The newest entry to my game-used memorabilia collection is this 2003 San Diego Chargers jersey worn by wide receiver Dondre Gilliam.

This jersey has a crazy story. Gilliam was a graduate of D-II Millersville University in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was signed and waived by the Chargers 5 times in 2002 without logging a stat. Going into Week 4 of the 2003 season, the chargers found themselves down five receivers - including David Boston, Reche Caldwell, and Tim Dwight - so the Chargers gave Gilliam a call and started him that week against the Raiders. Gilliam was issued #10 because every other common receiver jersey number was taken.

In that game, Gilliam was in the huddle with Drew Brees, LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, and Lorenzo Neal - indisputably among the top-20 all-time at their respective positions, and possibly even top-10 all-time. To make it even more crazy, Gilliam ran routes against Charles Woodson and Rod Woodson.

Gilliam posted 4 receptions for 67 yards, leading the team. The top receivers for the Raiders? Jerry Rice and Tim Brown. The Raiders won the matchup of legends in overtime, 34-31. More ridiculous footnotes: The game featured the first career reception for Antonio Gates and the only career touchdown reception for Drew Brees.

Gilliam went on to play three more games in this jersey, logging his final two career receptions from Doug Flutie, before the Chargers went back to full staff and waived him for good.

I don’t have definitive photomatches for this one given that I only have two game photos of Gilliam to work with, but it’s a slam dunk for a combination of reasons:

1. The jersey tag is from 2003

2. Photos from the Raiders game show the layout of his jersey lettering is a perfect match

3. The jersey shows the stitch outline of a removed patch worn that season and the placement matches the photos

4. The jersey has repairs so it was worn in multiple games

5. There’s no way the team issued Gilliam a new jersey part way through the season because he had little playing time and a constantly-uncertain roster status

All in all, this jersey tells quite a story and I’m happy to have it.

New from my workshop: Sculpted Cards

Featured here is a 3D-sculpted card of Joe Burrow, crafted from premium marbled white material. Burrow’s face and hair rise 5mm from the surface, creating a dimensional effect. The card is printed at a resolution of 0.20mm per layer, with the option to refine further for even greater detail and definition.

I won this as a giveaway on WhatNot. Thanks to blackgoldcards for the giveaway.

This football was given to me 35 years ago signed by Willie Lanier. His brother worked with my dad. It has been at my parent’s house since then and I finally decided to pick it up. Now, I need to get a display for it.

I recently purchased this Richie Anderson game-used Dallas Cowboys jersey worn during the 2004 season. Anderson was a fullback who played from 1993-2004, primarily with the Jets. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2000 and helped clear the lanes for half of Curtis Martin’s hall of fame career.

The jersey was advertised simply as being game-used without any specifics. I fired up the image searches and shuffled through a few hours of game footage. The Cowboys wore this jersey style in 11 games that Anderson played in across the 2004 season, so I had to cast a pretty wide net.

I was able to definitively photomatch the jersey to 6 games, but usage and reasoning indicate it was very likely worn in all 11 possible games. Being that the Cowboys played Washington during Anderson’s final career game, and judging by the yellow paint streaks on the back (Washington wore yellow facemasks and no other team the Cowboys played had uniforms that could transfer yellow paint), it’s almost certain that Anderson wore this jersey in his final NFL game. A pretty incredible find.

Stats from photomatched games:

36 carries for 148 yards and 1 TD (the last of his career)

16 receptions for 110 yards

Tackled by: Troy Polamalu, Jeremiah Trotter