Fun Trivia : Dick Allen

Structure Sub-topic of: MLB Players A-D Quizzes Interesting Questions, Facts and Information There are a total of 10 general entries.

Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information

Dick Allen

Dick Allen was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated on June 12, 1972. What irreverent act was he caught on film performing?

Dick Allen


smoking a cigarette. Allen was famous for his recalcitrant attitude towards the media. Major League baseball abhorred his "devil-may-care" attitude. He was photographed smoking a cigarette and juggling baseballs in his White Sox uniform.



What position did Dick Allen play all 162 games, as when he won the 1964 Rookie of the Year award?

Dick Allen


Third Base. Best known as a power-hitting first baseman, Allen played third base for his first four years in the bigs. He also played all three outfield positions, shortstop, and second base.



1963 marked Dick Allen's first year in AAA ball as an outfielder with the Arkansas Travelers. What historic feat did he accomplish?

Dick Allen


first black professional baseball player in Arkansas. Allen faced a hostile crowd in Little Rock. Gov. Orval Faubus, known for blocking black students from attending Central Little Rock High School in 1957, threw out the first ball on Opening Day. Allen was forced to live with a black family that summer and was not permitted to eat in certain restaurants. Allen received threats and jeers but was voted "Most Popular Player" for the Travelers, by the fans at the end of the season.



What Pennsylvania town does Dick Allen call home?

Dick Allen


Wampum . Wampum, PA is thirty miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and is home to about 1200 residents. Wampum was better known for great high school basketball rather than baseball. Allen and his four brothers played high school ball with Dick, leading Wampum high school to the state class B championship his senior year.



Allen hit 351 home runs in his 15 year big league career. With what team did he have a personal single season high of 40 home runs?

Dick Allen


Philadelphia Phillies. Allen was best known as a slugger for his time with the White Sox. He only hit 85 homers over a three year period while in Chicago. His greatest home run production was with the Phillies in the late 60's, when he hit his season high 40 homers in 1966.



What teammate did Allen punch in 1965?

Dick Allen


Frank Thomas. Manager Gene Mauch was dealing with a frustrated Phillies team in 1965. They had blown a huge lead at the end of the 1964 season, to lose the pennant to the St. Louis Cardinals. An aging Frank Thomas taunted Allen calling him "Muhammad Clay" on July 3, 1965. Allen decked him with one punch, and Thomas hit Allen with a bat. Frank Thomas was released by the Phillies the next day.



What position in another professional sport, did Dick Allen long to play, but lacked the necessary physical attributes?

Dick Allen


jockey in thoroughbred horse racing. As strange as it may seem, Dick Allen dreamed about being a jockey. He owned thoroughbreds at different times of his life. He and his son have "driven" standard-bred horses.



What was the only team with whom Dick Allen played post-seasom championship baseball?

Dick Allen


1976 Phillies. Phillies greats Mike Schmidt and Richie Ashburn, convinced Allen to come out of retirement to play for the Phils in 1975 and 1976. The Phillies won the NL West crown in '76, and promptly lost three straight to "The Big Red Machine" from Cincinnatti.



Dick Allen won the NL Rookie of the Year in 1964. What other award did he win in his 15 year career?

Dick Allen


1972 American League MVP. He played 148 games for the White Sox in 1972, and hit for a .308 average with 37 homers under manager Chuck Tanner.



What incident almost held up Allen's trade to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1969-1970 off-season?

Dick Allen


Cardinal Curt Flood challenged the trade. Curt Flood challenged the trade and established free agency in the courts, changing the way baseball players were paid. Allen was never drafted, never refused to sign a contract, and was great friends with pitcher Bob Gibson.