So, I've got a few of the manufactured patches at home, both of the letter w/ auto variety and the commemorative patches made by 
Topps for this year's Series 1 and 2, and I'm pretty sure I hate them. Yes, everyone has their well documented reasons to like or dislike manufactured patches, but my principle reason for disliking them is that there is an arbitrary connection between the item and the player represented on the card. The main attraction to game-used jersey and patches is that the item included in the card was actually used in the game we love and collect, with the added knowledge that the item was worn by the player. A small swatch of fabric is nothing without the certified knowledge that the fabric had been worn by our favorite players and used in during a game. This limits the product to a specific usage and to a specific time period...thus, making it somehow rare or special.
Saw this on eBay...I have a few of these auto/manu patches of Hanley...do you think it's worth the price to collect all the letters?
Topps for this year's Series 1 and 2, and I'm pretty sure I hate them. Yes, everyone has their well documented reasons to like or dislike manufactured patches, but my principle reason for disliking them is that there is an arbitrary connection between the item and the player represented on the card. The main attraction to game-used jersey and patches is that the item included in the card was actually used in the game we love and collect, with the added knowledge that the item was worn by the player. A small swatch of fabric is nothing without the certified knowledge that the fabric had been worn by our favorite players and used in during a game. This limits the product to a specific usage and to a specific time period...thus, making it somehow rare or special.
You can extend that a manufactured patch that was on-patch autographed is also special because it was physically touched by said player. These cards tap into our hero worship/iconography, thus the patch is simply just another vehicle to get an autograph/personal connection from our heroes.
However, what about those silly patches that are just patches that were sewn by someone somewhere and has absolutely no connection to the event or person that it commemorates? I really think these are offensive. What is the value of a patch commemorating an All-Star game from 50 years ago? I understand that there are collectors who like the design or like the commemoration of those events, much like there are fans who love re-issues and buybacks. I, however, think these are bogus products made by cynical profiteers looking for another way to sell their blasters of junkwax. Where's the actual tie-in to the game? I think that we're doing a disservice by collecting these manufactured patches...thereby rewarding the card companies for being lazy. They just embroider away these worthless patches and collectors think of them as additional hits. They're terrible, but then again, they're here to stay, so I'm just shouting into the wind.
Saw this on eBay...I have a few of these auto/manu patches of Hanley...do you think it's worth the price to collect all the letters?
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