What if, though, Dick Allen had been remembered as a clubhouse leader? What if he'd had a chance to go out as the ultimate team player who was beloved by fans and teammates alike? Sound impossible? What if I told you that in February of 1979 Chuck Tanner was trying to get the Pirates to sign Allen? At the time Allen hadn't played since June 1977 as a member of the Oakland A's. He quit the team in July after being suspended the previous month for leaving the game without permission. He attempted a comeback with the A's in Spring Training of 1978, but was cut from the roster without being given much of a chance, and he ended up sitting out the 1978 season. Though Allen said he still hoped to return to baseball at the time, it proved to be the end of the line for him. His final career stats were as follows:
| Year | Age | Tm | Lg | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | Pos | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 21 | PHI | NL | 10 | 25 | 24 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | .292 | .280 | .458 | .738 | 110 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | /75 |
| 1964 | 22 | PHI | NL | 162 | 708 | 632 | 125 | 201 | 38 | 13 | 29 | 91 | 3 | 4 | 67 | 138 | .318 | .382 | .557 | .939 | 162 | 352 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 13 | *5 |
| 1965 | 23 | PHI | NL | 161 | 707 | 619 | 93 | 187 | 31 | 14 | 20 | 85 | 15 | 2 | 74 | 150 | .302 | .375 | .494 | .870 | 145 | 306 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | *5/6 |
| 1966 | 24 | PHI | NL | 141 | 599 | 524 | 112 | 166 | 25 | 10 | 40 | 110 | 10 | 6 | 68 | 136 | .317 | .396 | .632 | 1.027 | 181 | 331 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 57 |
| 1967 | 25 | PHI | NL | 122 | 540 | 463 | 89 | 142 | 31 | 10 | 23 | 77 | 20 | 5 | 75 | 117 | .307 | .404 | .566 | .970 | 174 | 262 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 18 | *5/46 |
| 1968 | 26 | PHI | NL | 152 | 605 | 521 | 87 | 137 | 17 | 9 | 33 | 90 | 7 | 7 | 74 | 161 | .263 | .352 | .520 | .872 | 160 | 271 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 15 | *75/8 |
| 1969 | 27 | PHI | NL | 118 | 506 | 438 | 79 | 126 | 23 | 3 | 32 | 89 | 9 | 3 | 64 | 144 | .288 | .375 | .573 | .949 | 165 | 251 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | *3 |
| 1970 | 28 | STL | NL | 122 | 533 | 459 | 88 | 128 | 17 | 5 | 34 | 101 | 5 | 4 | 71 | 118 | .279 | .377 | .560 | .937 | 145 | 257 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 35/7 |
| 1971 | 29 | LAD | NL | 155 | 649 | 549 | 82 | 162 | 24 | 1 | 23 | 90 | 8 | 1 | 93 | 113 | .295 | .395 | .468 | .863 | 151 | 257 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 573 |
| 1972 | 30 | CHW | AL | 148 | 609 | 506 | 90 | 156 | 28 | 5 | 37 | 113 | 19 | 8 | 99 | 126 | .308 | .420 | .603 | 1.023 | 199 | 305 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 16 | *3/5 |
| 1973 | 31 | CHW | AL | 72 | 288 | 250 | 39 | 79 | 20 | 3 | 16 | 41 | 7 | 2 | 33 | 51 | .316 | .394 | .612 | 1.006 | 175 | 153 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3/4D |
| 1974 | 32 | CHW | AL | 128 | 525 | 462 | 84 | 139 | 23 | 1 | 32 | 88 | 7 | 1 | 57 | 89 | .301 | .375 | .563 | .938 | 164 | 260 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 9 | *3/4 |
| 1975 | 33 | PHI | NL | 119 | 481 | 416 | 54 | 97 | 21 | 3 | 12 | 62 | 11 | 2 | 58 | 109 | .233 | .327 | .385 | .712 | 94 | 160 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | *3 |
| 1976 | 34 | PHI | NL | 85 | 339 | 298 | 52 | 80 | 16 | 1 | 15 | 49 | 11 | 4 | 37 | 63 | .268 | .346 | .480 | .826 | 130 | 143 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| 1977 | 35 | OAK | AL | 54 | 200 | 171 | 19 | 41 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 31 | 1 | 3 | 24 | 36 | .240 | .330 | .351 | .681 | 89 | 60 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3/D |
| 15 Seasons | 1749 | 7314 | 6332 | 1099 | 1848 | 320 | 79 | 351 | 1119 | 133 | 52 | 894 | 1556 | .292 | .378 | .534 | .912 | 156 | 3379 | 164 | 16 | 19 | 53 | 138 | ||||
What if Allen had extended his career by accepting an offer from Pittsburgh? He would've been a member of the "We Are Family" Pirates, a team whose historical image couldn't be any more antithetical to his. What would it have meant for Allen's legacy to be included on such a team? Let's presume the man once known as "Richie" had decided to reunite with his old manager from Chicago, and see if we can't venture a guess. Like the last Second Wind post, this is all for fun and (obviously) shouldn't be seen as anything resembling definitive.
Since Allen was a right-handed hitter whose defensive skills best suited him for first base, he likely would've been platooned with Willie Stargell. "What??" you might be shouting right now. "Platoon the MVP? Preposterous!" It sounds strange, I know, but what's often forgotten is that the lefty-swinging Stargell frequently didn't start against southpaws that year. Right-handed batters like Bill Robinson and Manny Sanguillen got the nod at first several times against lefties. In fact, the co-MVP Stargell only played in 126 games that year.
Imagine a rejuvenated Dick Allen forming a deadly two-headed monster at first with Stargell. It might've cost Pops some hardware, but it might've made those Pirates an even greater team than they were. As the regular first baseman against lefties and a valuable pinch-hitter off the bench, Allen puts up the following line:
G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB 72 279 242 59 69 14 1 16 58 1 1 33 52 .285 .369 .550 .919 143 133 8 1 0 3 2
Holy cow! That's some great late-career production, and on a World Series champion, no less! As a prominent member of "the Family," Allen's image experiences a rehabilitation. Suddenly the tales abound of how his veteran presence helped the ship stay on course, and how his steady influence was an example to everyone on the team. Historically, the 1979 Pirates become not only a fun, memorable group of guys, but a redemptive tale for a player whose greatness is now universally acknowledged.
Allen decides to come back for another year, and as he's still used mostly against left-handers, he puts up respectable numbers:
G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB 48 160 138 14 32 7 0 7 23 0 1 19 35 .232 .327 .435 .762 109 60 6 1 1 1 1
At age 38 he's no longer quite as feared, but he still proves capable of popping the occasional homer. Unfortunately, injuries limit him to only 48 games, and the Pirates aren't able to duplicate their success in 1980. Dick Allen was never an easy read, but when he decides to walk away at the end of the season, no one is much surprised.
What do Allen's career numbers look like now?
Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB 1963 21 PHI NL 10 25 24 6 7 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 5 .292 .280 .458 .738 110 11 2 0 0 1 0 1964 22 PHI NL 162 708 632 125 201 38 13 29 91 3 4 67 138 .318 .382 .557 .939 162 352 8 0 6 3 13 1965 23 PHI NL 161 707 619 93 187 31 14 20 85 15 2 74 150 .302 .375 .494 .870 145 306 13 2 6 6 6 1966 24 PHI NL 141 599 524 112 166 25 10 40 110 10 6 68 136 .317 .396 .632 1.027 181 331 9 3 0 4 13 1967 25 PHI NL 122 540 463 89 142 31 10 23 77 20 5 75 117 .307 .404 .566 .970 174 262 9 1 1 0 18 1968 26 PHI NL 152 605 521 87 137 17 9 33 90 7 7 74 161 .263 .352 .520 .872 160 271 7 1 2 7 15 1969 27 PHI NL 118 506 438 79 126 23 3 32 89 9 3 64 144 .288 .375 .573 .949 165 251 10 0 0 4 10 1970 28 STL NL 122 533 459 88 128 17 5 34 101 5 4 71 118 .279 .377 .560 .937 145 257 9 2 0 1 16 1971 29 LAD NL 155 649 549 82 162 24 1 23 90 8 1 93 113 .295 .395 .468 .863 151 257 23 1 1 5 13 1972 30 CHW AL 148 609 506 90 156 28 5 37 113 19 8 99 126 .308 .420 .603 1.023 199 305 13 1 0 3 16 1973 31 CHW AL 72 288 250 39 79 20 3 16 41 7 2 33 51 .316 .394 .612 1.006 175 153 9 1 1 3 3 1974 32 CHW AL 128 525 462 84 139 23 1 32 88 7 1 57 89 .301 .375 .563 .938 164 260 16 1 0 5 9 1975 33 PHI NL 119 481 416 54 97 21 3 12 62 11 2 58 109 .233 .327 .385 .712 94 160 19 2 1 4 4 1976 34 PHI NL 85 339 298 52 80 16 1 15 49 11 4 37 63 .268 .346 .480 .826 130 143 13 0 1 3 2 1977 35 OAK AL 54 200 171 19 41 4 0 5 31 1 3 24 36 .240 .330 .351 .681 89 60 4 1 0 4 0 1979 37 PIT NL 72 279 242 59 69 14 1 16 58 1 1 33 52 .285 .369 .550 .919 143 133 8 1 0 3 2 1980 38 PIT NL 48 160 138 14 32 7 0 7 23 0 1 19 35 .232 .327 .435 .762 109 60 6 1 1 1 1 18 seasons 1869 7753 6712 1172 1949 341 80 374 1200 134 54 946 1643 .290 .377 .532 .909 154 3572 178 18 20 57 141 Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB
His rate stats decrease ever-so-slightly, but those 23 extra homers don't hurt.
As he was able to wind down his career on a non-embarrassing note, Allen is seen in a much more positive light when his turn on the Hall of Fame ballot comes up. In real life, Allen never got more than 18.9% of the vote, and in 1986 (which is now his first year on the ballot) he got 9.6%. Does he suddenly transform into a slam-dunk first-ballot guy in this scenario? Well now, let's not get carried away. He still has his negatives, like poor defense and a personality that frequently got him into trouble, but his positives carry more weight this time.
His debut on the ballot is much stronger than the single-digit percentage he actually got in the early going. As time goes on his postseason heroics for the beloved "Family" start to overshadow his earlier off-field issues. People take note of his 1964 Rookie of the Year campaign, his 1972 MVP season, his being top-50 all-time in slugging percentage despite playing in a pitcher's era, and his similar home run total to Tony Perez and Orlando Cepeda in over a thousand fewer at-bats. With more and more media voices speaking on his behalf, his vote percentages get higher and higher until finally, Dick Allen, the Wampum Walloper himself...winds up in Cooperstown!
Dick Allen remains a flawed hero, and no one ever mistakes him for the perfect Major League ballplayer. What he lacks in personality though, he makes up for with the compelling narrative arc of his career.
