Phillies legend Dick Allen dies at 78

emar

It's a shame he will miss his election next December & enshrinement into the Hall.
We are sorry we couldn't get it done while you were with us.

R.I.P. Mr. Allen

https://www.inquirer.com/phillies/phillies-dick-allen-hall-of-fame-obituary-20201207.html

nam812

I hope a lot of baseball writers feel really bad about themselves today.

RIP Wampum Walloper.

DBesse27

RIP Mr. Allen

WFFL

His messages written in the infield dirt was classic! If you are not old enough to remember this do a search. He was an awesome player.

GroceryRackPack

"Allen, who generated exceptional bat speed with a heavy 40-ounce bat, often skipped batting practice and sometimes didn’t arrive for Sox games until 45 minutes before the first pitch, former teammate Bill Melton said. He famously graced a 1972 Sports Illustrated cover juggling baseballs in the dugout with a cigarette dangling from his mouth." From the Chicago Sun Times.
I do remember a story on how Dick Allen left Comiskey to go and get tacos during a game.

Mickey71

@GroceryRackPack said:
"Allen, who generated exceptional bat speed with a heavy 40-ounce bat, often skipped batting practice and sometimes didn’t arrive for Sox games until 45 minutes before the first pitch, former teammate Bill Melton said. He famously graced a 1972 Sports Illustrated cover juggling baseballs in the dugout with a cigarette dangling from his mouth." From the Chicago Sun Times.
I do remember a story on how Dick Allen left Comiskey to go and get tacos during a game.

These are the stories that I've heard about him....selected to start in All Star game and is completely late...etc. Were all of these stories false? It seems like the man lived 78 years and no one can make up their mind on how he was for an organization/teammate. Good guy/bad guy. Either way, RIP Mr. Allen. Obviously a very good/great player who is minimally mis-understood or something. I feel bad for his family. Probably should be in the HOF or should have been seriously considered. Seems like he was just thrown under the bus.

GroceryRackPack

@Mickey71 said:

@GroceryRackPack said:
"Allen, who generated exceptional bat speed with a heavy 40-ounce bat, often skipped batting practice and sometimes didn’t arrive for Sox games until 45 minutes before the first pitch, former teammate Bill Melton said. He famously graced a 1972 Sports Illustrated cover juggling baseballs in the dugout with a cigarette dangling from his mouth." From the Chicago Sun Times.
I do remember a story on how Dick Allen left Comiskey to go and get tacos during a game.

These are the stories that I've heard about him....selected to start in All Star game and is completely late...etc. Were all of these stories false? It seems like the man lived 78 years and no one can make up their mind on how he was for an organization/teammate. Good guy/bad guy. Either way, RIP Mr. Allen. Obviously a very good/great player who is minimally mis-understood or something. I feel bad for his family. Probably should be in the HOF or should have been seriously considered. Seems like he was just thrown under the bus.

I think the 73 AS game he was late for that one, elected as a starter but replaced due to injury by John Mayberry.

JoeBanzai

@Mickey71 said:

>

These are the stories that I've heard about him....selected to start in All Star game and is completely late...etc. Were all of these stories false? It seems like the man lived 78 years and no one can make up their mind on how he was for an organization/teammate. Good guy/bad guy. Either way, RIP Mr. Allen. Obviously a very good/great player who is minimally mis-understood or something. I feel bad for his family. Probably should be in the HOF or should have been seriously considered. Seems like he was just thrown under the bus.

If I remember correctly Jim Kaat wrote a story about him in the book "Cult Baseball Players".

Jim seemed to really admire Dick's ability to hit a baseball, but also said that Allen just wasn't that obsessed with being a baseball player and all the crud that went along with it.

I think Kaat said Dick was a lot more interested in horse racing than baseball.

daltex

@Mickey71 said:
Probably should be in the HOF or should have been seriously considered. Seems like he was just thrown under the bus.

Allen was on the HoF ballot until his eligibility expired. I'd say that was serious consideration.