On Sunday, the Baseball Hall of Fame opened its doors to two remarkable sluggers. Dick Allen and Dave Parker achieved election through the Classic Baseball Era Committee, marking significant moments in baseball history.

Two Dominant Sluggers Join Baseball's Hallowed Hall

Dick Allen: A Career of Greatness

Dick Allen, who sadly passed away from cancer at 78 in 2020, was finally recognized by the committee. After numerous near misses in previous votes, he collected 13 out of 16 votes, amounting to 81.3 percent. Allen was the 1964 National League Rookie of the Year with the Philadelphia Phillies and the 1972 American League Most Valuable Player with the Chicago White Sox. During his 11-year prime from 1964 to 1974, he was mainly a corner infielder, hitting an impressive.299 with a.386 on-base percentage and a.554 slugging percentage. Among the 23 Hall of Famers (before Sunday) who had 4,000 plate appearances, Allen had a better OPS than all but Henry Aaron, with Aaron at.941 and Allen at.940. His OPS+ ranked first at 165. Despite his remarkable numbers, he was often overlooked as a candidate until 2015. His career spanned 1963 to 1977 with five teams, and his totals of 351 homers and 1,848 hits didn't inspire some voters who struggled to understand his frequent team changes. He was the first Black star for a Phillies franchise that was the NL's last to integrate and had a perspective shaped by his minor-league experience in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was often seen as a rebel, with his viewpoint and the context of his times often overlooked. He also never got a chance to play in the World Series, appearing in just three playoff games in 1976 for the Phillies. During the 10-game losing streak that ended their pennant hopes, he batted.415.

Dave Parker: A Player with a Diverse Career

Dave Parker, now 73 and battling Parkinson's disease, received 14 out of 16 votes, amounting to 87.5 percent. He achieved almost everything a player could hope for. After winning two batting titles and the 1978 National League MVP award, he led the Pittsburgh Pirates to the top in 1979 and was also the MVP of the All-Star Game. He won three Gold Glove awards, captured the first Home Run Derby with the Cincinnati Reds in 1985, and added another World Series championship with the Oakland Athletics in 1989. However, he also struggled through four seasons from 1980 to 1983 due to drug use and injuries. While he played through age 40 and reinvented himself as a respected elder statesman, those middle years hindered his candidacy. He peaked at 24.5 percent in 15 years on the writers' ballot and 43.8 percent in his first three committee votes. This time, his body of work was finally recognized. He is part of the Pirates' and Reds' Halls of Fame and finished with an All-Star season for Milwaukee in 1990 and a 1991 finale split between the Angels and Toronto. He had 2,712 career hits, 339 home runs, and a.290 average. Only 15 hitters in history have that many hits and homers while also hitting.290. All are now in Cooperstown except those who recently retired (Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols) and those with strong ties to steroids (Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez). The others are Henry Aaron, Lou Gehrig, Chipper Jones, Al Kaline, Willie Mays, Stan Musial, Mel Ott, Frank Robinson, Babe Ruth, Billy Williams - and now, Parker.The results of the 2025 writers' ballot will be revealed next month, with CC Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki, and others joining a group of holdovers including Billy Wagner, Andruw Jones, and Carlos Beltrán, who all received more than 50 percent last year. The induction ceremony will be July 27 in Cooperstown, New York.