COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Dick Allen, who won the 1972 American League MVP award with the White Sox, is one of eight Classic Baseball Era Committee finalists up for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum announced the Classic Baseball Era Committee finalists on Monday.
The ballot includes two other candidates who played for the White Sox: pitcher Tommy John — of the surgery fame — whose 26-year career included seven seasons with the South Siders from 1965-71, including an AL All-Star selection in 1968, before he was traded in a deal for Allen; and third baseman Ken Boyer, who had brief stints with the team in 1967-68 near the end of his 15-year career.
The other candidates are Steve Garvey, Dave Parker, Luis Tiant, John Donaldson and Vic Harris. The latter two were stars in the Negro Leagues.
The eight Classic Baseball Era Committee finalists were chosen from all eligible candidates whose most significant impact was realized prior to 1980.
The Classic Baseball Era Committee will meet during baseball’s winter meetings in Dallas. The results of the committee’s vote will be announced live on MLB Network’s “MLB Tonight” at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8.
‘Crash’ Allen
Nicknamed “Crash,” Allen was a versatile power hitter who played every position during his MLB career, except pitcher, catcher and shortstop.
He compiled 351 homers, 1,119 RBI and a .292 batting average for five different teams. He played two separate stints with the Philadelphia Phillies, from 1963-69 and again from 1975-76. He was named NL Rookie of the Year in 1964 after breaking into the big leagues late in ’63.
Prior to his big-league call-up, Allen was on the 1963 Phillies’ Triple-A team when it was integrated after moving from Buffalo to Little Rock, Ark., becoming the first Black player to play there.
Allen was eventually traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he spent the 1970 season, then traded again to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he played in 1971.
Allen was traded yet again following the 1971 season, to the White Sox in the deal that included John.
Allen had three great seasons with the White Sox from 1972-74, earning an AL All-Star selection each year. His best came in the 1972 MVP campaign, when Allen led the AL in homers (37), RBI (113), walks (99) and slugging percentage (.603) and led all of MLB in on-base percentage (.420) and OPS (1.023).
In 1974, Allen again led the AL in homers (32) and OPS (.938) and led all of MLB in slugging percentage (.563).
Despite Allen’s success, however, the White Sox never finished higher than second in the AL West during his time with the team.
The White Sox dealt Allen to the Atlanta Braves, who dealt him right back to the Phillies, following the 1974 season. He wrapped up his career with the Oakland A’s in 1977.
Allen died on Dec. 7, 2020, in his hometown of Wampum, Penn., at age 78.