Dick Allen

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Allen was born in Wampum, Pennsylvania, one of nine children of Era and Coy Allen, a truck driver. After his parents divorced, he was mainly raised by his mother who worked as a housekeeper. He grew up in Chewton, Pennsylvania. He attended Wampum High School where, along with his brothers Hank and Ron, he was a star basketball player; all three earned All-State honors. In the 1958 and 1960 seasons, Allen captained the basketball team, leading them to the state championship and earning All-American honors. Despite their prowess in basketball, the brothers chose to prioritize baseball as it paid better and they wanted to buy their mother a new house. Dick was scouted by Phillies scout Jack Ogden who convinced the team to sign Allen in 1960 for a $70,000 bonus. Allen faced racial harassment while playing for the Phillies' minor league affiliate in Little Rock; residents sent death threats to Allen, the local team's first black player. His first full season in the majors, 1964, ranks among the greatest rookie seasons ever. He led the league in runs (125), triples (13), extra base hits (80), and total bases (352); Allen finished in the top five in batting average (.318), slugging average (.557), hits (201), and doubles (38) and won Rookie of the Year. Playing for the first time at third base, he led the league with 41 errors. Along with outfielder Johnny Callison and pitchers Chris Short and Jim Bunning, Allen led the Phillies to a six-and-a-half game hold on first place with 12 games to play. The 1964 Phillies then lost ten straight games and finished tied for second place. The Phillies lost the first game of the streak to the Cincinnati Reds when Chico Ruiz stole home with Frank Robinson batting for the game's only run. In Allen's autobiography, Crash: The Life and Times of Dick Allen, Allen stated that the play 'broke our humps'. Despite the Phillies' collapse, Allen hit .438 with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs and 11 RBI in those last 12 games. Allen hit a two-run home run off the Cubs' Larry Jackson on May 29, 1965 that cleared the Coke sign on Connie Mack Stadium's left-center field roof. That home run, an estimated 529-footer, inspired Willie Stargell to say: 'Now I know why they (the Phillies fans) boo Richie all the time. When he hits a home run, there's no souvenir.' While playing for Philadelphia, Allen appeared on several All-Star teams including t

In Their Own Story

The summer of 1964 saw Richard Allen emerge as one of baseball's most formidable rookies. He led the National League in runs (125), triples (13), extra-base hits (80), and total bases (352). Playing third base for the first time, he also led the league with 41 errors. Alongside Johnny Callison, Chris Short, and Jim Bunning, Allen helped the Phillies hold a six-and-a-half game lead in September with 12 games remaining. The team suffered a historic collapse, losing ten straight games to finish tied for second. In that final 12-game stretch alone, Allen hit .438 with five doubles, two triples, three home runs, and 11 RBI. A pivotal moment occurred when Chico Ruiz stole home against the Cincinnati Reds; in his autobiography, Allen stated this play "broke our humps." Despite the team's failure, his individual performance was undeniable, winning him Rookie of the Year honors. Years later, on September 3, 2020, the Phillies retired his uniform number 15, just months before his death.

Reader's Guide

Dick Allen was a seven-time All-Star, the 1964 NL Rookie of the Year, and the 1972 AL MVP. He played first base and third base during his 15-year MLB career, primarily for the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox. He led the AL in home runs twice, the NL in slugging once and the AL twice, and each league in on-base percentage once. His career .534 slugging percentage was among the highest of his era. The Phillies retired his number 15 on September 3, 2020, and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 27.

Did You Know?

• Allen was nicknamed 'Crash' and 'the Wampum Walloper'.
• He was scouted by Phillies scout Jack Ogden and signed for a $70,000 bonus in 1960.
• In 1964, he led the National League in runs (125), triples (13), extra base hits (80), and total bases (352).
• He wore his batting helmet while playing in the field, which led to the nickname 'Crash Helmet', later shortened to 'Crash'.
• Allen was traded from the Phillies to the St. Louis Cardinals before the 1970 season.