Since 1996, the attraction of owning small pieces of game used materials, imbedded in trading cards, has become one of the most important innovations in the history of modern trading cards. However, the market for game used cards has become softer than ever before, mostly due to over production and lack of creative uses. However, one thing that has always surprised me is how little card collectors care about the actual game used items themselves. Its even gotten to the point where the cost of a high end card can cost more than the whole jersey. Shocking.

Regardless – here are some game used pieces worth checking out:

Derek Jeter Signed and Game Used Jersey

Brett Favre Signed and Game Used Jersey With Inscriptions

Kobe Bryant Game Used and Signed Full Uniform

Ichiro Suzuki Game Used Mariners Jersey

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to buy my first piece of Adrian Peterson game used memorabilia, and having these items are much more fulfilling than I ever expected. Since the beginning of my collecting days, I have always thought of these purchases as unreachable, mainly due to price, but its just about finding the right opportunity to buy.

Ebay has become the premiere collectables store in the world, and has been for many years. The issue is that any time something has value, there will be people who want to take advantage of that situation. Game used items are often faked, mostly by nefarious criminals looking to cash in on unsuspecting people. Because sales on eBay are not done face to face, it presents an incredible opportunity to sell items that are not even remotely real. With such a wide audience that shops on eBay, many users dont have the experience necessary to determine a game used item from a non-game used fake.

The same goes for autographs, as more fake autographs are sold on eBay than real ones it seems. However, if you have a connection to a player, the top of your list should have a game used something on it with a bullet. Why own a one inch by one inch swatch of a jersey, when you can own the whole thing, right?

Topps recently offered redemptions for full sized game used items in 2012 Allen and Ginter baseball, but they didnt generate the kind of buzz I expected them to. This was a similar situation for player worn and signed jerseys that were offered in 2011 Five Star football. Collecting cards and collecting game used are just two different industries, I guess. I dont think the sample of people who collect game used items is small, however. When at the National Convention in Chicago last year, it became apparent that card companies are not the only ones who love game used memorabilia. In fact, many auction houses search out game used items for this reason alone – the older the better. This practice is not without controversy, as authenticity can be 100% subjective in a lot of cases.

Yeah, I know. Not everyone can fork over thousands for a purchase of a game used jersey of a popular player – myself included. That doesnt mean there isnt some piece of connected gear one CAN afford.