January 11, 2007

CRASH THE HALL:

The Greatest Player Who Isn't in the Hall of Fame (ALLEN BARRA, January 11, 2007, NY Sun)

[O]nce again, the player who, at his peak, is perhaps the most deserving player not in the Baseball Hall of Fame goes completely unmentioned.

Gwynn and Ripken, as all baseball analysts would agree, are two of the best players of the last halfcentury. Yet between them, in 34 full seasons they never led their league in home runs, runs batted in, or slugging average. Gwynn led the National League in on-base average just once, 1994; Ripken never lead the American League. Richard Anthony "Dick" (aka "Richie") Allen played for just 10 full seasons yet led his league in home runs twice, RBIs once, on-base average twice, and slugging three times. He was also named the 1964 National League Rookie of the Year and the 1972 American League MVP. As his record stands, a great many baseball historians would argue Allen was the best hitter in baseball between 1964 and 1974.

To fans who came of age in the stat-happy era that began in the mid-1980s, Dick Allen's career numbers may not seem overly impressive. But as The New York Sun columnist Steven Goldman points out, "Allen's numbers were compiled during one of the most difficult periods for hitters in baseball history -- a time when all the rules and all the factors were geared towards giving pitchers the edge. If he had played in the 90s, his numbers would be dazzling."


He should be in the Hall just for his immortal line about Astroturf: "If a cow can't eat it, I don't want to play on it."

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 11, 2007 8:10 AM
Comments

Yet between them, in 34 full seasons they never led their league in home runs, runs batted in, or slugging average.

So what? They both got 3,000 hits.

I heard on Mike & Mike that Tony G. hit over .300 for 19 straight seasons.

Posted by: pchuck at January 11, 2007 9:19 AM

Allen was very good, but was streaky, and was known to coast. He did not get along with reporters (or some teammates), which hurt him.

But he was certainly not the best hitter from 64-74. Clemente was at his peak through 1971, Willie Stargell was coming into his own and had two of the best NL seasons in 71 and 73 (when he didn't go hitless for more than 1 game in a row, if I remember correctly), and what about Frank Robinson, Rusty Staub, Tony Oliva, Harmon Killebrew, Billy Williams, and Yaz?

Don Sutton once said of Stargell that he didn't just hit you, he humiliated you. I don't think anyone said that about Dick Allen.

Posted by: jim hamlen at January 11, 2007 9:53 AM

I really like the fact that the Baseball Hall of Fame is really difficult to get into. It means something to be inducted.

Look at the NFL Hall of Fame (or whatever it is called). They have guys who have been inducted that I have never really heard of and they played while I followed football in the 1970's and 1980's.

Posted by: pchuck at January 11, 2007 11:56 AM

PChuck,

I'd point you to the Basketball of Shame if you want to see something truly stupid.

Posted by: Dreadnought at January 11, 2007 2:40 PM

PChuck,

I'd point you to the Basketball Hall of Shame if you want to see something truly stupid.

Posted by: Dreadnought at January 11, 2007 2:41 PM

Dreadnought,

Oh my heaven's, it has women in it!

Posted by: pchuck at January 11, 2007 2:48 PM

Allow me to add Willie McCovey and Orlando Cepeda to my list. And to say that OJ's thought about Allen is spot on.

Posted by: jim hamlen at January 11, 2007 10:20 PM
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