#240 Dick Allen

No more Rich or Richie, forever more Dick….enters a new phase of his career as the most feared hitter in the AL verses one of most feared hitter in the NL….his story begins in two points on the map in Pennsylvania, first the small town of Wampum where he grows up, second the city of Philadelphia, where he is the firebrand hitting juggernaut of the Phillies circa 1964….averaged 29 home runs and an excellent .300 BA over 6 full campaigns...tumultuous times, an alienation of management flavored by holdouts, incidents, disappearances, and suspensions....the stormy relationship ended with a trade to St Louis for Curt Flood who refused to sign....hit well for Cardinal despite missing nearly 40 games....then flipped to the Dodgers for 1971....Dodger Stadium eroded power numbers but Allen impresses with his work ethic a start to erasing his malcontent image....never the less Allen is moved for the third time in as many years....As a White sox and Chuck Tanner who was a family friend....result a triumph....was MVP leading in home runs and RBIs....continued his tear at start of 1973 but an injury cut short his year and the White Sox hopes...rebounded in 74, taking the home run crown.....but makes an unusual retirement announcement nearing the end of the year....but doesn't fill out the paperwork and continues to be a property of the White Sox albeit not edible to play until May .....traded to Atlanta but nixed the idea....traded to team of origin, Phillies, contributes but is greatly limited by no spring training... his second Phillie incarnation was pocked with controversy as it had been before....wore out is welcome and was picked up personnel desperate Oakland A for 1977 and a small portion of 1978....after years of estrangement eventually returns to baseball....Brothers Hank and Ron also made the majors.....once hit two inside the park home runs in one game.