Dick Allen was my favorite player growing up. There is no doubt in my mind he is a "Hall of Famer". His power was legendary. Controversy aside, if there was ever a pick up game of the greatest players, he would be starting for one of the teams. His respect amoung those who played with him and against, from hall of famers in both leagues, most (if not all) have him going into the hall. Listen to Cepeda, McCovey, and Mays! Their credentials certainly outweigh the voters in my mind!
i went to a night game at comiskey in '72.8th inning,down of a 1-0 game.one on, here's richie.WHACK! it disappeared into the black in cf, i don't know where it landed.i read the next day it went completely over the bullpen,off to the right side of the stands beyond,into the waterfall at the back of the wall.i was shouting in the ear of my girlfriend.she was shouting back in my ear.neither of us could hear the other.never heard a louder crowd ever anywhere. still remember that day.awesome memory
This guy had some tremendous power, it is legendary. Extraordinary opposite field power, his home runs to right center went nearly as far as the ones he pulled. I never saw him play, best opposite field home run hitter I ever saw was Mike Piazza. I would love to have seen Dick Allen hit.
I began following baseball 1967. I heard people say, at that time, he was the best hitter, if not the best player in baseball. He was a better hitter than even Hank Aaron ...at that time.
Dick Allen HOF? Yes! He was a truly amazing player. There was no chip on his shoulder. This was all created by the press. The first run in Allen had was when he defended a black teammate from the racist abuses of Dick Stuart who cowardly hit Allen with his bat and injured his shoulder. A problem he would deal with for the rest of his career. Allen was at that time on his way to a possible triple-crown season. Allen was outspoken at a time when black players were put down for it like Clemente was
@lemaxmas When teammates were questioned over the years the majority stated he was a likable man and a great teammate. The rep he was hung with by the press was all hype and nonsense as a means to sell papers. Plus the Philly fans were real tough on him. He'd have had a much better career had he started elsewhere.
Close, but I don't think so. Had he played for a winning organization back then (like the Cardinals or the Dodgers), or had The Phillies won the 1964 WS instead of imploding like they did, I'd say yes.
My uncle (who is in the hall of fame himself) played a few years with Dick Allen and to this day maintains that Allen is the greatest player he has ever played with (he also played with Reggie Jackson and Dave Winfield). I had the pleasure of meeting Allen in 1972 when he played with the White Sox (MVP season). He was one of the nicest players I have ever met. My uncle? He's Goose Gossage.
@loughran03 Dick Allen wasnt fan friendly like Cal Ripken Jr or Tony Gwynn but neither was Eddie Murray,Ricky Henderson,Johnny Bench or Steve Carlton.Ive met Dick Allen and much of his family over the past 25 years and he is a mellowed out wonderful gentleman who is very friendly to his old fans such as myself and gave his autograph and even gave me tips on how to handicap horse races.Try to look at the thrills Dick Allen sacraficed his privacy for and remember him as the 1964 ROY=1972 MVP.
Dick Allen should be in the Hall no doubt in 11 full seasons 13 overall spent 2 rotating between Triple A & the majors Allen had 351 homeruns 1119 RBI's & was a .292 career hitter that's an average of 35 homeruns & 100 RBI's per season & he also won the MVP in 1972 & was a 7 time All Star That's a Hall of Fame player!!!
Agreed--eleven years of dominance should be enough for the Hall of Fame, but few writers liked him and the Phillies have never mounted a Phil Rizzuto/Jim Rice type campaign to get him in. Guess we'll have to be happy with Cepeda's calling him the best, and also Goose Gossage saying the same thing; as well as Mickey Lolich saying he still has nightmares about Allen's line drives zooming past his head. His 1972 season was as serious a run at the Triple Crown as we've seen in the last 40 years.
First of all, the most exciting baseball player I've ever seen, and 1972 in Chicago, Dick Allen was bigger than any athlete in Chicago history, period...Santo vs Allen just remember if Santo goes in, Allen has to go in too because Santo couldn't hold Allens jock...If they keep Santo out than I understand keeping Allen out but there is no comparison, Dick Allen from 1964-1974 was as good as anybody who put on a pair of spikes...
Dick Allen desreves to be in the HOF. He has comperable stats to other HOF members like Orlando Cepada, Hank Greenberg and Johnny Mize. He was among the most dominant players of his era in both leagues. He's an mvp, ranks 44th all-time in slugging percentage among other offensive catagories and had excellent speed for a big man. His only liability was early in his career at third base, but he became a decent fielding first baseman and was one of the most powerful and feared hitters ever.
@loughran03 There are stories like that about EVERY major leaguer with only a few exceptions {Stan Musial, Dale Murphy}. They are never in a signing mood all the time and if you catch them in the middle of a bad day, you get what you get. He saved baseball in Comiskey Park in the early seventies when the Sox were considering leaving town. Google Chicago Online Dick Allen for the facts. Nobody since has come as close to a Triple Crown as he did in 1972. He deserves to be in the HOF.
Of those 9... Dawson is now in. I'd put in Hernandez (even though I'm a demented Yankee Fan who despises the Mets), Oliva, Blyleven and Santo. I could be talked into Tiant, whose career stats resemble Catfish Hunter's and Jim Bunning's, and they're in. Smith's best argument, that he's the all-time saves leader, is now gone. McGwire wouldn't be considered without steroids. Allen's a tough case. He had HOF talent, but I think he falls 2 solid seasons short. And it's not all his fault.
He's a much better player than Orlando Cepeda and they voted him in. Cepeda's not exactly a saint either. He's not as good as Schmidt though, people need to stop smokin the funny stuff.
He was far from a good fielder, and his career was kind of short, but he was one of the greatest hitters and put up amazing numbers in a pitchers' era. He should get in though
I am a White Sox fan that saw all of Dick Allen`s games in Chicago and i will testify that i have not seen a greater talent. His first hit in Chicago was a line drive past the pitcher that the CF took a step in to field only to watch the ball continue over his head to short hop the fence for a double. It went 400 feet without ever getting higher than 8 feet high. You never saw a more charismatic hitter, that`s for sure. It was pure entertainment whenever he had a bat in his hands.
If Allen had never had to bother learning third base (the hot corner), and only had to concentrate on hitting, his numbers undoubtedly would have been higher. Dick was a much better hitter than Schmidt, and played when the pitching and the size of the parks and the dead ball made what he did offensively twice as good as Schmidt. Schmitty in 1965 not the player of 1980. Dick Allen the better overall player than Schmidt.
Dick Allen was better than Mike Schmidt. Schmidt played after the mound was lowered, the baseball was "souped up", and the league was expanded or watered down. Also the stadiums smaller. Dick should have been made to play left field and concentrate on hitting.
Dick Allen hit a ball with an authority that I had only witnessed from Mantle. Allen finished with a lifetime OPS of .912, leading the league 4X. Schmidt finished at .908 also leading 4X. Allen, played 5-seasons with the higher mound and his home games in tougher hitter's parks. Schmidt did sustain his offensive excellence longer. Both ran well but Schimdt played far better defense, giving him the overall player edge. Schmidt made HOF first ballot. Allen deserves the HOF.
@Humes53 I loved watching Allen and I agree with a lot of your points. He was undoubtedly a better pure hitter than Schmidt (.292 lifetime vs. .267) But let's not forget Schmidt won 8 home run titles and 10 Gold Gloves. He was better defensively than Allen and had way more range as a third baseman. A permanent home a first base would have helped for Allen. But, Allen deserves a place in the Hall along side Schmidt. He was great - but I have to give the edge to Schmidt.
@tommya True, I'm a Richie Allen fan, but Mike Schmidt by comparison was a better all-round player. He could field at third base almost as well as Brooks Robinson or Craig Nettles. Richie was a great hitter, one of the most awesome I'd ever seen, but he was not a great fielder. But despite that, he does deserve to be in the HOF. I think he suffered a lot in Philly as they were far tougher on him than any other player on the team. And Richie was their best.
@keagleman21 I do want to add one somewhat unknown trivia about Dick Allen's reputation as a poor fielder. Allen was originally an outfielder in the minors and without any prior experience was switched over to third base in order to find a spot for him in the line-up. I cannot imagine how he had such a fantastic season at bat while getting used to a new and difficult position like third base. So, it is an unfair reputation Allen had and quite courageous of him to play third.
Dick Allen was my favorite player growing up. There is no doubt in my mind he is a "Hall of Famer". His power was legendary. Controversy aside, if there was ever a pick up game of the greatest players, he would be starting for one of the teams. His respect amoung those who played with him and against, from hall of famers in both leagues, most (if not all) have him going into the hall. Listen to Cepeda, McCovey, and Mays! Their credentials certainly outweigh the voters in my mind!
TboneLegend1 1 month ago
i went to a night game at comiskey in '72.8th inning,down of a 1-0 game.one on, here's richie.WHACK! it disappeared into the black in cf, i don't know where it landed.i read the next day it went completely over the bullpen,off to the right side of the stands beyond,into the waterfall at the back of the wall.i was shouting in the ear of my girlfriend.she was shouting back in my ear.neither of us could hear the other.never heard a louder crowd ever anywhere. still remember that day.awesome memory
kingcoach13 2 months ago
deserves to make it! His career OPS is .912, that's so high for the era he played in argh
pretzelpimp 4 months ago
This guy had some tremendous power, it is legendary. Extraordinary opposite field power, his home runs to right center went nearly as far as the ones he pulled. I never saw him play, best opposite field home run hitter I ever saw was Mike Piazza. I would love to have seen Dick Allen hit.
TwoThreeNineJohn 5 months ago
I began following baseball 1967. I heard people say, at that time, he was the best hitter, if not the best player in baseball. He was a better hitter than even Hank Aaron ...at that time.
Nestor123057 6 months ago
My alltime favorite player .... I followed his career like no one else !!! He was the GREATEST !!!!
Z2daA 7 months ago
Dick Allen HOF? Yes! He was a truly amazing player. There was no chip on his shoulder. This was all created by the press. The first run in Allen had was when he defended a black teammate from the racist abuses of Dick Stuart who cowardly hit Allen with his bat and injured his shoulder. A problem he would deal with for the rest of his career. Allen was at that time on his way to a possible triple-crown season. Allen was outspoken at a time when black players were put down for it like Clemente was
lemaxmas 8 months ago
@lemaxmas When teammates were questioned over the years the majority stated he was a likable man and a great teammate. The rep he was hung with by the press was all hype and nonsense as a means to sell papers. Plus the Philly fans were real tough on him. He'd have had a much better career had he started elsewhere.
lemaxmas 8 months ago
HOF in my book!
triofdoom 8 months ago
Close, but I don't think so. Had he played for a winning organization back then (like the Cardinals or the Dodgers), or had The Phillies won the 1964 WS instead of imploding like they did, I'd say yes.
rayjr62 9 months ago
My uncle (who is in the hall of fame himself) played a few years with Dick Allen and to this day maintains that Allen is the greatest player he has ever played with (he also played with Reggie Jackson and Dave Winfield). I had the pleasure of meeting Allen in 1972 when he played with the White Sox (MVP season). He was one of the nicest players I have ever met. My uncle? He's Goose Gossage.
sage80915 10 months ago
@loughran03 Dick Allen wasnt fan friendly like Cal Ripken Jr or Tony Gwynn but neither was Eddie Murray,Ricky Henderson,Johnny Bench or Steve Carlton.Ive met Dick Allen and much of his family over the past 25 years and he is a mellowed out wonderful gentleman who is very friendly to his old fans such as myself and gave his autograph and even gave me tips on how to handicap horse races.Try to look at the thrills Dick Allen sacraficed his privacy for and remember him as the 1964 ROY=1972 MVP.
YoVaginaStinks1 1 year ago 2
Dick Allen SHOULD BE in the Hall of fame....Love you Uncle Richie!
catie65 1 year ago
Dick Allen should be in the Hall no doubt in 11 full seasons 13 overall spent 2 rotating between Triple A & the majors Allen had 351 homeruns 1119 RBI's & was a .292 career hitter that's an average of 35 homeruns & 100 RBI's per season & he also won the MVP in 1972 & was a 7 time All Star That's a Hall of Fame player!!!
pgraybengal 1 year ago
Agreed--eleven years of dominance should be enough for the Hall of Fame, but few writers liked him and the Phillies have never mounted a Phil Rizzuto/Jim Rice type campaign to get him in. Guess we'll have to be happy with Cepeda's calling him the best, and also Goose Gossage saying the same thing; as well as Mickey Lolich saying he still has nightmares about Allen's line drives zooming past his head. His 1972 season was as serious a run at the Triple Crown as we've seen in the last 40 years.
fek2000 1 year ago
First of all, the most exciting baseball player I've ever seen, and 1972 in Chicago, Dick Allen was bigger than any athlete in Chicago history, period...Santo vs Allen just remember if Santo goes in, Allen has to go in too because Santo couldn't hold Allens jock...If they keep Santo out than I understand keeping Allen out but there is no comparison, Dick Allen from 1964-1974 was as good as anybody who put on a pair of spikes...
ThePistol3 1 year ago
Dick Allen desreves to be in the HOF. He has comperable stats to other HOF members like Orlando Cepada, Hank Greenberg and Johnny Mize. He was among the most dominant players of his era in both leagues. He's an mvp, ranks 44th all-time in slugging percentage among other offensive catagories and had excellent speed for a big man. His only liability was early in his career at third base, but he became a decent fielding first baseman and was one of the most powerful and feared hitters ever.
keagleman21 1 year ago
@loughran03 There are stories like that about EVERY major leaguer with only a few exceptions {Stan Musial, Dale Murphy}. They are never in a signing mood all the time and if you catch them in the middle of a bad day, you get what you get. He saved baseball in Comiskey Park in the early seventies when the Sox were considering leaving town. Google Chicago Online Dick Allen for the facts. Nobody since has come as close to a Triple Crown as he did in 1972. He deserves to be in the HOF.
fek2000 1 year ago
Of those 9... Dawson is now in. I'd put in Hernandez (even though I'm a demented Yankee Fan who despises the Mets), Oliva, Blyleven and Santo. I could be talked into Tiant, whose career stats resemble Catfish Hunter's and Jim Bunning's, and they're in. Smith's best argument, that he's the all-time saves leader, is now gone. McGwire wouldn't be considered without steroids. Allen's a tough case. He had HOF talent, but I think he falls 2 solid seasons short. And it's not all his fault.
UncleMikeNJ 1 year ago
He's a much better player than Orlando Cepeda and they voted him in. Cepeda's not exactly a saint either. He's not as good as Schmidt though, people need to stop smokin the funny stuff.
chiflao2 1 year ago
He was far from a good fielder, and his career was kind of short, but he was one of the greatest hitters and put up amazing numbers in a pitchers' era. He should get in though
EeVvAaNn3 1 year ago
Its a damn shame richie allen is not in the hall of fame
rahmit47 1 year ago
I am a White Sox fan that saw all of Dick Allen`s games in Chicago and i will testify that i have not seen a greater talent. His first hit in Chicago was a line drive past the pitcher that the CF took a step in to field only to watch the ball continue over his head to short hop the fence for a double. It went 400 feet without ever getting higher than 8 feet high. You never saw a more charismatic hitter, that`s for sure. It was pure entertainment whenever he had a bat in his hands.
rlegear19 2 years ago
If Allen had never had to bother learning third base (the hot corner), and only had to concentrate on hitting, his numbers undoubtedly would have been higher. Dick was a much better hitter than Schmidt, and played when the pitching and the size of the parks and the dead ball made what he did offensively twice as good as Schmidt. Schmitty in 1965 not the player of 1980. Dick Allen the better overall player than Schmidt.
Humes53 2 years ago
Dick Allen was better than Mike Schmidt. Schmidt played after the mound was lowered, the baseball was "souped up", and the league was expanded or watered down. Also the stadiums smaller. Dick should have been made to play left field and concentrate on hitting.
Humes53 2 years ago
@Hume53
Dick Allen hit a ball with an authority that I had only witnessed from Mantle. Allen finished with a lifetime OPS of .912, leading the league 4X. Schmidt finished at .908 also leading 4X. Allen, played 5-seasons with the higher mound and his home games in tougher hitter's parks. Schmidt did sustain his offensive excellence longer. Both ran well but Schimdt played far better defense, giving him the overall player edge. Schmidt made HOF first ballot. Allen deserves the HOF.
DickAllen4HOF 2 years ago
@Humes53 I loved watching Allen and I agree with a lot of your points. He was undoubtedly a better pure hitter than Schmidt (.292 lifetime vs. .267) But let's not forget Schmidt won 8 home run titles and 10 Gold Gloves. He was better defensively than Allen and had way more range as a third baseman. A permanent home a first base would have helped for Allen. But, Allen deserves a place in the Hall along side Schmidt. He was great - but I have to give the edge to Schmidt.
tommya 1 year ago
@tommya True, I'm a Richie Allen fan, but Mike Schmidt by comparison was a better all-round player. He could field at third base almost as well as Brooks Robinson or Craig Nettles. Richie was a great hitter, one of the most awesome I'd ever seen, but he was not a great fielder. But despite that, he does deserve to be in the HOF. I think he suffered a lot in Philly as they were far tougher on him than any other player on the team. And Richie was their best.
keagleman21 1 year ago
@keagleman21 I do want to add one somewhat unknown trivia about Dick Allen's reputation as a poor fielder. Allen was originally an outfielder in the minors and without any prior experience was switched over to third base in order to find a spot for him in the line-up. I cannot imagine how he had such a fantastic season at bat while getting used to a new and difficult position like third base. So, it is an unfair reputation Allen had and quite courageous of him to play third.
keagleman21 1 year ago
great vid! hof definitely
phillygabe09 2 years ago