Dick Allen(1942-2020)

Born in Wampum, PA, Dick Allen is widely regarded as one of the best baseball players not in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Allen's playing career spanned from 1963 to 1977. After being drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies, he became the first black superstar for the last National League team to integrate, winning Rookie of the Year in 1964 while leading the league in runs and triples. Known for his towering home runs, Allen hit 177 round-trippers in his first six years with the Phillies on his way to becoming a four-time All-Star. Allen's tenure in Philadelphia was often overshadowed by racial abuse from the fans, and after leaving he spent seasons in St. Louis (where he was again an All-Star) and Los Angeles before moving on to the Chicago White Sox. With the Sox, he was a three-time All-Star and American League MVP in 1972. He would spend two more seasons back in Philadelphia before retiring after only 54 games in his final season with the Oakland Athletics, finalizing his career with a .292 batting average and 351 home runs. In 2020, the Philadelphia Phillies welcomed Allen back to break tradition by retiring his number, an honor only before given to members of the Hall of Fame. Allen passed away on December 7, 2020, at age 78, two days after coming one vote short of being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.