1988 Troy Aikman Game Worn UCLA Bruins Jersey, MEARS A10....

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Sold on Nov 7, 2014 for:

$13,145.00 Bid Source: Internet bidder

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Heavy All Original Wear Exhibited Throughout!

1988 Troy Aikman Game Worn UCLA Bruins Jersey, MEARS A10. After being offered a contract by the New York Mets out of high school, Troy Aikman instead chose to pursue football and attended the University of Oklahoma. During his first season as starting quarterback, Aikman led the Sooners to three victories before hosting the Miami Hurricanes. During the highly-anticipated contest against his future head coach Jimmy Johnson, Aikman was sacked by Miami's Jerome Brown and broke his ankle, and the injury ended his sophomore season. Without their star quarterback, the 1985 Sooners were forced to switch back to the wishbone offense and freshman QB Jamelle Hollieway, who would lead his team to the 1985 National Championship.

The following season, Aikman decided to transfer to UCLA, where he would have to redshirt one year due to college transfer rules, but the next two seasons Aikman led the Bruins to an impressive 20-4 record. As a senior, Aikman won the 1988 Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top quarterback, and he finished third for the '88 Heisman Trophy.

Offered here is the College and Pro Football Hall of Famer's jersey that he wore during that memorable 1988 season with the UCLA Bruins. Exhibiting heavy wear throughout, with hit marks, scuffs and piling in the gorgeous powder blue fabric, it showcases screened-on identifiers on the front, back and sleeves. The proper "Goodman & Sons [size] 48/XL" tags are in the tail, while it remains all-original with no alterations. One of hobby pioneer John Kindler's favorite jerseys, as he was a proud UCLA alum, this one will surely hold a special place in the winning bidder's heart as well. LOA from MEARS, A10. Letter of provenance from Ian Kindler. LOA from Heritage Auctions.

The John Kindler Collection

It has been twenty years since John Kindler left his family one of the most significant personal collections of game worn football jerseys ever assembled, and it took that long for the Kindlers to come to terms with the notion of parting with it. Kindler's son Ian is quick to report that the pursuit of the next gridiron garment was his father's greatest passion, his collection the thing that most succinctly defined this important pioneer of the hobby. Ian's fondest memories of his father involve their shared pursuit of the next addition to the collection. "He got into it first through UCLA equipment managers," Ian explained. "UCLA was his first love. Then it grew through those relationships, cold calling, and the fact that he somehow knew the sport would explode and very few were doing what he did. He focused on game used jerseys. Somehow he knew that would matter. UCLA, NFL, Heisman winners, and certain UCLA-related NBA was his focus."

By the time of the elder Kindler's 1994 passing, his collection had swollen to over 250 jerseys, representing two decades of single-minded determination. In his earliest days of the hunt, just after his graduation from college, John Kindler was among the first game used jersey collectors in the country, reaching out to team sources who were often confused at the young man's request for a dirty, old shirt. But Kindler's charm won most targets over. "He was very social, personable. He'd reach out to equipment managers first, then assistant coaches, management, and even head coaches," his son reported.

Though his collection may have had little value in its earliest days when few collected game used gear, today the Kindler Collection is estimated at over a half a million dollars. Highlights include collegiate jerseys from Heisman winners Barry Sanders, Tim Brown, Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker, and professional gamers from Tony Dorsett, Roger Staubach, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Bob Griese and more.

Heritage Auctions is proud to represent this important collection, and to honor this essential early pioneer of the sports collectibles hobby. The earliest offerings from The John Kindler Collection appear in our July 2014 Platinum Night auction, and our November 2014 Signature auction will highlight dozens of important jerseys from this unique assembly. All will be accompanied by a letter of provenance from Ian Kindler.

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