Congrats there ol' Dicky Allen and much thanks to the people over at Sports Illustrated Vault. Sports journalism in the late 1970's and especially the early 80's was a truly wonderful thing. Not since that era have innuendos and broad statements been used to such effect to mask the ugly-face of baseball's cocaine days.
However unlike many of his peers from this generation, Allen's calling card was not drugs and alcohol, but his outspoken nature and issues with authority. He often spoke out against racism, and was a lightning rod for controversy in Philadelphia. Known as perhaps the worst fans in North American sports, Philly fans would often throw projectiles onto the field towards Allen, forcing him to play his position in the outfield wearing the batting helmet pictured above.
In the 60's Dick Allen was also an established singer, and as a member of "Dick Allen and the Ebonistics" (yes that name is as amazing as it sounds) toured the Philadelphia club scene and even sang the anthem at a 76ers game.
Even a trade Dick Allen was part of proved to be a contoversial moment. Allen was part of the 1970 trade between the Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals for Kurt Flood. When Flood refused to report to the Phillies, deciding instead to fight Major League Baseball over the "Reserve Rule", it essentially began a process that saw Flood win his battle, thus creating the existence of Free Agency in North American professional sports.
For your many talents and lasting memory, Dick Allen, I salute you as this week's recipient of the Dave Parker Award for Excellence.
No comments:
Post a Comment