Longtime Phillies star Dick Allen, a figure who has left an indelible mark on the baseball landscape, is finally set to join the esteemed ranks of the Hall of Fame. (Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

Baseball's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: A Moment of Celebration

The Baseball Hall of Fame will be hosting a momentous event next July as it inducts two new members from the Classic Era. Dick Allen and Dave Parker emerged as the newest inductees on Sunday night, having received at least 12 votes from the 16-person committee. This Classic Era ballot was dedicated to players, managers, umpires, and executives whose primary contributions to the game predated 1980.Allen's induction was a long-awaited one. He was on 13 of the 16 ballots on Sunday, while Parker was on 14. They were the only two players to hit the 75% threshold necessary for induction. This year's Classic Era committee was a diverse group, comprising six Hall of Fame players like Ozzie Smith, Lee Smith, Paul Molitor, Eddie Murray, Joe Torre, and Tony Pérez; five former executives such as Sandy Alderson, Terry McGuirk, Dayton Moore, Arte Moreno, and Brian Sabean; and five media/historian contributors like Bob Elliot, Leslie Heaphy, Steve Hirdt, Dick Kaegel, and Larry Lester.Parker had an illustrious 19-year career. He earned seven All-Star nods and achieved the remarkable feat of winning back-to-back NL batting titles in 1977 and 1978, the same year he was named NL MVP. He also won two World Series titles, first with the Pittsburgh Pirates and then with the Oakland A’s.Allen, on the other hand, had come close to immortality on two previous occasions. In 2015, he fell just one vote short of induction, and again in 2021, just over a year after his death. This time, there was no disappointment. Allen, whose exclusion from the Hall had been a glaring omission, has finally received the recognition he deserved.The 1964 National League Rookie of the Year and 1972 American League MVP, Allen began his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, famously being the last NL team to integrate and becoming their first Black star. Despite his exceptional play, the Phillies had an acrimonious relationship with him. They insisted on calling him "Richie" instead of his preferred name, Dick, and refused to support him in the media. In 1970, he asked the Phillies to trade him, and his wish was granted when they traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Curt Flood. Flood's refusal to report to the Phillies after the trade led to the creation of free agency.After a season with the Cardinals, Allen landed with the Dodgers and was later traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1972. He spent just three seasons on the South Side, but his MVP award and his distinctive look (big sideburns, big glasses, and a big Fu Manchu mustache) made a lasting impression and he remains beloved by White Sox fans.For Phillies fans, it was a longer journey to reach the "beloved" status. Allen returned to the team in 1975 and 1976 but did not have a career renaissance. He retired after the 1977 season with a career batting line of.292/.378/.534, including 351 home runs and 320 doubles. Many of Allen's White Sox teammates continue to speak highly of him and have actively campaigned for his Hall of Fame election. In September 2020, just two months before his death, the Phillies retired his number, making it the sixth number to be retired in the franchise's history.There were six other players on the Classic Era ballot who did not make it this time. Tommy John came closest, receiving just seven votes. Ken Boyer, John Donaldson, Steve Garvey, Vic Harris, and Luis Tiant all received five votes or fewer.Dick Allen's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame is a significant milestone, not only for him but for the entire baseball community. His story is one of perseverance, talent, and the impact of a player on the game beyond just statistics. It is a reminder of the importance of recognizing the contributions of all players, regardless of their teams or the circumstances surrounding their careers.