This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/8/2018
Offered is a New Orleans Saints road jersey dating to Hall of Fame fullback Jim Taylor's final season with the New Orleans Saints in 1967. Results of the MEARS examination are as follows...
Style: White durene pull over, ¾ length sleeves, ribbed crew collar, and straight cut tail. Each sleeve has a black/gold/black/gold/black stripe pattern with ribbed cuffed opening. The number “31” appears on the front, reverse, and shoulders in black on gold double tackle twill. The style is correct for the era as verified by period images.
Manufacturer (Southland): The style of the Southland tag is consistent with the 1967 season as verified by the Official MEARS Tagging Database. Further research provided by an online forum noted that the assistant equipment manager of the Cowboys was employed by the Saints during the 1967 season and purchased Southland jerseys for the Saints inaugural season, the same supplier as the Dallas Cowboys. Southland as the correct supplier of Saints shirts for the 1967 is also supported by:
(1967) Bruce Cortez #47 Road (Southland)
Number #31: Per the book, Uniform Numbers of the NFL, the New Orleans Saints only issued the number 31 twice. Jimmy Taylor wore in it 1967, and Richard Newsome in 2001. Thus, this supports #31 being worn by Jimmy Taylor during the 1967 season.
Size 48: Tagged size 48, this size is one larger than the two other examples which have entered the hobby:
1959-60 (Wilson) Size 46
1966 (Red Fox) Size 46
As a size 48, being one size larger than the two previous examined Packers shirts and supplied by a different supplier, Southland, MEARS feels this does not disqualify the shirt for consideration for being worn by Jim Taylor during the 1967 season.
Game Wear: Shirt exhibits solid, heavy, even game wear. The numerals show signs of puckering and fraying to the outer anchor stitching. Very light staining on the right front. Some damage to the Southland tag in collar. Examination with a light table revealed all numbering to be original to the shirt with no visible signs of alterations.
Final Grade (MEARS A9.5): Based on a review of the 5 categories of evaluation on the Official MEARS Grading Worksheet, MEARS deducted ½ point for the tear of the collar tag. Although the stain was present on the shirt, it appears to have been consistent with game wear and does not detract from the shirt so no points were deducted. (16R0271)
LOA Troy Kinunen / MEARS