Top 5 Hall Of Fame: Dick Allen

 

On July 27th, the Hall of Fame will officially recognize 5 new members. As I have done in years past, I will be honoring these great ball players in my own way throughout the week. Today's inductee is one of the greatest of the 60's and 70's, Dick Allen. In tribute to his extraordinary career, I humbly present my 5 favorite cards of his that I own:

 

1970 Topps #40 Rich Allen

I'm going to apologize in advance. I officially own exactly 5 Dick Allen cards, and this photo appears on 3 of them. Allen's baseball career occurred mostly before I was born, so it wasn't until much later in life that his story became known to me. The racism he had to endure is mind-boggling. Despite all of it, he became an offensive force on the field at a time when pitchers largely dominated. He was a 3 time All-Star with the Phillies in the 60's, winning the Rookie of The Year Award with a historic season in 1964. Despite being the team's best hitter, his relationship with the baseball community in Philly soured quickly. Fans inexplicably threw so many objects at him that he began wearing his batting helmet on the field. Eventually, Allen had enough and demanded a trade, which the team obliged when they sent him to St. Louis. He made his 4th All-Star team in his lone year with the Cardinals.

 

1972 Topps #240 Rich Allen

Despite the All-Star season, the Cardinals traded him to the Dodgers. The Dodgers then traded him after one year to the White Sox. Allen flourished in Chicago, and easily won the AL MVP Award in 1972. In his 3 years in Chicago, he made the All-Star team and earned MVP votes every single year.

 

1975 Topps

 #210 1972 MVPs (Allen/Bench) (MVP)

 

That 1972 season was more than just an MVP season for the White Sox. The team was mediocre and attendance was dwindling. There was talk of the team being relocated. Allen's monster season carried the team to a 2nd place finish. As arguably the best player in baseball, Allen was often credited for revitalizing baseball on the south side of Chicago. Attendance spiked during his years there, with over a million fans each year. 

 

1975 Topps

#307 1974 Home Run Leaders (Allen/Schmidt) (LL)

 

Ironically, by the time this card hit the shelves, these two would be teammates. In 1974 Allen was having another great year, but he was playing in a lot of pain. So much so that he announced his retirement in September of that year. He never filled out the official paperwork though, so the White Sox put him on the disqualified list instead and sold his contract to the Atlanta Braves. Allen refused to play in the South, and the Braves eventually sent him back to Philadelphia. The Phillies were able to convince him to play again, and he spent 2 years there before finishing up his career with a single season in Oakland.

 

2021 Topps Archives #222 Dick Allen

I spoke previously of Dave Parker's long road to the Hall of Fame, but Allen's was much longer. From 1983 to 1997, he failed to get elected on the traditional BBWAA ballots, never reaching higher than 18.9% of the ballots. Despite his accomplishments, many writers pointed to his low career totals, as well as his often perceived strenuous relationships with teammates, franchises, and fans. Unfortunately, much of that was racially based, and he was never given his due. It took 7 Veteran's Committee ballots before Allen got elected, and unfortunately this honored happened after Allen's death in 2020. Like Parker, we won't get to hear Allen's thoughts at Cooperstown. One could only imagine what he would have said.

 

Congrats on your well deserved election to the Hall of Fame, Mr. Allen!