Buying a Jersey

In a week, I am going to my first game at the Twins' new Target Field. They are playing my Red Sox (I am not struggling as much with my loyalty with these two teams). I will wear my Red Sox gear with pride. That said, my Red Sox gear is a bit dated. I will most likely be wearing a Nomar Garciaparra t-shirt jersey. I don't have a problem with wearing this shirt, but I probably need to get a new one sooner rather than later. This got me thinking about what goes into buying a jersey. How should a fan go about picking whose number they will wear on their backs. Now I have maybe lost a few people with the t-shirt jersey thing, but I think they are the perfect apparel for a game for the following reasons:
1. They don't cost an arm and a leg. I am not spending $80-150 on an authentic jersey when a player could be traded, leave in free agency, or suffer a career ending injury at any time.
2. I'm comfortable in t-shirts. Football jerseys look weird on me (might have something to do with the fact that they are supposed to be worn with pads. Basketball jerseys look weird on me (might have something do with with their lack of sleeves and my lack of muscle). Baseball jerseys have some promise, but I'd prefer something without buttons for a sporting event.
3. It's a step above a generic team t-shirt. It suggests some actual investment in the team. It involves some thought, and gives us an extra rooting interest. When your guy does well, you look better. When your guy does poorly, you look a little worse.

So, without further ado, here are my rules for buying a jersey (maybe I will have picked my new Red Sox jersey t-shirt by the end of this).
Rule 1 (the Ryan Leaf Rule):
Don't buy the jersey of a rookie. In fact, wait for a player to complete two full years. This way you know they are not a bust. Waiting two years prevents you from buying into the extra hype that a rookie always gets for being new and exciting (the Matt Forte ammendment). By year three, you usually have a good idea of what you're getting. I went to a Lions vs. Bears game a couple years ago and saw a few too many Charles Rogers, Mike Williams, Curtis Enis, and Cade McNown jerseys. Make your players earn it.

Rule 2 (the Brett Favre Rule):
Proceed with caution on free agents(especially older ones). As I've stated before, I was all for the Brett Favre signing. He really seemed to be the missing piece for the Viking this last year. However, purchasing his jersey is something of a slap in the face of the other Vikings who have been here for a number of years. Also, with no guarantee that he comes back next year, and the Vikings falling short of the Super Bowl, that jersey will not hold up over time. I found a Joe Montana Chiefs jersey at a thrift store in college. I wore it for fantasy football, and it provided comedic value. That is destiny of all the Favre jerseys that people purchased last year: comedic value (unless, of course, he comes back and wins a Super Bowl this year).

Rule 3 (the Ray Allen Rule, or for Doug, the Fukudome Rule):
This is more a guideline than a rule, but it's good to have some personal connection to the player. For me a Ray Allen Celtics jersey is the perfect storm (although I wouldn't purchase it because of his age, and the fact that this is probably his last year in Boston). Allen played for my favorite college basketball team (UConn), my favorite pro team (Boston), wears the same number I wore in high school (20), and plays a style of game that a much, much, much more talented version of me would play (shooter, not known for his defense). Again, this is a guideline, you can't get carried away with this one, part of why we like athletes is that they are nothing like us, but it's nice to have some solidarity with the player of choice.

Rule 4 (The Michael Jordan Rule, or for Paul the Sidney Crosby Rule):
No one can blame you for not over thinking it. You won't regret buying a jersey of a player who is clearly the best on his team (or best in his league, or best in his sport, or best in history). Going to Twins' game, I'm always struck by the volume of Mauer jerseys. It almost seems silly to wear anyone else jersey. (Mauer is so fun to watch, he seems to be able to do whatever the team needs in specific moments, whether its a walk, a single, an opposite field hit, a homerun). The presence of Mauer jerseys is quadrupled by the fact that he is from here. I fully support wearing Mauer Jerseys. Having said this, the Michael Jordan Rule is not quite my style...

Rule 5 (The Dwight Evans Rule):
Often times, when we're kids, we root for players for no particular reason. On a team where Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, and Jim Rice would be the logical choices for favorite player, I always liked Dwight Evans. Not sure if it was his mustaches, or his nickname, "Dewey", but Evans was my favorite. Now I'm a not suggesting that it is ok to pick any player, at random, and wear his jersey. But looking back, Evans was a three-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glover, so it's not like he was nobody. A player should still be good, but I prefer a little subtlety over star power. One of my friends from church went to most of the Vikings games this year, wearing an Antoine Winfield jersey. That jersey says to me, "I know a little something about football." Adrian Peterson and Jared Allen are great, but anyone could get their jersey. Winfield is underrated, but a huge part of the Vikings defense. (Add to that, that he used to play for the Bills, he would probably be my choice as well.)

Rule 6 (the Carlos Gomez Rule):
Don't go too subtle. Other people shouldn't scratch their heads when they see your jersey. You want to root for someone who is not just a ninth inning defensive replacement. I saw a few too many of these at the Dome last year.

Rule 7 (The Nomar Garciaparra Rule)
This is the hardest rule, because we can't see into the future. The fact is, most players don't play with one team for an entire career anymore. But there is added value to a jersey that can be worn without embarrassment after the player has moved on. My Nomar shirt brings me back to a time when I was waiting for the Sox to win their first championship of my lifetime. His lack of success in his other stops have insured that he'll always be remembered for his time in Boston. Because of this, I don't feel silly wearing his jersey to games still. But, my friends who bought Nomar Cubs jerseys (they violated the Brett Favre rule), they probably do. Mine kind of holds up.

So let's find me a new Red Sox Jersey

Rule 1
Goodbye Daniel Bard. Try again next year.

Rule 2
Sorry Victor Martinez, Mike Cameron, Adrian Beltre, Marco Scutaro, John Lackey.

Rule 3
Youkilis wear 20, I've always fancied myself the relief pitching type, so Papelbon is in play.

Rule 4
Papi is out (not because of current performance, but past success and popularity).

Rule 5
Tricky with the Sox: because they are so overexposed, it is hard to be subtle. Youk, Beckett and Pedroia might be a little too easy. Ellsbury's good looks and base stealing have made him just a little too popular. At the same time, they are a team without a transcendent superstar.

Rule 6
So long JD Drew and Bill Hall

Rule 7
Wakefield is somewhat appealing because of his longevity with the team, but perhaps a little obscure.

Decision: Jon Lester. Still somewhat overshadowed by Beckett, and even Dice-K. Young enough to wear his jersey for the next several years. A great story, extremely talented, easy to root for.

Perhaps on my trip to Target Field I will make a photo journal of the jersey rules. And I should start looking for a Lester t-shirt jersey. But, more likely, I'll keep trotting out the Garciaparra shirt.