For the casual sports fan or a serious collector alike, sports apparel is widely available for purchase in every sport. The keys to purchasing are determining which sports figures personally hold the most interest and deciding how much to spend. Regarding cost consideration, an authentic event-worn item will typically outprice non-worn, and signed will run higher than unsigned.

Early sports apparel focused more on functionality than fashion, and via social norms, women were typically restricted to long dresses and pant suits. Fibers were also limiting, with cotton and wool being the only choices in clothing design. But by the mid-20th century, chemists created synthetic fabrics, from polyester and nylon to spandex—allowing a new world of options in apparel design and utility. Women’s dresses eventually got shorter, and women’s shorts became acceptable on the fields and courts.

Rare finds in sports apparel include event-worn, signed jerseys and uniform pieces. More common are commemorative event clothing, official jerseys, hats, and replicated throwback clothing.

Quick Facts

• A jersey worn by hockey Hall-of-Famer Eddie Shore of the Boston Bruins auctioned in February 2015 for $119,500
• A common debate is whether or not to wash a game-worn piece of clothing
• In 2002, Christie’s of London sold a shirt worn by Pele in the 1970 World Cup for $220,850