On a cold Sunday night at the Hilton Anatole, amid the Winter Meetings frenzy, a private banquet room was filled with resonating cheers, heartfelt embraces, and tears of joy. Not for any recent headline-grabbing acquisitions, but for the honoring of an older legend, Dick Allen, and his long-deserved election to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Rich ‘Goose’ Gossage, a famed Hall of Famer himself, deemed it the most uplifting news he’d received, far surpassing the recent announcement of Juan Soto’s deal with the Mets.
Allen’s Hall of Fame induction announcement was not audible in the room, drowned out by the overwhelming clamor of jubilation and applause that erupted at the stage. The evidence of his election came from the big screen that showcased the sequence of alphabetically-ordered announcements that the National Baseball Hall of Fame president clocks off traditionally. ‘D’ for Dick Allen came before any other, and thus he was announced first.
Richard Allen Jr., the son of Dick Allen, likened the moment to the bursting of a long-swelling pimple – an unorthodox, yet vivid description of the profound relief felt by the Allen family. Reflecting on the agonizing five minutes of suspense leading up to the announcement, he maintained that all that pent-up tension and anticipation simply underscored the thrill of victory. And yes, every iota of that wait was indeed worth it.
Highlight clips of his dad’s playing days flickered on the TV screen, adding another layer of emotion to an already stirring evening. As Richard Jr. gazed at those reruns, the grandeur of this long-overdue acknowledgement of his father’s achievements became even more glowing. Commemorating a legend is one thing; immortalizing him is another, and that night, Dick Allen was immortalized.
Following suit were the results of the ballot count. Dave Parker received a unanimous 14 out of 16 nods, and Allen himself accessed the sacred club, courtesy of 13 out of 16 votes, thus meeting the 75 percent threshold required for induction. The ballot comprised of stalwarts who had wrought their magic on the diamond prior to 1980.
Although this was Allen’s seventh review under the Veterans Committee and he had previously fallen short by a single vote in 2015 and 2022, his name now gleams amongst the Hall of Famers, where it has always belonged. Moreover, this was the same stage where Allen’s candidacy was first advocated in 1983 by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Sharing this towering achievement with Dave Parker added an extra touch of sentimentality for the Allen Family. Richard Jr. remembers his father cherishing his camaraderie with Parker, evident in the baseball glove gifted by Parker to Richard Jr., engraved with ‘Cobra 39’. To have both legends honored at the same time truly hits the emotional home run.
Chuck Tanner, Allen’s manager at the White Sox from 1972-74, had a special place in those golden memories. Once docked at the South of Chicago, Allen’s career underwent a spectacular renaissance that saw him create moments still etched in the spirit of White Sox fans.
Ever the catalyst for change, Allen’s entry sparked a resurgence in Chicago’s baseball scene that rocketed the White Sox’s home attendance from a modest 495,355 in 1970 to a staggering one million during his three-season run with the squad. A captivating demonstration of Allen’s profound effect on Chicago’s baseball fortunes.
The zenith of Allen’s career came in 1972 when he clinched the American League Most Valuable Player honor, averaging .308 with 37 home runs, 113 RBIs, a 1.023 OPS, and 19 stolen bases. Allen fell just 10 points shy of winning the coveted Triple Crown, bested only by icons Rod Carew and Lou Piniella.
The White Sox or the Phillies, who retired his No. 15 jersey in 2020, is still undetermined to be the depicted franchise on Allen’s Hall of Fame plaque. However, it’s indisputable that being a part of the White Sox was a cherished chapter of Allen’s life.
Richard Jr. recalls talking with Roland Hemond, the well-regarded White Sox general manager, who asserted that Allen singlehandedly restored the franchise’s vigor. The senior Allen had expressed his love for the city, its lively inhabitants, and passionate fans. Securing the MVP award, as per Richard Jr.’s account, marked the apex of his father’s career, underscoring how Chicago’s ballpark was a playground of fun and fulfillment for him.
With this late but fitting recognition, Dick Allen is etched in baseball history forever, his legacy sealed as one that reshaped the game, boosted a city’s fandom, and brought fun and honor to the ballpark. It’s a proud moment for everyone who knew and admired Allen, especially in Chicago, where his contribution to the sport and the city remains unparalleled.