Featured here is a 1973 Detroit Tigers road jersey game-worn and signed by starting pitcher Mickey Lolich. The 3-time All-Star and long-time Tigers ace spent the first 13 seasons of his 16-year career in Detroit, racking up quite an impressive resume along the way: 207 wins, 3361 IP, 2679 K's, 190 complete games and 39 shutouts. He finished 2nd and 3rd in the Cy Young in '71 and 72. But what Lolich will always be remembered for were his 3 complete game victories in the 1968 World Series that brought the Tigers the World Championship. He won World Series MVP for his colossal efforts, and perhaps only Madison Bumgarner's performance in the recent 2014 Fall Classic can top Lolich's historic feat for a starting pitcher. In 1973, the year he donned this road gamer, Lolich sported a 16-15 record over yet another reliable 300-inning, 200-K season.
The gray knit button-down jersey feature a dark blue "DETROIT" with orange trim stitched on front. "LOLICH" in dark blue sewn on back along with large "29" in the same dark blue with orange trim. Collar and arm trim in orange, white and dark blue. Wilson Size 48 tag sewn in back of collar. "73 48 Set 2" stitched on front tail. Lolich has signed above the team name on chest in beautiful 9/10 black felt tip pen. Jersey shows moderate wear, with all elements coming essentially as-issued and problem-free.
Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.
Includes Letter of Provenance from collector Bruce Tennen.
Bruce Tennen grew up in Detroit and has been a loyal Tigers fan for over 50 years. He began attending games at Tiger Stadium in the early 1960’s with his father and grandfather — longtime season ticket holders — and would typically don the full uniform (pictured with his dad and sister in 1968 Tigers yearbook taking photo of pitcher Pat Dobson). Bruce has attended every Tigers home playoff series since 1968 and has been fortunate enough to build relationships with dozens of players. His passion for Tigers baseball and sports eventually lead him to pursue a career in the industry, covering Arizona sports teams for the AP in the late 70’s and working in the front office for the San Diego Clippers in the early 80’s while moonlighting as a law student. He would later move on to a successful career in mortgage banking, arranging credit and acquisition funding for numerous Pistons players, executives and broadcasters. There may not be a bigger supporter of Detroit sports teams than Bruce Tennen.