I'm not sure if it's just me, but I use the terms use (used) and wear differently. Recently there was a post asking questions about an item with a description that stated moderate wear..
To me, this is how I think of these terms. Let's talk about jerseys first.
Wear: This is what happens when a shirt is put on and cared for. By that I mean cleaned or laundered. I think of things in these terms as I have purchased a few Dress Uniforms over the years (o.k, I weigh a bit more than I did as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1987 as well). The point is those uniforms fade over time. For a baseball uniform, this is nothing different..whether it is a coach or player..they are cleaned and that has an impact on what the garment looks like and the effect it has on the various fabric.
Use: This is what happens through out the course of the work done in it. Use on a catchers jersey is different from the use of a relief pitcher. Use is the manifestation of the garment being exposed to what the player does, not who he is.
I have had BDUs(fatigues or "cammies" for those Marines")with little wear, but excessive use..ever wonder what barbed wire does to rip-stop cotton?
Thinking along these lines, I think it is possible (and more accuate) to say to a jersey has little to moderate wear and signs of almost no use. There are obiviously other combinations, but just think about them as different terms.
I think you could say the same to some degree for bats.. Although they are not worn, they are still prepared for use and cared for.
For me, use for a bat represents the same phyiscal manifestations of application in the work place. Think about this example.. A player gets an order of bats from a new supplier, he tapes the handle in his usual manner, writes his kid's name on the knob as he always does, takes a couple of swings with it BP..likes the feel and decides to use it in a game..He goes to the plate..swings and misses three times and decides to get rid of the bat. What is wear and what is use?
Ball Marks (either seam or lettering transfers): Use
Cleat Marks: Use
Chips: Use
Reapplication pine tar: Use
For bats, I might suggest they be addressed like this:
Lot # 245: 1973-1975 Dave Grob H&B S2 Model Bat
This bat displays these player characturics: Player number on knob, lack of handle tap, very lite pine tar only on the lower portion of the handle. Rack marks are green and red. Green rack marks are consistent with those you would expect to see at Grob Stadium.
This bat displays this evidence of use: Cleat marks on the barrel, ink transfer from baseball, seam marks from baseball. (of course I would expect that this include the degree or prominace of these aspects)..
The point in all this is that maybe some of the confusion in the hobby is that we are using word interchangeably when we should actually be using them in a more specific manner..
I think the auction lot listing should just state what the item is. For example,
1995 Tony Gwynn San Diego Padres Road Jersey
The item description would then describe in detail the characaturistics of both use and wear. The bidder or buyer then decides for himself, based on this information what makes sense.
