Original story from January 2013: CBSSports.com created an lineup of "the best players not in the Hall of Fame who have already had their cases evaluated by the BBWAA"
Catcher: Ted Simmons
First base: Dick Allen
Second base: Lou Whitaker
Shortstop: Bill Dahlen
Third base: Ken Boyer
Outfield: Reggie Smith
Outfield: Albert Belle
Outfield: Minnie Minoso
Starting pitcher: Luis Tiant
Relief pitcher: Dan Quisenberry
Here is the portion of the story I care about:
1B - Dick Allen; Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers, White Sox, A's; 1963-77
Hall of Fame balloting history: Fell off after 14 years, peaked at 18.9 percent in 1996.
Stats: .292/.378/.534; 1,848 H; 351 HR; 156 OPS+; 55.6 WAR
Allen was nothing if not a fount of controversy. A product of small-town Pennsylvania who was unaccustomed to outward displays of racial hostility, Allen was scarred by his experiences as the first black ballplayer in Civil Rights-era Little Rock and by the charged climate in Philadelphia during his rookie season of 1964. Those struggles don't explain away all of his misdeeds, but Allen's environment must be considered before you condemn him. His bat, though, was something to behold. Most impressive is that OPS+ of 156, which is good for 19th place on the all-time list. When finally paired with a manager who knew how to handle him (Chuck Tanner in 1972), Allen won the MVP.
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