RIP.
A many who really enjoyed his private life during his playing days. RIP
Injury prone, marched to his own drummer. Left the team on at least one occasion. Chuck Tanner was the manager, the only one he respected the when he left. The game was between 2nd and 3rd place. Did he ever knock in 100 runs? Played for the Dodgers and A’s- 1 year each. Not HOF material.
>> credited by many for saving the franchise from relocation <<
Speaking ill of the dead?
>> one of the best to never make the Hall of Fame. <<
The #1 criteria for the Hall is playing a long, long career. Tack six mediocre seasons (say, .250-hitting and 15 home runs per season) and he’d’ve made it first ballot... as if any baseball teams really needed a .250/15/80 hitter at first base. But end your career within a couple of seasons of cooling off... and you can forget about it.
He was a monster hitter/slugger when he came up with the Phillies. Rest in peace, Richie.
What makes him a Cubs legend? He played half his career in Philadelphia and then bounced around to a few different clubs for a couple seasons each, including the Cubs. Phillies legend, sure. Cubs legend?
I remember when he went to the White Sox in the American League from the National League. It was a big deal in baseball. The guy hit the hard and far. an MVP award winner. Just short of the HOF, but a great player none the less, when baseball was more than a strike out or homerun.
*** Philly Metro Ping ***
Phillies legend.
He did something unique with the White Sox: during one game he had two inside the park home runs.
I imagine a few other players may have done the same in the 19th Century or the Dead Ball Era. I cannot think of any modern player accomplishing this feat.
RIP.
As I recall he was not happy at Philly and he let the fans know. He would trace his leaving date in the dirt at 3rd base during the game. But no one could argue with his talent. I always thought that if he got rid of the BS he would have been the best in his time.
Allen is tied for 15th with Willie Mays and Frank Thomas in career ops+ at 156, a point ahead of Hank Aaron.
But Aaron played 23 years, Mays 22, Thomas 19. Allen only 15.
If Allen had the same stats with more seasons he’d have been first ballot.
Lesser lights have been voted in since.
Allen was an early critic of artificial turf. He famously said “If a horse can’t eat it, I won’t play on it.”
He was great for awhile but didn’t last long enough to reach the Hall with that attitude. Same with Gary Sheffield.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
