Does this look "real" to you?

[AndrewPF]

Gentlemen.

I've wanted an Astros rainbow guts jersey for a long time, but I'm broke as hell. I found one on eBay for $10 with free shipping from Texas. The font looks accurate but it seems too good to be true.

I'm wondering if I should just take it because it looks real enough, but I wanted to consult with some experts first.

Thanks.

[The Mojo Maniac]

From the pics you posted, it looks legit. That alone is usually not enough evidence to go by, though.

But legit or not, I would just like to say that this is a gorgeous jersey and a great piece of history, and it's a shame that it has been very much beleaguered by fans and players alike for so long.

[AndrewPF]

I think so too, I've always loved it myself.

[sorcerer77]

Gentlemen.

I've wanted an Astros rainbow guts jersey for a long time, but I'm broke as hell. I found one on eBay for $10 with free shipping from Texas. The font looks accurate but it seems too good to be true.

I'm wondering if I should just take it because it looks real enough, but I wanted to consult with some experts first.

Thanks.

Andrew, I've bought some jerseys on ebay myself, and you can find good bargains. I think you have to determine in your own mind about how real or authentic a jersey is in terms of either wearing it or having it framed. Some replicas are close enough to the real thing to almost pass for authentic. The Ryan jersey looks sharp to me on first look, despite not having any tags. You will need to check to confirm it's not a "second", or has a minor manufacturing defect. I'm not an expert on the Astros uniforms, and that is a complex design, so it's possible a color is off. Check a color photo of Ryan wearing that jersey to confirm the colors and size of the striping for authenticity. Also, check the ebay sellers rating, a rating near 100% with hundreds or more sales is a good sign. A newer seller could easily have under a hundred sales, but they shouldn't be discounted. I would also check the reviews of the seller regarding past jersey sales.

The last thing I would say is to be patient, and if you have severe limitations on how high you can go, don't overextend yourself. Nolan Ryan is a popular former player, and it seems reasonable there will more opportunities in the future for other jerseys of that style. Good luck.

[AndrewPF]

The seller's got a high rating, and upon further looks, the striping is ever so slightly varied from the authentic, but I think only people like us would notice. Sorcerer, thank you so much for your lengthy and detailed response.

[HighCheese]

here's a real one

main difference is amount of stripes

[zpqmaowl]

Everything always needs more stripes.

[AndrewPF]

This is true. I've thought about it, and concluded that almost nobody but a Creamerite would know the difference, and it looks real enough. For $10 I think I have to have it in spite of that one flaw.

[HighCheese]

yeah i didnt even notice until i looked it up

the only thing that stood out to me was the name so far from the number. but normal people probably have no idea

[sc49erfan15]

Nowhere near the correct striping pattern and a thick white stitching on the numbers instead of a layer of twill. 100% fake.

[AndrewPF]

Well I thought the one in the OP was buy-it-now, but it was an auction with 6 days left, and the price went up, so i just bit the bullet and went for a real one (still a good deal but not quite $10).

Thanks anyway for all your input.

[AndrewPF]

Glad I got the real one. Tags are all correct and it looks great!

[Pizzaman7294]

how much did you end up paying for that one, if you mind me asking

[AndrewPF]

$40+shipping. Not quite a deal as $10 but still not bad for such a nice shirt.