Post by Howard on Jan 21, 2018 0:51:59 GMT -5
We shall wait and see, "Golden Era Ballot" results coming this week. So then...
Dick Allen Snub (again) in 2018?
The Number One reason why Richie Allen should be in the BBW Hall of Fame is Simple... Richie Allen was THE MOST FEARED Hitter in ALL of Baseball for a Decade, Hands Down. Anybody who followed Major League Baseball between 1964 to 1973 can certainly attest to that simple fact...
For Example: These are adjusted OPS numbers between 1964 and 1973. Seventeen Hall of Famers played 1000 or more games during those same ten years (1964-1973). Dick Allen had a better OPS+ than ALL of them.
Player Name OPS+
Dick Allen 165
Hank Aaron 161
Willie McCovey 161
Frank Robinson 161
Harmon Killebrew 152
Willie Stargell 152
Roberto Clemente 151
Willie Mays 148
Frank Howard 147
Carl Yastrzemski 145
Al Kaline 140
Boog Powell 140
Billy Williams 139
Tony Oliva 137
Ron Santo 136
If Richie Allen were playing today, would he not dominate Sports Radio and TMZ with his antics? There is a good chance, as when Dick (Formerly known as "Richie") Allen played; he was as good as he was controversial.
The case for Dick Allen’s induction is a strong one. One should note that Pitchers had a 15-inch High Mound, up until lowered to 10-inch starting with 1969 Season. To quote Denny McLain (referring to the new lowered mound) back in 1969, quote,"It's like pitching from inside a Manhole!"
Dick Allen was a power hitter in an era dominated by strong starting pitching. His impressive power numbers are complimented nicely by his three slugging titles. Allen could hit for average and despite his ability to hit tape measure bombs (many claim that he may have lost 10 to 12 HR's a year whilst playing in confines of Shibe Park, where the Power Alleys were around 400 Ft deep, and dead-center was 'Grand Canyon-Sized' 447 ft away from Home Plate!). The history of any ballpark from the steel-and-concrete era wouldn’t be complete without at least one Babe Ruth story, although Richie Allen’s 529-foot blast in 1965 is officially the longest in Shibe Park annals. And finally, he collected walks by the truckload and led the league in on-base percentage twice. With a Rookie of the Year and MVP trophy, Dick Allen proved his merit as one of the best offensive players of his time.
The detractors point to his poor defense (especially at third) and that he was not around as long as others. Allen was called a clubhouse cancer by some and he was not a friend to the press. With that said, managers who he played for (Gene Mauch and Chuck Tanner) referred to him as a great team guy and a leader. As he was maligned by baseball print media and had other outside interests, Dick Allen got a reputation that in retrospect seems undeserved. That reputation may have been a big reason that he did not get into the Hall of Fame.
The Bullet Points
Country of Origin:
Wampum, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Eligible In:
Saturday, 01 January 1983
Position:
First Base, Third Base
Played For:
Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies
Major Accolades and Awards:
Most Valuable Player - 1 (AL) (1972)
Rookie of the Year (NL) (1964)
7-Time All Star (1965, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1973 & 1974)
Highest On Base Percentage - 2 (NL) (1967) (AL) (1972)
Highest Slugging Percentage - 3 (NL) (1966) (AL) (1972 & 1973)
Most Runs - 1 (NL) (1964)
Most Total Bases - 1 (NL) (1964)
Most Triples - 1 (NL) (1964)
Most Home Runs - 2 (AL) (1972 & 1974)
Most Runs Batted In - 1 (AL) (1972)
Most Walks - 1 (AL) (1972)
Highest WAR for Position Players - 1 (AL) (1972)
Highest OPS - 4 (NL) (1966 & 1967) (AL) (1972 & 1974)
Other Points of Note:
Other Top Ten MVP Finishes: (Won the 1972 AL MVP)
(NL: 1964, 7th) & (NL: 1966, 4th)
6 Top Ten Finishes (Batting Average)
7 Top Ten Finishes (On Base Percentage)
8 Top Ten Finishes (Slugging Percentage)
6 Top Ten Finishes (Runs Scored)
3 Top Ten Finishes (Most Hits)
6 Top Ten Finishes (Total Bases)
4 Top Ten Finishes (Doubles)
6 Top Ten Finishes (Triples)
8 Top Ten Finishes (Home Runs)
4 Top Ten Finishes (Runs Batted In)
7 Top Ten Finishes (Walks)
2 Top Ten Finishes (Stolen Bases)
6 Top Ten Finishes (WAR for Position Players)
10 Top Ten Finishes (OPS)
Notable All Time Rankings:
43. Slugging Percentage: .534
54. OPS: .912
92. Home Runs: 351
Vote Percentage Received for the Hall of Fame:
1983: 3.7
1985: 7.1
1986: 9.6
1987: 13.3
1988: 12.2
1989: 7.8
1990: 13.1
1991: 13.3
1992: 16.0
1993: 16.5
1994: 14.5
1995: 15.7
1996: 18.9
1997: 16.7
2014: Sixteen voters would decide whether Allen was admitted.
Twelve votes was what he needed. Eleven is what he got.
2018:??
Should be Inducted As A:
Philadelphia Phillie
Reference:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GfT3IsltDk
www.notinhalloffame.com/baseball/899-18-dick-allen
www.billjamesonline.com/article914/
