The San Jose Earthquakes are an American professional football club based in San Jose, California, competing in Major League Soccer (MLS). Founded on 1 January 1995, the team from San Jose has long been part of Major League Soccer (MLS), and collectors can find signed football shirts and historic items on Walkouts.
Originally called the San Jose Clash, the franchise was a charter member and took part in the first MLS game in 1996, a 1-0 win over D.C. United. After a temporary relocation phase that led to the Houston Dynamo forming as the league considered the organisation an expansion, the club returned to the Bay Area and staged matches at Buck Shaw Stadium before moving to PayPal Park, known earlier as Avaya Stadium and briefly as Earthquakes Stadium.
The club’s honours are a clear draw for collectors. The Earthquakes have won two MLS Cup titles and claimed two Supporters' Shields, while their first continental run reached the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals, a milestone that increases interest in shirts from those campaigns.
From a collector perspective, anniversary releases and commemorative shirts are sought after. Milestone pieces tied to quarter centuries and club returns are especially prized, with many commemorative runs marking foundational dates and key eras in the club’s post-1995 history.
Season and match magnets are central to demand, notably shirts from the MLS Cup winning campaigns and the Supporters' Shield seasons; apparel from title-winning squads, playoff runs and cup fixtures often shows unique badge treatments or player-issue details that draw attention. Signed retail shirts from fanshop runs, special early releases and region-specific variants are collected alongside match-worn items, and collectors regularly seek player-issue variants and small-run retail editions. Free worldwide shipping is available on selected items.
Iconic away shirts have their own place in Earthquakes lore, with lighter away colourways linked to memorable cup runs and decisive fixtures in front of travelling supporters. Derby provenance also boosts value; shirts tied to the California Clásico and fixtures against LA Galaxy often carry extra interest among long-term supporters, and provenance tied to Buck Shaw Stadium and PayPal Park match days is a recognised cue for authenticity.
Collectors focus on specific releases such as the 25th anniversary 2020 commemorations and the 2001 MLS Cup season items, which often feature special printing and limited retail runs that make them sought after in the secondary market. Away designs described as white with blue trim are commonly referenced by sellers as tied to MLS Cup era appearances, and Walkouts lists signed shirts with COA verification where available, helping buyers evaluate provenance from the 2001 and 2012 seasons and other defining matches.