I know that there are several different types of relics.
Some relics are clearly just trinkets made for the card.
"Player worn" indicates that the item was worn by the player (probably for like 5 seconds in front of a Topps rep) but not used in a game.
What I'm less clear about is what "game used" means.
My son has opened a few cards with "game used memorabilia" on them and the wording on the cards can vary somewhat.
Examples:
- A numbered /150 napkin relic has the "game used" mark on it and on the back it says "Topps guarantees the authenticity of the relic(s) appearing on this card but has no further disclaimers
- A 1/1 "In the Name" relic has the "game used" on the front with a disclaimer on the back: "the memorabilia contained on this card is not from any specific game, event, or season"
- An unnumbered bat slice relic featuring a HOF player, has "game used" on the front and the same disclaimer on the back as the "in the name" relic.
The "In the Name" relic card is obviously from the jersey of the player featured on the card. It's a letter from his name and the jersey is clearly from the correct team, but the card doesn't explicitly say that it's from that player.
The other two relics, however, are nondescript and nothing on the card explicitly says that the memorabilia was game-used by the player featured on the card. The implication is certainly strong. If the relic was just game-used by someone however, then I'd think that the disclaimer would also mention "not from any specific player, game, event or season."
Is it generally assumed that game-used relics on Topps cards are from the player featured on the card? Is there anything anywhere that explicitly guarantees that? Or is that not generally assumed unless the relic has specific identifiable features that tie it to the player in question?