An injustice corrected: Dick Allen inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame

It has taken far too long, but a wrong was righted Sunday night.

After decades of being snubbed and years of just missing the cut, Phillies legend Dick Allen has finally been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Classic Baseball Era Committee.

Dave Parker, the Cobra, was also inducted.

Allen never received more than 18.9% of votes on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2014 and 2021, Allen fell one vote short of the 12 votes needed to be inducted by the “Golden Era Committee.” Finally, all these years later, there is good in the world.

The late slugger, who passed away in his hometown of Wampum, PA on December 7, 2020, at the age of 78, will have his legacy remembered in Cooperstown.

Allen hit .292/.378/.533 with a .912 OPS in his 15-year major league career, with 1,848 hits, 351 home runs, and 1,119 RBIs, earning him seven All-Star selections, Rookie of the Year award in 1964, and the American League MVP in 1972.

Allen had two stints in Philadelphia. His first was from 1963-1969, and then in 1975 and 1976. He also spent three years with the White Sox, where he won his MVP, and one season with the Dodgers, Cardinals, and Athletics.

In his rookie season in 1964, he led the majors in runs (125), and triples (13). He led the National League in total bases that season, as well, with 352.

In that 1972 season, Allen led the AL in WAR (8.6), home runs (37), RBIs, (113), walks (99), and slugging percentage (.603), while leading the MLB in OBP (.420), OPS (1.023), and OPS+ (199).

Allen had 20+ homers and .850+ OPS seasons every season from 1964-74. The only other player to that in that time span: Hank Aaron.

The Phillies retired Allen’s jersey number 15 in 2020, breaking the Phillies’ rule as the first non-Hall of Famer to have his jersey retired by the franchise.

Allen played during an era of high racial hardship and did not have good relationships with the media, the Phillies organization, or the fanbase.

“Dick did the wrong thing, he became the best player on his team,” Mike Schmidt said during Allen’s number retirement ceremony. “He became the star of the team. He was a sensitive Black man who refused to be treated as a second-class citizen… Dick has had to fight labels his entire life.”

“I am overjoyed that the Classic Baseball Era Committee has recognized that Dick is worthy of being immortalized in the Baseball Hall of Fame, it has been a long time coming,” Phillies owner John Middleton said Sunday night. “The Phillies look forward to celebrating this honor with Dick’s family.”

“What a tremendous, well-deserved honor for my friend Dick who has always been a Hall of Famer to me,” Larry Bowa said Sunday night. “He meant so much to the Phillies organization throughout the years. His experience and leadership were instrumental in the development of players like Mike Schmidt, Bob Boone, Greg Luzinski, Garry Maddox, and myself. He taught me how to play the game the right way. I am elated that he is finally going into the Hall of Fame.”

A crime has been amended. Allen will forever live in Cooperstown, New York. Here is the moment Allen’s family found out he is a Hall of Famer:

Video via @lochlahn/X

---

Use code PHILLYSPORTSREPORT for $20 off your first SeatGeek order

Click here to save 10% on any order at FOCO