Third Baseman, Philadelphia
Phillies
AKA Richie
Allen
Age: 22
Bats – Right,
Throws – Right
Height: 5’11” Weight: 187
Prior to 1964:
A native of
Wampum, Pennsylvania (hence his being called “the Wampum Walloper”), Allen
excelled in basketball as well as baseball in high school. He signed with the
Phillies as a shortstop in 1960 but was moved to the outfield. Newly wearing
glasses, he hit .281 with Elmira of the Class D New York-Pennsylvania League
and moved up to Magic Valley of the Class C Pioneer League in 1961, where he
clubbed 21 home runs, drove in 94 runs, and batted .317. With Williamsport of
the Class A Eastern League in 1962, Allen hit 20 home runs with 109 RBIs and a
.329 batting average. Promoted to Class AAA Arkansas of the International
League in 1963, thus integrating the Little Rock-based club, he added a
league-leading 33 home runs and a .289 average and earned a late-season call-up
to the Phillies. Shifted to third base for 1964, Allen, was able to add his
powerful right-handed bat to the lineup while playing an unfamiliar position. An
initial and ongoing controversy occurred over the organization’s insistence on
calling him Richie rather than Dick, which he utilized as the preferred nickname
for his first name Richard.
1964 Season Summary
Appeared in 162
games
3B – 162
[Bracketed
numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]
Batting
Plate
Appearances – 709 [2, tied with Billy Williams]
At Bats – 632 [6]
Runs – 125 [1]
Hits – 201 [3,
tied with Billy Williams]
Doubles – 38 [4,
tied with Frank Robinson]
Triples – 13 [1,
tied with Ron Santo]
Home Runs – 29 [7,
tied with Frank Robinson]
RBI – 91 [12]
Bases on Balls
– 67 [7]
Int. BB – 13 [5,
tied with Willie Mays & Denis Menke]
Strikeouts – 138
[1]
Stolen Bases – 3
Caught Stealing
– 4
Average - .318 [5]
OBP - .382 [7]
Slugging Pct. -
.557 [3]
Total Bases – 352
[1]
GDP – 8
HBP – 0
Sac Hits – 6
Sac Flies – 3
League-leading runs
were +4 ahead of runner-up Willie Mays
League-leading
batter strikeouts were +10 ahead of runner-up Billy Cowan
League-leading
total bases were +1 ahead of runner-up Willie Mays
Midseason
snapshot: HR - 16, RBI - 47, AVG - .308, OBP - .368, PCT - .559
---
Most hits, game
– 4 (in 5 AB) at Cincinnati 4/28, (in 6AB) vs. Milwaukee 9/25 – 12 innings
Longest hitting
streak – 11 games
Most HR, game –
2 (in 5 AB) at Chi. Cubs 4/19, (in 5 AB) vs. Pittsburgh 8/23, (in 5 AB) at
Cincinnati 10/4
HR at home – 14
HR on road – 15
Multi-HR games
– 3
Most RBIs, game
– 4 vs. Pittsburgh 8/23, at Pittsburgh 8/29, at Cincinnati 10/4
Pinch-hitting –
No appearances
Fielding
Put Outs – 154
Assists – 325
Errors – 41
DP – 30
Pct. – .921
Awards & Honors:
NL Rookie of
the Year: BBWAA
7th
in NL MVP voting (63 points, 23% share)
NL ROY Voting:
Dick Allen,
Phila.: 18 of 20 votes, 90% share
Rico Carty, Mil.:
1 vote, 5% share
Jim Ray Hart,
SF: 1 vote, 5% share
---
---
Phillies went 92-70
to finish tied for second in the NL with the Cincinnati Reds, one game behind
the pennant-winning St. Louis Cardinals. Leading the league in mid-September by
6.5 games with 12 to play, the Phillies lost 10 straight and had to rally at
the end to deprive Cincinnati of a share of first and salvage second place.
Aftermath of ‘64:
Following a
spring training holdout Allen had another strong season in 1965, although a
fight with first baseman Frank Thomas led to his antagonist being waived and
Allen became a target for frequent booing from the home fans thereafter. He
batted .302 for the year with 20 home runs and 85 RBIs, and he was selected as
an All-Star for the first time. After leading NL third basemen in errors as a
rookie, his defense improved. In 1966
his home run total jumped to 40, and his RBIs to 110, to go with a .317 average
and league-leading .632 slugging percentage. Swinging a 40-ounce bat, Allen was
capable of tape-measure blasts. He could also be temperamental, resistant of
authority, and was frequently fined. Allen’s 1967 season ended in August due to
a hand injury that required surgery, suffered while pushing a car. He still
ended up leading the NL in on-base percentage (.404) while hitting .307 with 23
home runs. He was moved to left field in 1968 and his hitting remained strong
as he belted 33 home runs with 90 RBIs and a .263 average. Allen was at first base in 1969, a year in
which he was suspended for a time due to disciplinary issues and ended up with
32 home runs, 88 RBIs, and a .288 batting average. He was traded to St. Louis
in the offseason and played well, and was once more an All-Star selection,
until a hamstring injury shortened his season that concluded with 34 home runs,
101 RBIs, and a .279 average in 122 games. Allen was traded next to the Los
Angeles Dodgers, where he split time between first and third base and the
outfield and batted .295 with 23 home runs and 90 RBIs in 1971. He was dealt next
to the Chicago White Sox in 1972 where he had a MVP season while leading the AL
with 37 home runs, 113 RBIs, and a .603 slugging percentage. Allen’s 1973
season was interrupted due to a hairline fracture in his right leg suffered in
an on-field collision that limited him to 72 games and led to charges of
malingering. He came back strong in 1974 until abruptly announcing his
retirement in August, still managing to lead the AL with 32 home runs. Still
interested in playing, he was traded to the Braves in the offseason and
announced he would not play for them and in May of ’75 he returned via trade to
the Phillies. He struggled through a miserable season in which he batted .233
with 12 home runs. He had an injury-plagued year in a 1976 season in which the Phillies
won the NL Eastern Division and Allen finally got to appear in the postseason,
with mediocre results. He was released afterward and signed with the Oakland
Athletics in 1977, where Allen finished out his career by batting .240 with
five home runs in 54 games. Highly talented but highly controversial as well, overall
in the major leagues he hit .292 with 351 home runs and 1119 RBIs. 204 home
runs and 655 RBIs came in his two stints with the Phillies, with whom he batted
.290 and appeared in three All-Star games. His brothers Hank and Ron also played
major league baseball.
--
Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were recipients of
the Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America
(1947 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from
its inception through 1948 and from 1949 on to one recipient from each major
league.
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