Dick “Crash” Allen, AL MVP with the White Sox in 1972, finalist for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame

COOPERSTOWN, NY – Dick Allen, who won the American League MVP Award with the White Sox in 1972, 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.

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On the ballot are two other candidates who played for the White Sox: pitcher Tommy John – of surgery fame – whose 26-year career included seven seasons with the South Siders from 1965 to 1971, including an AL All-Star selection in 1968 he was traded for Allen; and third baseman Ken Boyer, who played briefly with the team near the end of his 15-year career in 1967-68.

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 selected from among all eligible candidates whose greatest impact occurred before 1980.

The Classic Baseball Era Committee will meet during the baseball winter meetings in Dallas. The results of the committee's vote will be announced live on MLB Network's “MLB Tonight” on Sunday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m.

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“Crash” Allen

Nicknamed “Crash,” Allen was a versatile power hitter who played every position except pitcher, catcher and shortstop during his MLB career.

He recorded 351 home runs, 1,119 RBI and a .292 batting average for five different teams. He played two separate stints with the Philadelphia Phillies, from 1963 to 1969 and again from 1975 to 1976. He was named NL Rookie of the Year in 1964 after breaking into the major leagues in late 1963.

Before his big league call-up, Allen was on the Phillies' Triple-A team in 1963 when it was integrated after moving from Buffalo to Little Rock, Arkansas, and was the first black player to play there.

Allen was eventually traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he spent the 1970 season, and then again to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he played in 1971.

Allen was traded again to the White Sox after the 1971 season as part of the deal that also included John.

Allen had three great seasons with the White Sox from 1972 to 1974 and was selected to the AL All-Star selection each year. His best came in the 1972 MVP campaign, when Allen led the AL in home runs (37), RBI (113), walks (99) and slugging percentage (.603) and led the entire MLB in on-base percentage ( .420). and OPS (1.023).

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In 1974, Allen again led the AL in home runs (32) and OPS (.938) and led the entire MLB in slugging percentage (.563).

However, despite Allen's success, the White Sox never finished higher than second in the AL West during his time with the team.

The White Sox traded Allen to the Atlanta Braves, who traded him straight back to the Phillies after the 1974 season. He finished his career in 1977 with the Oakland A's.

Allen died on December 7, 2020 at the age of 78 in his hometown of Wampum, Pennsylvania.

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