This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/1/2002.
Football fans suffered a truly devastating loss when Barry Sanders walked away from the game in the prime of his career, retiring abruptly prior to the 1999 season. While playing, Sanders racked up 15,269 rushing yards to rank third all-time. Offered here is a Barry Sanders Detroit Lions home mesh jersey from the 1995 season, when he rushed for 1500 yards and 11 touchdowns. Outside the neck of the jersey is the "NFL" embroidered patch, which has been cut to increase the neck size of the jersey. On the left front tail is the "Reebok" manufacturer's tag with the size "44" and to its left is a white tackle twill patch with the year "95" in black. The player number "20" has been sewn onto the front, back, and both sleeves of the jersey in white on grey tackle twill. On the back of the jersey is a blue nameplate with the player name "B. Sanders" sewn on in white tackle twill. There is a "Reebok" embroidered patch on each sleeve. The jersey's tagging and stitching are consistent with tagging and stitching present on other mid-1990s Detroit Lions home jerseys. We were told by our consignor that he obtained the jersey from the husband of a Lions laundry room employee who was given the jersey by Sanders himself. Our consignor was also told that the jersey was worn in a game against the Washington Redskins, among others. The jersey shows tremendous game-use including fraying on the letters and numbers as well as stains from turf and red and yellow helmet paint. With the exception of the cut "NFL" patch, it appears to have no alterations of any kind. Used and abused, this is one of the nicest Sanders jerseys we have ever seen.