Allen favorite Sox player over 60 seasons

Bummed about the death of Dick Allen at 78 today. He was my all-time favorite Sox player since I began following the Pale Hose in 1951. Allen, then known as Richie, won Rookie of the Year in 1964 with the Phillies. But no Jackie Robinson or Ernie Banks in demeanor, Allen faced unrelenting racism from Phillies fans and press which he didn’t ignore. It earned him enough enmity in the game to likely make him the best player never enshrined in the Hall. Baseball stat guru Bill James was vicious, claiming Allen “used racism as an explosive to blow his teams apart. He did more to keep his teams from winning than anybody else who ever played major league ball”.

But when he came to the Sox in ’72 after 7 years with the Phillies and one season each with the Cards and Dodgers, there wasn’t a hint of James’ reverse racist nonsense. He was a team player and fan fave from Opening Day, having the greatest season of his 15, copping the MVP Award and propelling the Sox to contention. Allen’s home runs weren’t moon shots, just absolute ropes that hit the stands in an instant. I was thrilled to see a few at old Comisky where Allen brought the fans back after years of mediocrity. He’s the only player I ever saw who got an ovation striking out swinging. Injured for half the next season, Allen thrilled again in ’74 before moving back to the Phillies for two more years and a final one with Oakland before retiring after ’77.

The Sox should honor Allen by retiring his No. 15 at Opening Day next year.