Jersey estimated to sell for $100K
An auction house believes an autographed, game-used Johnny Manziel jersey it is selling will set the record for the highest price ever paid for a college football jersey.
SCP Auctions announced on Monday that it has obtained the Texas A&M jersey that Johnny Manziel wore for all six of his home games at Kyle Field during his 2012 Heisman season.
"This is his only game-used jersey from his college career that has come to market," said Dan Imler, vice president of the company. Imler said that given the interest around Manziel, the auction house estimates a winning bid of about $100,000.
"It has been a long time since we've seen a player as polarizing as Johnny Football," Imler said. "He has got an electrifying personality and everyone is either rooting for or against him."
Imler said not only does he expect well-heeled Aggies fans to bid, but also collectors who want to buy the best and the most interesting items that make it into the hands of the public.
Imler would not say who consigned the item, but said that the auction house has fully vetted the uniform's source and his ownership of the jersey. SCP Auctions also says it has photomatched the jersey with very specific tailoring repairs and wear that can be seen on both photos and on the jersey itself.
Manziel autographed the back of the jersey in metallic silver pen with his stats from his Heisman-winning season.
The auction will take place online from Aug. 6 through Aug. 23, but the jersey will be on display at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland this week.
This jersey was originally posted on eBay in May with the seller hoping to get $300,000. Last year, a lot that included a pair of cleats that Manziel wore for his iconic win over Alabama during his Heisman season and a jersey he wore on the sidelines for the 2011 season sold at auction for $7,760.
Imler said he believes the record for the highest price paid for a game-used college football jersey was a Notre Dame Paul Hornung jersey, which sold for around $27,000.
