Dick Allen, one of baseball's most famed hitters of the 60s and 70s, dies at 78 as teammates and rivals remember him as the 'smartest' player and 'a sensitive black man who refused to be treated as a second-class citizen'
Dick Allen, the Major League All-Star who overcame racist abuse from fans and teammates to become one of baseball's most feared hitters, died on Monday at 78.
The 1964 National League Rookie of the Year and and 1972 American League Most Valuable Player passed away at his home in Wampum, Pennsylvania. His death was announced Monday by his official Twitter, account, although a cause was not disclosed. The Philadelphia Phillies, one of Allen's five MLB clubs, confirmed the news in a statement.
'With sadness in our hearts, we need to share that Dick passed away this afternoon at his home in Wampum,' read a tweet from the Dick Allen Twitter account.
Dick Allen (pictured here in 2014), the Major League All-Star who overcame racist abuse from fans and teammates to become one of baseball's most feared hitters, died on Monday at 78
Richard 'Dick' Allen, of the Philadelphia Phillies, poses for a portrait prior a game in 1966 against the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Ohio
Dick Allen pictured playing first base behind Pirates baserunner Willie Stargell in 1976
According to the Phillies, Allen was preceded in death by his daughter, Terri, and is survived by his wife, Willa.
'The Phillies are heartbroken over the passing today of our dear friend and co-worker, Dick Allen,' read a team statement.
'Dick will be remembered as not just one of the greatest and most popular players in our franchise's history, but also as a courageous warrior who had to overcome far too many obstacles to reach the level he did.
'Dick's iconic status will resonate for generations of baseball fans to come as one of the all-time greats to play America's Pastime.'
Allen spent most of his career in Philadelphia
The first baseman is one of several former Major League stars to pass away in 2020, following legendary St. Louis Cardinals teammates Bob Gibson and Lou Brock, New York Mets ace Tom Seaver, New York Yankees teammates Whitey Ford and Don Larsen, as well as Cincinnati Reds second baseman Joe Morgan.
Although he is primarily remembered for his time in Philadelphia, Allen had his best season in Chicago, where he won the AL MVP award while hitting .308 with 37 home runs for the White Sox. The seven-time All-Star finished his career with 351 home runs and 1,119 RBIs in 15 seasons with the Phillies, White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland Athletics, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
'Dick Allen played with fire in his eyes,' Hall of Fame relief pitcher Rich 'Goose' Gossage told USA Today Sports. 'He's the smartest baseball man I've ever been around in my life.
'There's no telling the numbers this guy could have put up if all he worried about was stats.'
In addition to the 1972 American League MVP award, Allen also won 1964 National League Rookie of the Year honors while hitting 29 home runs and scoring a league-best 125 runs
He was only in Chicago for three years, but many remember Allen's SI cover with the White Sox
Baseball writer Claire Smith wrote that Allen 'deserved so much better from baseball'
His place in baseball history remains a source of debate.
Allen's candidacy for the Hall of Fame has become a cause célèbre among fans and journalists, who see his continued denial as one of many slights he's endured.
For instance, while playing in Philadelphia - where he frequently heard racial taunts from the crowd - Allen began wearing a batting helmet because angry fans actually threw batteries at his head.
And it wasn't just the spectators.
Phillies slugger Frank Thomas and Allen got into a fist fight during the 1965 season, with Thomas allegedly hitting Allen with a bat.
According to deceased Philadelphia Daily News writer Bill Conlin, the friction between the two players began weeks earlier, when Thomas asked Allen as they left their hotel: 'Hey, boy, can you carry my bags to the lobby?'
Allen had the fifth-most home runs (319) over an 11-year span (1964-74) behind four Hall of Famers: Hank Aaron (391), Harmon Killebrew (336), Willie Stargell (335) and Willie McCovey (327). His .940 OPS during that time was second to Aaron's .941
Thomas was traded after the incident, giving him the chance to tell his side of the story. Meanwhile, Allen was forbidden by the Phillies from addressing the fight and was seen as a troublemaker by fans who were upset to see a white player lose his spot on the team.
Any animosity between Allen and Philadelphia appeared to dissipate in September when his No. 15 was retired by the Phillies.
In fact, Phillies managing partner John Middleton broke from the team's longstanding 'unwritten' policy of only retiring the number of players who are in the Hall of Fame to honor Allen.
'I thank the city of Philadelphia. Even though it was rough, I've made some friends along the way,' Allen said in an emotional ceremony on a warm, sunny afternoon.
Mike Schmidt, a Hall of Fame third baseman who helped lure Allen out of retirement to return to Philadelphia for a second stint with the team in 1975, was among the former players who attended the ceremony.
They wore masks and sat several feet apart during the coronavirus pandemic that shortened the major league season to 60 games. The Phillies planned to honor Allen again in 2021 with fans in attendance.
Past players of the Phillies, Dick Allen, Larry Bowa, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton and Jim Bunning during the Pat Burrell "Wall of Fame" Induction ceremony before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on July 31, 2015 in Philadelphia
Schmidt called Allen 'an amazing mentor' who was wrongly labeled a 'bad teammate' and 'troublemaker.'
'Dick was a sensitive Black man who refused to be treated as a second-class citizen,' Schmidt said in a speech. 'He played in front of home fans that were products of that racist era racist teammates and different rules for whites and Blacks. Fans threw stuff at him and thus Dick wore a batting helmet throughout the whole game. They yelled degrading racial slurs. They dumped trash in his front yard at his home. In general, he was tormented and it came from all directions. And Dick rebelled.'
Schmidt pointed out Allen didn't have a negative reputation playing for the Cardinals, Dodgers and White Sox. He also campaigned for Allen's induction into the Hall of Fame.
'My friends, these labels have kept Dick Allen out of the Hall of Fame,' Schmidt said. 'Imagine what Dick could've accomplished as a player in another era, on another team, left alone to hone his skills, to be confident, to come to the ballpark every day and just play baseball.'
Dick Allen hits against the Pirates in 1976
Allen was Middleton's favorite player as a kid. He called the abuse Allen received 'horrific' and pointed out his accomplishments are even greater considering the racism he endured.
Allen batted .292 with 351 homers, 1,119 RBIs and .912 OPS in 15 seasons. He played first base, third base and left field.
After seven seasons in Philadelphia, where he rose to prominence by hammering balls over the Coca-Cola sign and out of Connie Mack Stadium in batting practice, Allen played a season with the Cardinals and Dodgers.
In 1972, he joined the Chicago White Sox and was the AL MVP. He finished his 15-year career with Oakland in 1977.
Allen had the fifth-most home runs (319) over an 11-year span (1964-74) behind four Hall of Famers: Hank Aaron (391), Harmon Killebrew (336), Willie Stargell (335) and Willie McCovey (327). His .940 OPS during that time was second to Aaron's .941.
Allen wasn't elected into the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America and he fell one vote short in Golden Era Committee voting in 2014. The Golden Days Committee and the Early Days Committee did not vote this year because of COVID-19 and instead will meet during the winter of 2021.
'He is now reunited with his beloved daughter, Terri. The Phillies extend their condolences to Dick's widow, Willa, his family, friends and all his fans from coast to coast,' the Phillies said in the team statement.