the jock tag is cutoff, you can still date the jersey by looking at the NBA logo. If it is ironed on, it is from 1991-1992 through 1994-1995.
Starting in 1995-1996 (when production moved from the USA to Mexico), Champion no longer sewed the fabric/washing instruction label into the interior side hemline. Instead, Champion began to sew a label into the collar. You can use these collar labels to help date jerseys produced from 1995-1996 through 2001-2002
For the 1995-1996 season, Champion used a small white collar label that simply read “Assembled in Mexico of US Components. Contents on Reverse.” OR “Assembled in Costa Rica of US Components. Contents on Reverse.” Most jerseys will have the “Mexico” label, but some production was outsourced to Costa Rica. You’ll mainly see the “Costa Rica”on labels on Bulls jerseys, but I have seen this tag on Sixers and Rockets jerseys as well.
For the 1996-1997 season, Champion used a larger blue collar label that included the Champion logo along with the text “Authentic Athletic Apparel” followed by “Assembled in Mexico of US Components. Fiber Content on Reverse” OR “Assembled in Costa Rica of US Components. Fiber Content on Reverse.” Again, the “Mexico” label is the most common, and you’ll mainly see the “Costa Rica” labels on Bulls jerseys, but I have also seen them on Sixers black road jerseys from 1997-1998 (since the Sixers redesigned their uniforms for the 97-98 season, initial production for those jerseys began in summer of 1997 to hit the market prior the season, and thus the initial production run has the older 1996-1997 label).
For the 1997-1998 season, Champion used the same larger blue collar label that included the Champion logo and text “Authentic Athletic Apparel.” However, the label now simply read “Made in Mexico. Fiber Content on Reverse” OR “Made in Costa Rica. Fiber Content on Reverse.” Again, the “Mexico” label is the most common. I have only come across “Costa Rica” tags on Bulls jerseys.
For 1998-1999 (and continuing through 2001-2002), Champion added the size of the jersey followed by “Authentic Athletic Apparel” and “Made in Mexico”.
You might also see jerseys produced between 1995-1996 and 2001-2002 that have the larger blue collar label with “Made in USA” printed on it. If the jersey has this label, then the jock tag will also say “Made in U.S.A.” The 1996-1997 NBA 50th Anniversary special edition throwback jerseys have this tag inside the collar. I’ve also seen this tag on some of the 1995-1996 Milwaukee Bucks alternate jerseys. While Champion did most of it’s production in Mexico starting in the 1995-1996 season, they still produced some jerseys in the USA after that, and those jerseys have the “Made in USA” collar label, as well as “Made in U.S.A.” jock tag.
Really appreciate the post! Finally somebody cleared that out from A to Z!
By the way,
I’ve seen some rookie players 1994/1995, who already had the sewn on nba logo, made in usa.
Also, i have J.Kidd / Dallas mavs who have the sewn on logo + made in usa (no neck tag), same with P. Ewing / Knicks,
Were my jerseys made in the early 1995 ?
Correct. It’s not an exact science, just a general rule of thumb. Your jerseys were most likely made during the end of the 1994-1995 season (so like spring 1995) or right up to the start of the 1995-1996 season. Champion would produce popular players year round based on demand. The first jersey to feature the stitched on NBA logo was Jordan’s #45 which Champion started producing in late March 1995 in the USA, so your jerseys were produced sometime from March 1995 up until the start of the 1995-1996 season. If you look at the 1995 draft class (June 28, 1995) and search for lottery picks like Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, Ed O’bannon, Jerry Stackhouse, etc on Ebay, you’ll see that while the majority of the jerseys have the 1995-1996 small, white “Assembled in Mexico” tag in the collar, there are jerseys that don’t have the collar tag and have “Made in U.S.A.” on the jock tag. These would be jerseys that came off the assembly lines in Champion’s North Carolina plants in the summer of 1995 following the draft, but prior to the start of the 1995-1996 season. These would be first-run/first-issue rookie jerseys for those players.
Thanks! Amazing knowledge you have.
I remember i owned another Ewing/Knicks (pre 1997 jersey style as well).
It had a weird nba logo on it, seemed thinner, like it was emboridered and on the tag it said, made in r.o.k.
Were these legit ?
weird i just saw a orlando shaq’s champion jersey, which have the ”assembled in mexico” blue neck tag, how’s that possible lol.
Shaq alredy moved to LA in 1996.
Shaq was traded in mid-July of 1996. Could have been printed just prior to the trade. Again, not an exact science but just a general rule of thumb. Champion could have started using the “assembled in mexico” blue neck tag in production runs late in the 1995-1996 season. But to describe in the least confusing way possible, I just attribute the “assembled in mexico” blue neck tag to the 1996-1997 season. I’ll have more posts on tags coming soon with specific player/jersey examples for reference.
You sir, are the best thing to happen to beginner NBA jersey collectors.. I’ve seen your other posts and replies to comments about how to identify fakes from originals on platforms such as eBay, and it’s been really helpful. I avoided buying a few jerseys online which didn’t have the collar tag but then saw your post on how kids used to remove them back in the day, so thanks! Are you selling any of your jerseys??? If you are, I would love to get my hands on a few. Please let me know! Thanks.
Thanks for checking out the site! It’s a bit disorganized now as I try to finish all the galleries and then focus back on my posts and content. So keep checking back and eventually it will be fine-tuned. I’m not selling any jerseys, just documenting all the jerseys I have come across over the past two decades of collecting. I honestly only have a handful of jerseys at any given time these days. A decade ago I would have about 300 on hand at any given time which I regularly sold on Ebay. I just wanted to create a site where collectors could see what jerseys exist and gain some knowledge on what is legit vs. counterfeit. Eventually I might try to create a section where collectors can connect and sell/trade jerseys.
Hello Friend
I’m Rodrigo de chile
for some time I follow your blog
eh I learned a lot from your blog.
Since 1992 I collect jerseys
For some years and I just dedicated
the Champion jersey.
2016 now have in my possession about 300 jerseys Champion
I would like to continue to share more contact conociemientos
Since I have a very strange eh jersey and I could have some reference
of the .
Greetings from Chile
Thanks for checking out the site. Definitely keep checking back as I’m currently trying to get all of the team galleries done, and then I’ll focus more on posting regularly. I would love to see some photos of your collection. Once I have all of my galleries posted, I would like to contact you and see if you have any jerseys not listed. Eventually, I want to create a section where collectors can share overall photos of their collections.
I do not think you have some have not, but if I have some rare
Is there any way to contact you? (to talk more extensively)
The champion in europe should from 1991-992 through the 2010-2011 season.
Adidas and NBA jointly declared they would boost their partnership worldwide in 24th, March at 2010-2011 season.
Thanks for pointing this out! Champion Europe did indeed extend its apparel licensing agreement with the NBA in May 2005. The deal was to run through the 2010-2011 season, but Adidas took over the rights in Europe starting in the 2010-2011 season (Adidas had the exclusive rights in the US to produce on-court uniforms and replicas since 2006-2007). So Champion Europe produced replicas from 1991-1992 through the 2009-2010 season (19 seasons)
Indeed the Adidas sole supply of NBA jerseys will be the scpoe of Europe the date was 24th, March On 2010-11 season
Any word on when you’ll blog about the authentic jerseys? I have so many questions with so little answers :/
Can’t wait!
I have many questions to friend
Do you have time to talk?
Where there ever any Champion authentic jerseys made with no NBA patch? Thanks!
The NBA patch should be on all authentics and replicas. Since the replicas were initially iron on felt patches (1991-1992 through 1994-1995), sometimes those fall off over time if they were laundered a lot . But the authentics are basically embroidered onto the polyester mesh tank, so its not coming off. The authentics didn’t have the Champion logo though, since the NBA didn’t allow licensees to put their logos on on-court uniforms and authentics are supposed to be spot on with what the players wear on the court (Nike will be the first company to ever have their logo on NBA jerseys when they take over for Adidas in the 2017-2018 season).
I have a Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls alternate black jersey with the “MADE IN USA” collar label and patch. I don’t know if it’s legit because the sizing patch “MADE IN USA” was produced in the early-mid 90’s.
Don’t worry, it’s a legit jersey. Like I tell a lot of people, when it comes to replica Champion jerseys you don’t have to worry about fakes because they aren’t lucrative or easy to reproduce. You really only have to worry about authentic (stitched) jerseys. As for the tagging, there are exceptions to the rules. As I noted in this post, there were jerseys produced in the US after Champion moved production to Mexico for the 1995-1996 season. For instance for the 1996-1997 season all the NBA at 50 jerseys (the retro ones with the gold NBA patch) were made in the USA. I have seen Bulls alternate black Jordan jerseys with MADE IN USA tagging like yours. Since the Bulls black alternate jerseys were first produced for the 1995-1996 season when manufacturing switched to Mexico, I believe that Champion produced the black Bulls jerseys here in the US to get them to market quickly since they were a new style. As long as the collar label looks like the one I have listed at the bottom of this post, it’s legit.
hi can you know my jersey fake or not? is allan houston authentic jersey maded? it made in korea
I would have to see a photo to be 100% sure, but I would say it’s fake.
1) Allan Houston came to the Knicks for the 1996-1997 season, before the Knicks switched to new jerseys for the 1997-1998 season. I have never seen an Allan Houston 1996-1997 authentic Champion Jersey. In 1996-1997 the Knicks also released there alternate jersey (which in 1997-1998 would become their road jersey). I have not seen a authentic Champion version of that jersey either.
2) During the 1997-1998 season the NBA split the on-court uniform licenses, so Champion only outfitted 10 teams starting in the 97/98 season, while Nike outfitted 10 and Starter outfitted 9. Champion did however continue to have the exclusive license to produce replica jerseys for all 29 teams (Nike and Starter could not create replicas for their teams, just expensive authentics….Nike eventually created the cheaper Swingman because fans weren’t buying the $150+ authentics and Swingmans weren’t considered replicas since they were still stitched and not screen printed). BUT, Champion could only produce authentic jerseys for their 10 teams starting in 1997-1998. The New York Knicks were outfitted by Starter under the new licensing deal. Starting in 1997-1998 season, any authentic Knicks jerseys would have been made by Starter (when Starter went bankrupt, Puma took over the Knicks starting in the 1999-2000 season and then Reebok took over in 2001-2002 when they started easing in to their licensing deal).
3) All authentic Champion jerseys from 1991-1992 through 1999-2000 were made in the USA. Starting in 2000-2001 Champion began producing their authentics overseas in countries like Korea. So even if this was a 1996-1997 Allan Houston authentic Knicks jersey produced prior to Champion losing the license to Starter in 1997-1998, it would be a fake since it’s made in Korea and not the USA
4) Finally, Champion Europe was able to produce authentics from 1991-1992 through 2009-2010 for distribution in Europe and the Middle East. BUT, they really didn’t make many authentics and when they did, they had European tagging. The Champion Europe collar label and jock tag do not look like those in the US, and for sizing Europe Champion uses S, M, L, XL and not numeric sizing like 36, 40, 44, 48. So if your jersey has US tagging, that rules out it being a European jersey and definitely makes it a fake.
This information has been invaluable to me as a Champion jersey collector so thanks for posting it. I recently added a Sherman Douglas jersey to my collection…and I think it was actually yours! I came here to compare what I purchased with what you had listed to make sure that it was from the 1991-92 season and there is a distinct marking on the jersey and an identical one in your photo! I purchased it on eBay from an Australian basketball jersey store. What are the odds!?
Thanks for checking out the site. I love connecting with fellow collectors…its a big community and that’s what this site is for. Keep checking back because when I have time (which isn’t often) I do actually update it and get around to answer comments and questions. That most likely was one of my jerseys. I believe it was Basketball Jersey World in Australia that used to buy a lot of jerseys off me back in the day. In fact, I shipped more jerseys internationally than I did here in the states. I traveled to England back in 2002 and was at an Urban Outfitters there that had Champion jerseys in their vintage section (I actually purchased a Horace Grant Bulls jersey because it was so random to me they would have that jersey). They were becoming popular there again, and that’s what got me back into collecting and selling. They were all over Ebay here in the US because parent’s were cleaning out their kids closets and selling them for cheap…there was no market or demand for them here. They started becoming popular here again around 2008, but right now the demand is through the roof.
Hi i just picked up a mj white jersey, made in poland. The numbers and name are dyed not screen printed. Any ideas on this?
That would be a Champion Europe jersey (I’m assuming the size tag has a letter size like S, M, L, XL instead of numerical). In that case, the letters and numbers would be dye sublimation rather than screen print. So it’s legit, just a Champion Europe jersey rather than one made here in the states
Great site! Been collecting for a while, but had to curb the obsession by collecting only irrelevant centers, which Champion strangely produced a lot of considering how terrible many of the players were. Any clue whether Champion made a Mark Eaton Utah jersey? He was the starting center through 1993, but I’ve never seen his jersey floating around. Definitely a white whale of Centers for me.
Thanks for checking out the site! Haha…I actually started out collecting centers like Laimbeer, Sabonis, Seikaly, Smits and one of my favorites, Bill Wennington. So yes, I have definitely looked for Mark Eaton as well and I hate to report that Champion never issued his jersey to my knowledge. They had two seasons to do it since Eaton retired after the 1992-1993 season (Champion made replicas starting in 1991-1992), but I don’t think they did. In fact, one that really blows my mind is Bill Cartwright. He played two seasons longer than Eaton and won three championships with the Bulls but I have never seen a Cartwright jersey….that is currently the unicorn I’m chasing.
This post, and your site in general, is fantastic. Thanks for putting all of this together. I’m a novice collector and I’ve learned a lot from you.
Hey have you ever tried to make a list of all the champion jerseys made for the NBA (+ Space Jam + Olympics)?
I have a huge collection as well and just stumbled on your site.
I’m guessing we could collaborate and make something cool.
James.
Thanks for checking out the site! Eventually once I finally get the team galleries done, I’ll be working on the “Special Issue” gallery which will include all of the categories below, including Space Jam. I have the complete list ready to roll with photos for everything, but just need to do the editing and touchups to get them gallery-ready. Definitely would love for you to check out galleries I have posted to see if you have something I’m missing. Eventually I want to have people send in photos of their collections too and feature them in blog posts.
-1992 Olympics Dream Team I
-1994 World Championships Dream Team II
-1996 Olympics Dream Team III
-2000 Olympics
-1996-1997 NBA @ 50 (Classic Jerseys and Retro Jerseys)
-All-Star jerseys (1994, 1995 and 1996)
-1998 “Champion’s Gold” series
-Reversibles
– Space Jam (Jordan, Tweety, Bugs, Sylvester, Taz, Lola
Hi, thank you for taking the tine to write up such an informative and scholarly piece on Champion NBA jersey jock tags.
The content on the site is looking great and more and more extensive, I enjoy your articles but especially the team galleries you update from time to time.
As an eBay seller, I often refer people to your site to verify the authenticity of what I’m selling and consider this the definitive site for information about NBA jerseys, period.
I’ll keep checking in and thanks again for providing the best online resource for all Champion Jersey collectors.
Sunny
Thanks for checking out my site! I’ll be adding more content soon about verifying authenticity and will continue to update the team galleries until I have every single team listed, and every single jersey ever made. I bought and sold Champion jerseys Ebay for years on Ebay and that’s why I started this site. There are so many collectors out there that I want to unite and create a community for. Keep checking back…whenever I have free time (which isn’t often) I try to keep working on it and updating
I have a jersey Larry Bird Champion jersey. All indicators point to it being a 1995-96 jersey. My only concern is that it has a green NBA logo patch. Any help would be appreciated. thanks
If the NBA logo is green and gold, and the jersey says “BOSTON” on the front and not “Celtics”, then that would be the NBA at 50 special edition Classic Larry Bird Celtics jersey produced during the 1996-1997 season. Otherwise, there shouldn’t be a green NBA logo. Hope this helps!
So I found my Jordan 23 and 45 Replica Jerseys that I bought new from a local sporting goods store in May of 1995. They are the red jerseys with tags and price tags attached. I thought I was going to become a collector back then, but lost interest after him. While I am not interested in selling them (at this point), my son wants to wear them. Is there a market for these jerseys or should I let him have fun with them??
Thank
Since they have the tags attached, I would either continue to hold onto them or sell them…do NOT wear them. The current market for Champion jerseys is probably the best it has ever been. Champion made hundreds of thousands of Jordan jerseys (more than any other player by far), but they are still collectible and when they have tags still attached, that is what sets them apart and gets you top dollar. Even if the Champion jersey trend fades, Jordan items are always collectible. So personally, I would just tuck them away. If your son wants a Jordan Champion jersey, you can easily find used jerseys in good shape on Ebay for $30. Your son can wear it all he wants and wash it and not have to worry about ruining a pristine collectible.
If you want to sell the jerseys you have, you could probably get from $70 to $100 on Ebay. People try to list Jordan jerseys with tags attached for $150 to $200 but they rarely sell at the price point. Keep in mind these prices are based on the jersey sizing…as long as your jerseys are size 40, 44 or 48 you will get top dollar. I hope this helps!
I got a red champion Jordan jersey and a black Dennis Rodman jersey size 48(both jersey). The rn numbers match both jerseys and in great condition. Wanting to sell but not sure what the value is for both.
Just go on Ebay and use the “advanced” option when doing your search and select “completed items”. That will allow you to see what people are paying for jerseys. Size 44 jerseys are the most popular and thus usually go for a bit more money. Size 36 and 52 are outliers and go for significantly less than size 40, 44 and 48. There are lots of Rodman and Jordan Bulls jerseys on the market because they were the most popular team of the 90s. Champion on average sold 300,000 Jordan jerseys annually when he was playing, and when Rodman joined the Bulls from the Spurs his popularity skyrocketed and so did the number of jerseys Champion produced with his name. Each jersey is worth between $35 and $50
Is the Scottie Pippen Gold Logo jersey with the cursive “Chicago” a real jersey
It’s a real replica jersey that Champion produced as part of the NBA at 50 collection during the 1996-1997 season (go to the Special Edition section and check out the “NBA at 50” gallery). BUT, to my knowledge Pippen and the Bulls never wore these throwback jerseys during the 1996-1997 season (the Knicks, Celtics, Bullets, Pistons, Raptors, Warriors, Sixers and Lakers all wore throwback jerseys during the 1996-1997 season for select games).
I just bought a red Jordan #45 Champion jersey the width is right but the length seems a little short for a sz 44 compared to my other 44s. Did that jersey run smaller?
Not sure, but there are variations in sizes. It would make sense that the #45 Jordan jersey might have some sizing issues given the pace at which Champion ramped up production on those during his return. Jordan officially returned on Sunday March 19, 1995 but Champion didn’t know what number he would be wearing when he stepped on the court. By Tuesday March 21, Champion was operating three shifts (around the clock) entirely to producing Jordan #45 jerseys…they dedicated their entire NBA production to making Jordan jerseys. The initial demand from retailers was 20,000 dozen jerseys (240,000).
Hey, I am a fellow collector and use your blog very often. Really awesome. As I am from Germany, I’m interested in a post about the european jock tags. Do you do a post on that? I have a couple of Jock Tags with the Size S,M,L in red colour. Would be cool if you do one 😉
Thanks for checking out the site! I’ll eventually get to European jerseys and do a post. As you can see, I have about a month out of the year to actually work on this site outside my normal day job. So at the moment just trying to get all the team galleries up.
@Florian Did you find out if the red sizing on Europe replicas were authentic or fake? Cheers
Hey! I currently opening up a pop store for vintage sports gear. Champion Jerseys are the main the course. My question is that I come across some NBA jerseys that don’t have the size tags. Are these fakes or just damaged goods?
They are legit. Kids used to remove the jock tags. Damaged goods (which would have been sold at Champion outlet stores) would have the jock tags cut or marked with black sharpie (which might also have prompted kids to remove the tags). Having the jock tag makes the jersey a bit more valuable because it just helps confirm sizing for people and obviously makes it a “complete” jersey
Hello I would like to email you pics. I have a shaq and kemp dream team 2 procut. I’ve done mad research even photomatched on Getty. I’ve been recently told it was fake simply because the body length was in black ink and not in purple. I find it to not make sense for anybody to bootleg a jersey size that’s not common esp for a team that wasn’t popular.
When it comes to authentics and pro cuts, most of the merchandise out there is counterfeit. In the early 2000s when Mitchell and Ness starting blowing up, the company estimated that 90% of merchandise on Ebay was counterfeit. I would have to see the jock tags to confirm, but the ink on the jock tag shouldn’t be black…it should be blue. And it should say “Made in USA” on the jock tag on the last line, just before the RN #.
Your blog is super helpful, really love what you’re doing. I just bought a Magic jersey off Craigslist, and according to your info it’s from 95-96, but I’m still unsure if it’s legit because of the stitching. The two stitch lines around the armpit area both land on the white fabric. The stitch lines around the neck are different–top one lands in purple fabric, bottom one in white. My explanation may be a bit confusing, but let me know if you have any input. I’d appreciate it.
Not sure if I follow. But if it’s a replica jersey (and not sewn/authentic) you have nothing to worry about. It’s very difficult to counterfeit the replicas and not financially lucrative to do so.
Who are those 50 players with gold sewn nba logo in their jerseys?
Check out the new “NBA at 50” gallery in the Special Edition section. I’ll be dedicating some upcoming blog posts to this collection as well
I have a bulls ton harper screen print jersey and it says Costa Rica on it, instead of Mexico or USA. Is it legit?
It’s legit. A majority of the black/alternate Bulls jerseys in 1995-1996 and 1996-1997 had the Costa Rica tag. I have also seen some 76ers black 1997-1998 jerseys with the Costa Rica tag.
Sorry for replyi g to an old thread. What about the ones with collar tags that say Costa Rica of US? This is from a Black Jordan champion replica
It’s legit. A majority of the black/alternate Bulls jerseys in 1995-1996 and 1996-1997 had the Costa Rica tag. I have also seen some 76ers black 1997-1998 jerseys with the Costa Rica tag.
Hey I just bought a Kevin Garnett Boston celtics jersey off of eBay and was wondering if it was real or not. The tags say large instead of 44. Any help would be appreciated.
Since Garnett joined the Celtics in 2007-2008 you have purchased a Champion Europe jersey. Champion stopped producing replica NBA jerseys after the conclusion of the 2001-2002 season. But Champion Europe retained the NBA license through 2009-2010, at which point Adidas took over and Champion was officially done producing NBA jerseys. If the jock tag says “L” and doesn’t have a numerical size, that means it’s a Champion Europe jersey. Are the graphics heat-transfer/rubbery (USA) or are they dye-sublminvation/part of the fabric (EUROPE)? Is the fabric nylon mesh (USA) or polyester (EUROPE)? That will help you identify as well.
I have purchased a couple of dream team jerseys recently. Reading this thread, I am now curious about the authenticity of my jerseys. Did champion make the 1992 Team USA jerseys in 91/92 and 92/93? I have a Jordan jersey where the jock tag has the 100% nylon tag and a Magic Johnson jersey that does not.
Yes, due to the popularity and success of the Dream Team, jerseys were made before and after the 1992 Olympics for retail. The jerseys that have the 100% nylon tag sewn next to the size jock tag are definitely more scarce, as those are from initial runs prior to the 1992 games.
Hi I have a question as to the authenticity of a jersey I sold recently. A buyer claims it’s fake and I just want to make sure. It’s a Champion Washington Wizards white michael jordan jersey. Tag says made in korea. I have photos I can send you if you’re willing to help me. Thank you!
Assuming its a replica, it should be legit. Almost all Jordan Wizards jerseys (both home and road jerseys) from 2001-2002 season were made in Korea. Most Jordan Wizards jerseys that were sold were vest-style and made in Korea. In fact, the only vest-style Wizards jerseys produced were Jordan jerseys. But there was an initial run of Jordan tank-top style jerseys produced (road jersey only) for 2001-2002 season (along with Kwame Brown). These are very hard to find and were made in Mexico.
Awesome thread. Thanks for all the great info. Was hoping you could clear something up for me. Is there any difference between most champion stitched authentic jerseys and the ones that have two jock tags? Thanks in advance
Authentic jerseys with only the size jock tag were sold at the retail level, and are what we refer to as Champion Authentic Jerseys. They were limited to select players (stars or “premier” players). Those that have two jock tags (dual-tag) are Procut jerseys and are manufactured to the exact specifications of what was worn on the court. Procut jerseys were sold through very select distributors who had a special license/account, and for that reason I don’t really study or collect Procut jerseys because counterfeiting is rampant. OVERTIME Prowear in Huntingdon Beach, CA was the main distributor of Procuts and advertised in sports cards catalogs back in the mid-90s (consequently in 1999 the owner of OVERIME Prowear as charged with selling counterfeit autographed items). Supposedly you could only order Procut jerseys in the exact size (+ body length) that the player wore on the court. So for instance, if you see a Shawn Bradley Procut jersey that is a size 42 with no body length, that should be counterfeit (since Bradley was 7’6 a size 42 without extra body length would be a tube top on him). For at least one season (1996) you could choose whichever player you liked assuming they were active for that season, and then it became limited to superstars (mainly Jordan). Replica jerseys retailed for about $39.99, Authentics for $99.99. Procut jerseys sold for $349
Hi there first of all great reading your blog! Well done, I bought a Charles Barkley suns jersey it looks great and legit just until I’ve red this article my collar label that’s on the left side hemline is exactly like the one you showed on picture appart from mine doesnt say “made in USA” and “RN 26094” at the bottom. Doesn’t that mean mine is fake? Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
PS:it does say “made in USA” and “RN 26094” on the jock tag but not on the collar label..
Hi! A bit late on this post. I have collected couple champion jerseys and today I came across an european version of Shaqs jersey on lakers. The size tagging on the front look authentic but the tag on the neck looks different compared to these pictures? And the jersey is made in Italy? If someone can help me on this please do…the neck tag is completely white and has the size (M) and something written in italy. The big tag on the bottom right side of the shirt has been sown from all of the 4 sides of the tag?
Hai Sir.. I wanna ask, I have a Dream Team I Champion Jersey, Karl Malone, but the Jog Tag Size is “O”. Is is a legit Champion Jersey or not? Thanks sir..
I would have to see it, but sounds like a misprint or at worst counterfeit. But counterfeiting replica jerseys is pretty much unheard of.
Hello I was wondering why some names are lower then others ( on the back ) for example I have 2 grant hill piston jerseys and 1 is lower then the other …. is that some kind of misprint or is it fake or ?… please help thanks
It’s just an alignment issue. These are screenprint/heat press so just depends on whoever was working the presses during a particular run. It’s pretty much unheard of that a replica jersey would be faked
If the last name and number on the back of the jersey is lower than usual is it legit ?
It’s legit. Sometimes when players have longer names everything was bumped down sine it couldn’t fit between the shoulder blades. Other times it was just the person running the presses that might not have aligned things properly.
Thank you, Sir, for your taking the time and sharing all of these information. It is greatly appreciated! I would just like to ask if you have managed to do that post about Champion European release? I bought this Pierce white Celtics jersey, and based on other photos I’ve seen of European releases, its jock tag is a bit different, so I’m wondering if there are even fake European versions? My Pierce’s jock tag has no “U.S.A” under Champion, and the letter “L” is slightly thinner than the ones with “USA”, but the tag on the interior side hemline, although faded, I can still see a bit of the “Champion” and made for Europe. I hope I described it clearly hehe. I could post a photo here if I knew how. Anyway, thanks again! 🙂
Hello!
I’m from The Netherlands (Europe).
And we have a sort of Ebay here in our country.
Sometimes i see some old nba jerseys with Champion tags on it.
But it still hard to say if they are original.
Because i don’t see the things to look out for like you discribe here on the website.
Mostly the collar labels are way different then i see here on this page.
Is there a way i can email you some photo’s?
Greets,
Mel
That makes sense since you are in the Netherlands. You are most likely coming across Champion Europe jerseys, which are different from the jerseys that were manufactured for retail in the US. If the size jock tags don’t have numerical sizing but rather “S, M, L, XL” then it’s a Champion Europe jersey. The neck tags came in various designs and sewn inside the hem-line was a tag that read “Designed and Marketed by Champion Europe”.
Hello, I am thinking of purchasing a Sewn Authentic Champion Michael Jordan Home (white) jersey but have never seen these authentic home jerseys by champion before. It says bulls on front and tag says made in usa. Is this a fake?
To my knowledge Champion did not produce an Authentic Home (white) Jordan Bulls jersey at the retail level. Retail authentic jerseys just have the size jock tag (they are not dual-tagged like pro-cut jerseys). They produced Jordan road jerseys and the black alternate pinstripe jersey. But I imagine Pro-cut Jordan Home Bulls jerseys were available through select distributors that had the license/accounts to order Pro-cut jerseys, and there might be some legit Jordan home Pro-cut jerseys floating around. But I don’t really get into Pro-Cut jerseys because off all the counterfeiting. If the size jock tag doesn’t say “Made In USA”, it’s a definite fake (neck tag would say the same). And a lot of times you can just compare jock tags to jerseys you know are legit and easily see discrepancies in fonts, text, trademarks, etc. If you had photos I could easily tell. But I would not buy the jersey because chances are very likely it is a fake
Hi. Love your site! I have a bunch of 90’s Champion replicas I absolutely love (I think Bullets Tom Gugliotta being my favourite!).
I have a question regarding a blank jersey that has a “Designed exclusively for the athletes of the NBA” and a red square with the NBA logo and “Authentics” written over it. I did happen to see you cover that particular tag, but I’m wondering if it’s rare at all (the fact that it has the tag and/or that it’s a blank jersey).
Thanks and keep up the good work!
Thanks for checking out the site! The tag you are referring to is the additional tag that Champion added to the left of the jock tag on all authentic jerseys starting in the 1998-1999 season. During that season they were only producing authentics for 10 teams (Atlanta, Indiana, Los Angeles Clippers, New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle, Utah and Vancouver). So you’ll only see that tag on authentic jerseys for those teams
Did champion ever make double jock tag jerseys ?
They did not produce dual tag jerseys for retail. Dual tag jerseys are Pro-Cut jerseys, which are made to the exact specs of what the player wears on the court. In fact, real Pro-Cut jerseys should only be in the size the player actually wore on the court. So a real Pro-Cut Jordan jersey would be a size 46. Champion only produced Authentic jerseys for retail, which weren’t dual tagged and were in the same sizes of the replica jerseys (40, 44, 48 and 52….they did not make any authentics in size 36).
But, there were some distributors during the 1990s who had a license to sell dual tag jerseys (you can find them in mid 90s sports trading card companies…Overtime Prowear in Huntington Beach was the big distributor of Pro Cuts). They basically got extra blank jerseys not used by the teams and letter kits, and would offer the Pro Cuts of any player. Pro-Cuts were often used by autograph companies (like Upper Deck at the time) for players to sign….so it was that excess stock that made its way to the streets. I think that lasted about a year or two (1995 and 1996) and Champion cracked down and then you were able to only get very popular players (like Jordan). And then only lasted a year (1997) and the handful of distributors that offered Pro-Cuts went away because there was so much counterfeiting going on. The owner of Overtime Prowear owner was busted for selling fake autographed Jordan jerseys and that was a wrap on Pro Cuts. Also, people were passing off Pro-Cuts as game worn and it became a slippery slope of shadiness. I don’t touch dual tags…about 99% of the market is fake.
Hey man. Love your work. It’s been nice having info out there so that I don’t get ripped off as often. Started in my late 20’s collecting jerseys new and retro. I think I’m trying to make up for lost time now that I have a disposable income and used to be jealous of the kids whose parents could afford to get them the newest hottest jerseys way back in the day. Anyway, I recently found a couple champion Europe NBA jerseys to add to my collection. Absolutely love them over the US jerseys. Do you know any reputable sellers of these European vintage jerseys? Or just any sellers in general for any retro jerseys you recommend? Thanks man. Keep doing what you doing.
Thanks for stumbling across the site…I love connecting with fellow collectors. European jerseys are great because of the printing technology they used at the time. You actually get a true replica of what players wore on the court, versus the US versions which were very simplified designs (like the early/mid 90s Sonics, Pacers, Hawks, etc). As far as sellers for European, I’m not sure. Basketball Jersey World out of Australia used to be almost strictly Champion back 10 years ago, but they blew up and sell everything now. For sellers in the US, Mr Throwback in NYC and Rare Vintage Wear. I think Ebay is still the best bet if you know how to weed out the fakes, which isn’t hard when you are into replicas. Authentics are a whole other story.
Hi! Can you know if my jersey is fake or real? It’s 92 Olympic team USA jersey Jordan 9. Made in China. I’m thinking it’s fake…
The size says 50.
yeah, sorry, it’s fake
Hi,
congratulations for your blog. I’d like to know if (and when) you are going to write the post about the features of Champion jerseys sold in Europe. I’m sure it will be appreciated.
Just a teaser, please: do you know why some jocktags are in blue and others in red?
I have a Michael Jordan pinstripe pro cut size 52. It says made in USA at the bottom but made in China at the top. In the tag also it says “authentic appakel”. I’m starting to think it’s fake cause someone told me someone just misplaced the R but I don’t believe that. It’s look very legit but I have doubts.
Yeah, it would be fake. Also a legit pro cut wouldn’t come in size 52…it would come in Jordan’s actual size he wore (42 or 44)
Hi, can I please send you some photos of EU NBA Champion jerseys for an evaluation?
Thank you!
Regards,
Fabian
Hello, I suppose that as I expected this is a fake jersey then: https://allegro.pl/oferta/nba-champion-denver-nuggets-anthony-15-autentyk-8063825287
There is no champion logo under the nba logo in the front, the collar label is different than in any of your examples, same for the jock tag (copyright sign in the upper right corner that I see on none of your examples).
Would you mind still having a quick look and letting me know? Thanks a lot 🙂
It’s fake…mainly because Champion stopped producing jerseys after the 2001-2002 season. Carmelo’s first season was 2003-2004. Unless it’s a European jersey (which this isn’t), it’s a fake
Hi guys,
Hope you can help me…
I,m 5,11 and 188 lbs; body type (wider shoulders and chest)
I am from Croatia and I’m not that familiar with US size metric system.
I’m looking to buy a NBA champion jersey from 90’s as I’m a huge fan of 90’s NBA :).
What I’m puzzled about is size of jersey: 44 or 48.
If it helps, I’m not a fan of baggy clothes, I like them to fit as they supposed to:):)
I usually buy 42′ inch chest size apparel and it fits ok.
I’ve red that 44 equals L (large) and 48 XL (X large). But also, if understood correctly, champion jerseys from 90’s tend to be a bit ‘smaller’, therefore 44 should fit nicely.
Please, I appreciate all constructive suggestions regarding my dwell 🙂
Thanks in advance1
Best regards,
Kresimir
I’m 5’10 and 175. I wear size 40 because I don’t like baggy and they fit me nicely. I think a 44 would work for you…48 will be long and baggy. Size 44 (L) means 22″ inch chest (arm pit to arm pit). Size 48 (XL) means 24″ inch chest. Size 40 (M) means 20″ chest.
Hi there do you have more info on the all purple raptors stoudamire jersey you have in the gallery? The one with the dinosaur and non-pinstripes
The Stoudamire jersey listed is the replica jersey that Champion produced for him during his tenure with the Raptors (before he departed for the Trailblazers during the 1997-1998 season). Champion didn’t start adding pinstripes to the Raptors jerseys until the 1998-1999 season. They didn’t have the printing capability until that season to do full body graphics like pinstripes. So you’ll see a lot of replica jerseys that year become a bit more intricate and closer to what the players were on the court.
I found a replica Reeves jersey for sale online, but the jock tag was sewn all the way around. Not just on the sides as I’ve seen it. Did Champion ever do the replicas like that? Or is it likely a fake
The jock tag should be attached with just stitching on the left/right sides (not top and bottom). Could have been an error during production, and if that’s the case then the neck tag would have been cut or there would be a black marker line on the jock tag, and the jersey would have been sold at a Champion outlet store. So could be legit, just a error
Hi, great site! I’m reliving my youth so I’ve bought a few champion replica jerseys on eBay. Big fan of 90’s ball. I realized two of the jerseys (smits Pacers, O’Neal magic) have the sewn on nba logo, but they have no collar tag and the jock tag says “made in USA”… could these be fake? They actually look pretty good. I only have one left from my childhood so I don’t have much to physically compare to. From the info, it appears as if anything with the sewn on nba logo should not be made in USA except for the jordan #45… any advice is appreciated! Thanks!
Don’t worry, they are legit. My guidelines aren’t exact science. What happened is that for the 1995-1996 season Champion would have used any excess blank inventory from the 1994-1995 season. So you’ll see jerseys with sewn NBA logo and Made in USA jock tag. They are an exception to the rules
I just found this site. I will bookmark for future reference. I found an Orlando Magic Champion jersey. On part of the tag it says 1994. The number in it is “91 Devos. I know Dick Devos owned the Magic in 1991. I figure it’s a shirt for him. It doesn’t surprise me to find it since I live in his hometown. That said I don’t get what the plus numbers are on these. This one day 48+4. It’s super long. I am 5’11” and it’s like a dress to my knees. Any insight? Thanks Deb
The +4 is added length. The number 48 is the chest size (which would be 24″ from arm pit to arm pit). The length of a standard size 48 jersey would typically be about 32″. So if you have a very tall player that has a 48 chest, extra length was needed….so adding 4″ of length makes this jersey about 38″ long.
Do any sewn authentics have the chamion logo and nba logo sewn in the shoulder or do they all only have nba logo?
They should only have the NBA logo, but I have seen Reggie Miller Pacers and Glenn Robinson Bucks Authentic jerseys that also have the Champion logo, and they are legit.
Hi there, excelent post!! The most accurate one I´ve seen!
Just one question: I found a Jordan Jersey on Ebay. Is has no collar tag and jock tag indicates made in USA, meaning 94-95 or older. However, It already has the NBA logo sewn… This should be a 1995 jersey, am I right? Is this ”combination” possible?
That combo would be possible. Champion printed millions of Jordan jerseys, so they probably used up old stock blank Bulls jerseys (with USA jock tag) in 1995-1996 when printing Jordan jerseys
Hello. Great blog! I’m looking for a Shawn Kemp 1994 USA jersey. Through my searching I’ve found there’s two different versions. One has a “Dream Team II” patch and one does not. Is there a difference between these? Is one a better quality or “authentic”? Much appreciated.
I’m finally getting the 1994 USA FIBA World Championship gallery posted. You are correct, some jerseys have the “Dream Team II” patch above the Champion patch, but most do not. There is no difference in quality and they are both the same replica jerseys. But again, the majority don’t have the patch, so if it has the patch it makes it a tad more collectible and distinguishes it from the 1992 Olympic Dream jerseys, which were the same design.
Hi,
First off, I love your site. There is nothing else like it. Great work.
I would like to help with compiling a checklist/spreadsheet of sorts of all Champion jerseys ever produced. You could enhance with collector-submitted photos, as you have previously mentioned, or your own.
Would you be willing to consider adding a forum to your site? Maybe a trade or buy/sell section?
I’m a newer collector but had my Jordan Champion since Day 1 when I was a kid, like many others. I would like to be able to connect with more Champion jersey collectors and look forward to hearing back from you. Please let me know if I can help in anyway!
Thanks and have a great day,
Danny
Thanks for checking out the site. I’m in the process of finishing and updating all galleries and hope to have it all complete by end of year. At that point I will definitely have a forum where collectors can send in jerseys I’m missing, and possibly setup a section for buying/selling. I would also like to setup a section where collectors can show off their collections. Definitely keep checking back!
Have the dimensions in width and length changed a bit over the years? I got some 44 that are very tight and some that fits casual. On the other hand I have some 48 jerseys that are too big, like a 95-96 Ceballos which fits like a 52.
When Champion started introducing the vest-style jerseys (starting with the Nets in 1997-1998), the sizing definitely became a bit bigger as the cuts were different. The chest sizes should stay consistent on the tank-style jerseys, but the lengths fluctuate a tad…baggy jerseys became popular in the late 90s/early 2000s with Mitchell & Ness. But I’ve also owned some early 90s jerseys (like Clippers Bo Kimble) that were size 44 but fit like a 48. I think it might haver been mis-tagged
Hi, love the site loads of valuable information it’s amazing.
I’m new to basketball jerseys….
I have seen a Boston Celtics jersey and can’t find information anywhere about it. It’s a Champion, sewn NBA and Champion logo, made in USA and size 42 on the tag. The Celtics/Bird/33 look like a transfer style. The jersey itself has a White top half and green bottom half… Faded into one another. Also small arrowhead pattern. Just wanted to know what was behind the colour scheme really, special edition? Many thanks for any help in advance.
I would have to see the jersey, but sounds like a counterfeit or custom jersey. Doesn’t fit any description of a jersey I’m familiar with
Love reading about everyone’s collection! I have a question about one of mine. I have an authentic Jordan all star jersey from the 92 game. It has the nba logo on top no champion logo. All the numbers and letters are sewn on and the Star is dyed into the fabric. It has the 44 jock tag. The bottom has the slits also. My biggest question is if it’s legit. I have only seen one other like it online. Any idea?
A bunch of these came out of Asia around 2008 or so and flooded Ebay for a few weeks. I actually bought one myself. In addition to Jordan they also had Barkley, Rodman and I believe Bird. They were fakes but pretty good. There is a slim chance that your could be semi-legit if someone got a hold of deadstock game issued 1992 All Star blanks and customized them. But Champion wasn’t making pro-cuts in 1992
Great site! I found a black Timberwolves KG#21 jserseyin size XL for kid, with the jock tag and collar label in French. The jersey also has the trees on the collar. Is the existence of european jerseys with tags in French real? Best regards!
Yes, that is a European jersey. The fabric should be more matte than the shiny/smooth nylon of the American versions. The graphics should also be sublimated into the fabric and not heat pressed. And yes, the level of detail on trim and side panels is more true to what the players were on the court. The US replicas were always pretty bad when it came to replicating what the players actually wore on the court.
Hey, thanks for the info! I tried to find my answer between it but i had a hard time. Maybe you can enlighten me anyway.
I just bought a Raps Stoudamire with the stripes. The tag in the neck only says Champion U.S.A. and underneath the size. I couldn’t find that tag on the top of this page and i was wondering if it is bad news.
Cheers!
Got a blue Jordan Team USA Champion Authentic. Has one jock tag. Has the size as “M”, no numerical size. Made in Korea. RN28034
Sorry, that’s a fake. Champion never produced Authentic Dream Team jerseys for retail, only for Upper Deck authenticated autographs. And even if they did it would be made in USA and have numerical sizing (40 not M)
Hi,
Great site. I noticed there are 2 versions of the Raptors Vince Carter Rookie jersey, one with no pinstripes and one with pinstripes. I am assuming the non- pinstripe was the rare one and made prior to the pinstripe one? The Number Font and Name on Back are very different compared to the newer pinstripe ones and closer to the Stoudamires and 95-97 players, any information on this would be appreciated. I have only seen a handful of this non-pinstripe version. Thanks
Correct, the pinstripe version wasn’t released until 1998-1999 (by that time Champion had printing capability that allowed them to screen print on most of the jersey and weren’t limited to a set platen size). Carter’s rookie season was 1998-1999, which theoretically means his jersey should only exist in pinstripe. But Champion did a production run shortly after the draft prior to start of 1998-1999 season when the pinstripe uniforms were introduce, thus you have the Carter non-pinstripe version which is very rare.
This page is really helpful. Question here sir, I have a Detroit pistons teal jersey that has made in USA jocktag and collar label which you say used from 92-95. Detroit started wearing the teal jersey 96-97. Is there any chance this is some of the jersey produced between 1995-1996 and 2001-2002 that have the larger blue collar label with “Made in USA” printed on it. Or i got a fake one. Thanks!
Often times when a team switched to a new jersey style/design, Champion produced at least the first run of those jerseys in the US
Hi from London! Love your blog, cheers. I have a few Champion jerseys in my collection and I just received a beautiful Karl Malone Jazz jersey from I assume 95/96. The odd thing is that the jock-tag still says “Made in USA”, but it has the tiny white label inside the neck that you have photographed above (95-96) that says “Assembled in Mexico of US Components”. I try to collect the “Made In USA” jerseys where possible (mainly so that I have an excuse to not buy too many!) and I have never seen one with an inside neck label before. I’m pretty sure the jersey is genuine judging by the look/feel/labelling etc, so could it be that this one made a crossover error on the jock tag? Or maybe the jock tag has been replaced at some point? The jersey is in great condition and nothing looks strange about it to me.
Love your work, cheers!
I have a Celtics #4, no name, meets all 91-92, sewn on tag outside left bottom says XL made in USA, has tag on inside left nylon , and has iron on top left. Just curious if you know if it’s worth anything. Thanks for all your help. Posting was very informative and easy to understand.
Sounds like you have a practice jersey since size is XL and not numerical 48, and since there is no name on back. Usually these were sold blank, but someone must have customized it (unless it’s was player issued/used in practice). The practice jerseys are actually somewhat rare and have become a bit more collectible.