A tremendous slugger in his day , Richie Allen played first and third base as well as outfield and was ranked among the league’s top offensive producers of the 1960's and early 1970's. Most notably playing for the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox, he led the American League in home runs twice, and led both leagues in slugging percentage (AL twice) and on-base percentage. His first season in the majors, 1964, ranks among the greatest rookie seasons ever. Playing for the Phillies, he led the league in runs (125), triples (13), extra base hits (80) and total bases (352). He also finished in the top five in batting average (.318), slugging average (.557), hits (201), and doubles (38), and won Rookie of the Year honors. His .534 career slugging average ranks among the highest in an era marked by low averages.
This lot includes Allen’s autographed and game-worn 1969 Phillies game-worn road jersey. That season, playing in 118 games, Allen posted a .288 batting average, hit 32 home runs and drove in 89 runs. The Wilson (size 42) gray flannel jersey shows wear and includes the "Wilson 42" and wash label tag on the left front tail. Below that chain-stitched directly into the jersey in black is “1969 Set 2.” On the inside collar of the jersey is stitched "Allen" in navy blue onto a sewn-on nameplate. The distinctive “Phillies” team name, with stars over both "i's", is chain-stitched across the front of the jersey in red embroidered cursive lettering outlined in white. The same holds true for Allen’s iconic uniform number "15" on the back. Considerable puckering and some fraying is evident in both areas. Major League Baseball’s iconic red, white and blue "100th Anniversary" patch adorns the left sleeve. The shirt shows excellent game use with some spot soiling and a 2" circular hole on the back tail that has been patched on the inside with red fabric, a common repair technique for rips or holes in flannel jerseys during this era. Allen has autographed the jersey on the inside rear collar in blue felt-tip marker. The signature rates 8-9/10 in our book.
Autograph pre-certified by PSA/DNA.