While the Patriots are offering a free jersey exchange for No. 81 Aaron Hernandez tops at the team’s ProShop this weekend, the shirts are selling at a high rate on the secondary market and the price is rising.
Some autographed Hernandez jerseys have sold for more than $1,000 on eBay. As of noon Tuesday, a bid for one autographed jersey was at $1,300 and bidding on another shirt reached $1,003.
Hernandez, a Bristol native, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting of Odin Lloyd of Dorchester, Mass. A former All-Pro tight end, Hernandez was released by the Patriots just hours after his arrest last Wednesday.
The Patriots are offering fans an opportunity to trade a Hernandez jersey for another jersey Saturday (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) at the Patriots ProShop in Foxborough.
But some are offering the jerseys on the Internet and there seems to be a healthy demand. Autographed jerseys are drawing the highest bids on ebay, but bids on standard No. 81 jerseys are exceeding $300.
There’s even a framed Florida Gators No. 81 jersey signed by Hernandez that is being offered for $299.99. That item had yet to draw a bid as of early Tuesday afternoon.
Bidding for one autographed jersey started at $75, but the final winning bid was $1,200.
The Courant would like to hear from fans either selling their Hernandez jersey or planning to trade their jersey in at the ProShop this week. Please email your name and telephone number to sports@courant.