Dick Allen died. The Phillies made the announcement today, Monday. Allen won the NL Rookie of the Year Award and the AL Most Valuable Player Award in his career:
“The Phillies are heartbroken over the passing today of our dear friend and co-worker, Dick Allen,” the team said.
“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,” the Phillies said.
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.
ESPN.com
My thoughts go out to his family and friends, and I am glad he was able to go out on a high note.
Allen posted a .292/.378/.534 career slash line. That .534 slugging percentage was outstanding for the era. From 1961 to 1980, a twenty year period that pads out Allen’s career, only eleven players slugged at last .500 in 5000 plate appearances. (In the last 20 years, 27 players posted that mark.) He led the league in slugging three times, OBP twice and and OPS four times. He made the all-star time seven times.
Allen’s best year came in his rookie season of 1964 in which he posted an 8.8 rWAR. His second best was his MVP season of 1972 with an 8.6 rWAR. In his eleven productive seasons he only fell below three WAR twice, and never below two WAR. Once could argue that his 1967 season was his best, as he posted a 5.3 rWAR in just 122 games.
I’ve posted this before, but here is a beautiful song about Mr. Allen.
I was a kid back then, and was living in the middle of nowhere without much access to sports media, but I can still remember what a big deal it was when he said he wanted to be called “Dick” instead of “Richie”. I can’t give you a percentage, but there were a lot of broadcasters and writers whose attitude seemed to be, “How dare he think he can say what he wants to be called?” We look back at it now and wonder what the big deal was, but it was a huge thing at the time.
It makes me wonder what things there are that seem like big deals now, that in future years people will wonder what the big deal was.