My boyhood idol Richie Allen of the Phillies and White Sox makes the HOF finally , From Wampum Pa. he was rookie of the year in the national league. Very controversial because playing in the minors in Arkansas he talked back to racism Hit the popular Frank Thomas of the Phillies after a racial comment and although was the only real superstar of the Phillies was booed a lot. He smoked,gambled on the horses and then the Phillies traded Thomas because of the incident. But everyone had a baseball hero growing up and almost everyone was a Mickey Mantle fan I loved the number 15. He came up as a 3rd baseman but think the had 30 errors his rookies year. He was loved and also hated. I read his autobiography and think I might be the only sale he had on the book. He was finely put in by the Vets committee . I could mimic him at bat He had a 44 ounce bat and hit some long home runs. He was very controversial because he talked back He dressed in a separate area in the Phillies locker room . One summer working Army's baseball camp Robin Roberts son was an asst coach for Armys baseball team. He told me some great stories about Richie Allen ,the Phillies and how he dealt with them. There was a lot of racism back then and Richie wasn't taken it He talked back and that made him look like a milatent type personality The Phillies ended up trading him to the White Sox and his 1st year in the American League he was the MVP. anyway nice that he got in even though it was from a committee Richie Allen Number 15 He gambled on the horses and smoked cigarettes Phillie fans booed him many times. At 1st base he would with his cleats spell out BOO in the dirt.. I have a few of his rookies baseball cards ,his bat and his Rawling baseball glove signed. Glad he got in... .
