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Dick Allen

Allen c. 1965

First baseman / Third baseman

Born: March 8, 1942
Wampum, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Died: December 7, 2020 (aged 78)
Wampum, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Batted: Right

Threw: Right

debut

September 3, 1963, for the Philadelphia Phillies

Last appearance

June 19, 1977, for the Oakland Athletics

MLB statistics

Batting average

.292

Home runs

351

Runs batted in

1,119

Teams

Career highlights and awards

7× All-Star (1965–1967, 1970, 1972–1974)
AL MVP (1972)
NL Rookie of the Year (1964)
2× AL home run leader (1972, 1974)
AL RBI leader (1972)
Philadelphia Phillies No. 15 retired
Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame

Richard "Dick" Anthony Allen (born March 8, 1942, died December 7, 2020) was a famous American professional baseball player. For 15 years, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman, third baseman, and outfielder. He was best known for playing with the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox. Dick Allen was one of the strongest hitters in baseball during the 1960s and early 1970s.

He was chosen as an All-Star seven times. In 1964, he was named the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year while playing for the Phillies. Later, in 1972, he became the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player with the Chicago White Sox. He was a top hitter, leading the league in home runs and other important batting stats.

His brothers, Hank and Ron, also played baseball. Dick Allen was considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame multiple times. He came very close to being voted in, missing by just one vote in both 2014 and 2021. The Philadelphia Phillies honored him by retiring his uniform number 15 in 2020.

Dick Allen's MLB Career
Dick Allen's Baseball Stats
Music Career
Hall of Fame Consideration
Death
See also

Dick Allen's MLB Career

Playing for the Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies signed Dick Allen in 1960, giving him a $70,000 bonus. A scout named John Ogden convinced them to sign him. Ogden had played baseball himself and said Allen hit the ball as hard as Babe Ruth.

When Allen played for a Phillies minor league team in Little Rock, he faced unfair treatment because of his race. He was the first black player on that team.

His first full season in the major leagues was in 1964. It was one of the best rookie seasons ever. He led the league in runs (125), triples (13), and extra base hits (80). He also had a high batting average of .318 and won the Rookie of the Year award. That year, the Phillies were close to winning their league. But they lost 10 games in a row and finished second.

On May 29, 1965, Allen hit a huge home run that went over the Coke sign on the roof of Connie Mack Stadium. It was estimated to be 529 feet long! Another famous player, Willie Stargell, joked that when Allen hit a home run, there was "no souvenir" because the ball went so far.


Dick Allen's number 15 was retired by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2020.

While with the Phillies, Allen was chosen for the All-Star team several times. He hit a home run in the 1967 All-Star game. In 1966, he led the league in slugging percentage (.632).

Some fans and sports writers were tough on Allen. He was sometimes booed and had things thrown at him on the field. He started wearing his batting helmet while playing defense, which earned him the nickname, "Crash Helmet," or "Crash."

In 1969, he was suspended and fined for missing a game. He had gone to a horse race and got stuck in traffic.

Playing for the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers

Allen asked the Phillies to trade him, and they sent him to the St. Louis Cardinals before the 1970 season. He was an All-Star again in St. Louis.

He hit some very long home runs for the Cardinals. One of them landed in the seats above the club level. After one season, the Cardinals traded Allen to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 1971 season. He had a good year with the Dodgers, hitting .295.

Playing for the Chicago White Sox

In 1972, the Chicago White Sox got Allen in a trade. His new manager, Chuck Tanner, decided to let Allen play only at first base. This helped Allen focus on hitting.

That year, Allen had an amazing season. He almost single-handedly helped the White Sox finish second in their league. He led the league in home runs (37), RBI (113), and walks (99). He also won the MVP award. Many White Sox fans believe he helped save the team from moving to another city.

Allen hit very powerful home runs at Comiskey Park, which was known for being a tough park for hitters. Some of his home runs went to the roof or even the distant center field bleachers. On July 31, 1972, he made history by hitting two inside-the-park home runs in one game.

In 1973, Allen broke his leg, which hurt the White Sox's chances. He tried to come back, but the pain ended his season early. In 1974, he was an All-Star again. However, his time with the White Sox ended when he left the team before the season was over.

The White Sox sold Allen's contract to the Atlanta Braves. But Allen refused to play for the Braves and announced he was retiring.

Returning to the Phillies

The Phillies convinced Allen to come out of retirement for the 1975 season. He played better in 1976, helping the Phillies win their division. He hit 15 home runs that year. On August 22, 1975, he hit another massive home run into the upper deck at San Diego Stadium.

Playing for the Oakland Athletics

Allen played his final season with the Oakland Athletics in 1977. He played in 54 games and hit five home runs. His last game was on June 19, 1977, in a doubleheader against the White Sox. He had two hits in that game.

Dick Allen's Baseball Stats

Here are Dick Allen's career statistics in Major League Baseball:

Years	Games	AB	Runs	Hits	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	E	FLD%
15	1,749	6,332	1,099	1,848	320	79	351	1,119	133	52	894	1,556	.292	.378	.534	.912	245	.975

Music Career

Dick Allen was also a singer with a high, clear voice. He sang lead with a doo-wop group called The Ebonistics. "Rich Allen and The Ebonistics" performed at night clubs in Philadelphia. He even sang during halftime at a Philadelphia 76ers basketball game.

In 1968, he released a song called "Echo's of November." In 2010, a Brazilian pop star named Ana Volans rerecorded the song.

Hall of Fame Consideration

Many baseball experts believe Dick Allen should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame. They point to his high career averages in batting (.292), slugging (.534), and on-base (.378). He played during a time when it was harder to hit home runs.

Dick Allen was known for his incredible power. He had a very strong body, like famous sluggers Mickey Mantle and Jimmie Foxx. Some historians rank him among the top long-distance hitters ever, just below Babe Ruth. Willie Mays said Allen hit the ball harder than anyone he had ever seen. Allen used a heavy 40-ounce bat, which was unusual at the time.

Some people argue that Allen's career was not as long as other Hall of Famers. They also mention the issues he had during his career.

However, many Hall of Fame players and managers supported Allen. Willie Stargell said Allen was "ahead of his time." Managers Gene Mauch and Chuck Tanner said Allen was a good teammate and leader. Goose Gossage called him "the greatest player I've ever seen." Mike Schmidt, another Hall of Famer, said Allen was his mentor and helped him relax and have fun playing baseball. Schmidt also said that claims about Allen dividing the team were "a lie."

Allen was first considered for the Hall of Fame by baseball writers in 1983, but he did not get enough votes. Later, special committees considered him. In 2014 and 2021, he came very close, missing election by only one vote each time.

Death

Dick Allen passed away at his home in Wampum, Pennsylvania, on December 7, 2020. He was 78 years old.