I sent them a query asking that they clarify their description. If Maples was not on the 1939 team, they should say that.

I finally got a response from the auction house...Looks like they're going to get some more information and try to do a better job of identifying the jersey!

My email:

I have a question on the item shown on an eBay address and on your website at:

http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/19976-Circa-1939-Texas-A-M-Aggies-Game-Worn-Jersey_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ28270QQihZ007QQitemZ170159252855QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

http://sports.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=708&Lot_No=19976

You mention that the football player who wore this jersey was named Weldom Maple, and that he was a sophomore and played for the national championship team of 1939. Also, the auction includes his class of ’41 sweater. However, I have done a little research myself and have found conflicting information. First, Weldom Maple is not listed on the 1939 Championship game roster. Number 62 belongs to a player named Henry Houser. I understand that perhaps this jersey was game worn for a different game that season, but I think this is an important piece of information that the bidders should have. Also, according to the Association of Former Students organization at Texas A&M, Weldom Maple was class of 1943, NOT class of 1941. This calls into question the identification of the ’41 sweater, as well as the entire story portrayed in the auction information.

These pieces of information call into question exactly when this jersey was worn and by whom. It is possible that someone other than Weldom Maple wore this jersey during the 1939 football season. It is also possible that this jersey is from a later season and is not associated with the national championship season in any way.

Can you share the information you used to identify this item? I am a serious prospective bidder and it is important to me that I know as much as possible about the item and its true origins.

Thanks!
(Aeromike03)

Their response:

Hello (Aeromike03),
Thank you for bringing this information to our attention. When we were originally researching the jersey for the auction write up and authentication we contacted the University and this is the information that they provided us with. I will certainly follow up with them to get the story straight and update the listing if necessary. I will let you know what additional information we find out.
Regards,
Chris

Good work Aero. . . .

ttt

Good job, Aero!

TexAgs.com - We Know Stuff

I'll keep you guys updated as well. Just don't be bidding me up!

Fossil_Ag:

Number 62 in the National Championship picture is COL(RET) Henry Hauser '41 of Kerrville. COL Hauser recently passed away at home in Sierra Vista, AZ. I am positive of this because he was instrumental in guiding me to A&M in 1970. He showed me his jersey, football cleats and helmet at his home. I met COL Hauser through my Dad. He and COL Hauser worked together at Ft. Huachuca. It would seem with the number of pictures and jerseys that we will see many but unless we have a benchmark on dates it is all problematic.

Cheers,

Tom Shirk '74

I have also been in contact with the auction house about the information they supplied. One other thing to note - if you have a 1940 A&M yearbook (I do), there is a photo from every football game played in 1939. None of the uniforms worn during any of those games show the distinctive white shoulders and 3 arm stripes - the A&M uniforms are either solid white or solid dark. My amateur guess is that this is a legit jersey (perhaps Henry Hauser's) that was worn during a season other than 1939.

One other curve ball to note - there is a photo of the freshman football team from 1939 in the '40 yearbook (no freshman were allowed to play varsity back then) - the uniform design is identical to the one in this auction.

Musket - since you knew COL Hauser, does the photo posted by Tech-Ex on pg.1 of this thread resemble him? Probably hard to id, but at least you knew him.

So perhaps this IS Weldom Maple's jersey from the 1939 season, but it is the freshman team jersey? Also, how would we explain the class of '41 sweater?

FWIW, I notified the A&M Sports Museum folks regarding this auction in the hopes that perhaps they could secure its purchase for all to enjoy.

Glove:

I remember the all dark colored jersey and not the combination of white and dark.

Very best,

Tom

Aero - I have a 1939 A&M/UT program which lists the team members for the 1939 freshman team. Maples is NOT listed. That's why I am thinking it is not his jersey.

Nevermind...

(edited for stupidity!)

[This message has been edited by AeroMike03 (edited 10/24/2007 2:22p).]

22.5% Buyer Premium? Wow, that is some tough juice.

^^^

Buyer premium is only 19% if you buy directly from the auction house! Just a friendly tip!

ttt

I wish I had the funds to bid on this item. I guess I will have to settle for my ticket stubs from the national championship game. Check them out below!

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n6/striken7/TexasAM1939tickets.jpg


[This message has been edited by striken7 (edited 10/25/2007 8:21a).]

Auction house still hasn't added any notes to the listing!

Here's the latest update from the auction house...

Hello (Aeromike03),
We have researched this jersey further with Texas A&M University and have been informed that this jersey style was worn by the varsity in 1938 and the freshman squad in 1939. Weldom Maple was a member on the 1939 Freshman team. The description will be updated on our website and the eBay listing. Thank you for your inquiry and let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Regards,
Chris

Edit: for the poster above

[This message has been edited by Bottlerocket (edited 10/25/2007 6:42p).]

[This message has been edited by Bottlerocket (edited 10/25/2007 6:43p).]




DAMMIT!

[This message has been edited by Bottlerocket (edited 10/25/2007 6:43p).]

that kinda makes this fraudish

"An A-Bomb, From A-Rod"

So that means it wasn't worn during the Championship Game....just a small oops huh.

AggieMike you just make the value of that jersey probably go down by half.

Man I am glad you guys are good researchers. I was going to bid...

While a freshman jersey from 1939 is cool, obviously it is not the same as a game worn jersey from the varsity team during the season. I imagine they didn't have multiple jerseys back then, which is why the Freshman wore the varsity hand-me-downs the following year.

ttt

So I wonder where the charm came from--or would freshmen squad members also get the championship charm for 1939?