Jerseys
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© Jeff Obermeyer 2000-2009
Game-worn jerseys have always been one of my favorite collectibles. You can’t get much closer to the game than the jersey a player actually wore in competition. Judging by the number of hits this page gets compared to the rest of the site, I’m obviously not alone in my interest.
Prior to 1996, game-worn jerseys could only be obtained on the secondary market or, in the case of the Thunderbirds, by buying raffle tickets that were sold at each home game with the hope of winning the nightly drawing and walking out with whatever sweater they made available that night. Beginning in 1996, however, the Thunderbirds began offering game worn jerseys for sale directly to fans, who for $300 could select their favorite player.
The increased demand for jerseys also led to some “unique” designs, worn for one game only and then auctioned off to the highest bidder. Prices have remained strong in Seattle over the years, with the one or two unique styles auctioned each year ranging in average price from about $400 to close to $1,000. Even game-issued jerseys in these designs routinely sell at auction for hundreds of dollars (buyer beware - the game-issued jerseys are identical to the game-worn jerseys, so I suggest checking the rosters on the WHL website to see if the player actually appeared in the game).
Seattle jerseys from prior to 1996 are difficult to find. Totems jerseys in particular are in high demand, and few are seen offered for sale. Over the past 10 years or so I have seen or come across auctions for less than a dozen examples. However, a few years ago an Ironmen jersey surfaced at an auction - so they are out there.
Below are some examples from my collection of the various jersey types and styles worn over the years.
This circa 1958-63 style jersey manufactured by Athletic Supply was worn by one of the all-time Totem greats, defenseman Gordie Sinclair. It can be attributed to Sinclair as he was with the Totems during the entire period this style was in use, and he was the only man to wear number “3”.
The jersey shows heavy wear, most notably that the sleeves have been cut off about half way between the shoulder and elbow. It was part of a hand-me-down to a local group of youth players and used for practice. Fortunately the stars-and-stripes sleeve patch was retained by the recipient, and I still have it as well.
This circa 1963-66 jersey by Sand Knit was also a hand-me-down, with a group of these given to a local amateur team that had a connection who worked for the Totems. They were intended for use as practice jerseys, and according to the previous owner that’s exactly what his teammates did with them. Luckily the recipient of this #10 jersey opted to not wear his and kept it in a dresser drawer for the next 30+ years.
Bob Sabourin or Earl Heiskala likely wore this jersey, as both wore the #10 during this era.
This circa 1967-75 jersey by Athletic Supply is difficult to attribute to a specific player due to the length of time the style was in service as well as the number of players who wore #2 - Larry Hale, Ken Rodgers, Dwight Carruthers, Bob Ash, Larry Cahan, Larry McNabb, or Larry McIntyre are all possible candidates.
Based on my personal experience, this is the most “common” style of Totems jersey that comes on the market. Of those I have seen, all except one have been green (the other was white).
1984 Training Camp Practice Jersey
1979-81 Mike Mesic
NNOB
1983-85 Style
NNOB
Jersey by Cooper
1983-85 Craig Endean
Jersey by Cooper
1982-83 Style
Jersey by Cooper
1987-88 Darcy Simon
Jersey by Cooper
1992-93 Brendan Witt
Memorial Cup Patch
Jersey by CCM
1992-94 Tyler Quiring
Jersey by CCM
1996-97 Patrick Marleau
Jersey by CCM
**First year team sold jerseys
1994-97 Paul Ferone
Jersey by CCM
2000 Brennan Evans
St. Patrick’s Day
First Ever Jersey Auction
Jersey by Bauer
2001 Eric Benke
St. Valentine’s Day
Jersey by Bauer
2006 Scott Jackson
St. Patrick’s Day
First TBirds jersey w/tie down
Jersey by CCM
2002 Mark Lindsay
President’s Day
Jersey by Nike
2002 Marc Desloges
Halloween
Jersey by Nike
(no longer owned)
2005 Jeremy Schappert
Halloween
Jersey by K1
2000 Greg Black
70’s Night
2007 Sena Acolatse
Totems Turn Back the Clock
2008 Riku Helenius
Breakers Turn Back the Clock
2002 Steven Goertzen
25th Anniversary
Saturday Alternate
1999-2000 Oleg Saprykin
Saturday Alternate
2006-07 Kyle Pess
Saturday Alternate
2001 Nate Thompson
Halloween Warm-Up
2002 Matt Spiller
Winter Warm-Up
2008 Game Issued
Totems Turn Back the Clock
2001 Tomas Mojzis
Christmas Warm-Up
2001 Brooks Laich
Thanksgiving Warm-Up
