I am well behind on this one. Dick Allen passed away this past Monday, December 7, 2020 at the age of 78.
Richard Anthony Allen was born March 8, 1942 in Wampum, Pennsylvania. During his fifteen-season Major League Baseball career, he appeared primarily as a first baseman, third baseman, and outfielder, most notably for the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox. Allen was named to the All-Star team seven times. He won the 1964 NL Rookie of the Year Award and the 1972 AL Most Valuable Player Award. He also led the AL in home runs for two seasons, led the NL in slugging percentage one season and the AL in two seasons, and led each major league in on-base percentage, one season each. He finished his career with a .292 batting average and a .534 slugging percentage.
The Philadelphia Phillies retired Dick Allen’s number 15 on September 3, 2020. He was also inducted into the Baseball Reliquary’s Shrine of the Eternals in 2004.
Rest in peace.
When he wanted to play, he was really good. It’s the part before the comma that was the problem.
v
In many a career, I imagine.
I’m sure that’s true.
v
used a 40 oz bat…faced unbelievable racism in Little Rock coming up, wanted to quit but his mother wouldn’t let him…famously said of artificial turf “If a horse won’t eat it, I don’t want to play on it.”
He struck me as the kind of player I would have enjoyed watching play. Frustrating at times, perhaps, but enjoyable.