On this day... Allen shows he is in charge

April 12th, 1965. The Phillies visit the newly renamed Houston Astros to help open their new Astrodome. In the top of the third inning, Dick (then known as Richie) Allen blasts a home run to centerfield driving in the only two runs of the game. It was the first home run ever hit (during a regular season game) in the dome. Phils starter Chris Short goes the distance for the 2-0 shutout win.

According to to the newspaper report, Astros starter Bob Bruce knocked Allen down earlier in the plate appearance with a high inside pitch. After the game, the reigning NL rookie of the year said:

"When that happens. you just have to show who's in charge, him or me"

Note: This article was taken from the Gettysburg (PA) Times. I find it interesting the local press focuses the title of the article on a meaningless error. The rest of the national news reports focused on the actual important part of to the game.

Paving the way

Martin Frank from delawareonline.com wrote an article that appeared on Saturday about Dick Allen and the role he played in shaping the Philadelphia sports scene. For those of you that know his story and history, there really wasn't any new information or perspective presented -- but it was nice to see some in the mainstream media are still working on putting together the pieces of that period. You can read the entire article here.

My favorite quote from the article is from Dr. James E. Newton, professor emeritus of Black-American Studies at the University of Delaware:

"I think he served as a steppingstone for people in Philadelphia to open their hearts to a black athlete. In [the mid-1960s], he was a sort of pioneer. The '60s were an explosive period in the South. But there was also a strain on large cities like Philadelphia.

I think, in a way, Richie Allen opened the door for guys like Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard. He might have been misunderstood when he was going through the storm and holding his ground, but I think people understand, and accept, the black athlete as an individual now."

In addition to Rollins and Howard, Just off the top of my head, I think it is safe to say that Darryl Dawkins, Ricky Watters, Charles Barkley, Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick, and Allen Iverson should all get on their knees at night and thank Dick Allen for what he did for them.

Inquirer article

Jul. 6, 2009

It's time to enshrine Dick Allen

By Allen Barra

For The Inquirer

The 2007 and 2008 New York Mets did the Phillies - and perhaps Dick Allen - a huge favor by managing to collapse two years in a row, thus paving the way for the Phillies to win the World Series last season. The Mets officially have erased the stigma once attached to the Phils' 1964 flameout.

For years, that disaster has been melded in the minds of local fans with the six-year train wreck of Allen's first tenure in Philadelphia. It's time to admit what we've always known: Dick Allen belongs in the Hall of Fame.

Read the rest of the story