DALLAS — In a moment that had been decades in the making, the Dick Allen family erupted in a mix of tears, hugs, and exclamations of joy. Dick Allen, who first appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 1983, was finally elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday night by the Classic Baseball Era Committee. Alongside his longtime friend Dave Parker, this was a day of celebration and redemption.

A Hall of Fame Dream Realized

Family's Emotional Reaction

When the news finally came, the Dick Allen family was overcome with a lifetime of emotion. Richard Allen Jr., 59, described it as "like champagne popped." They held hands and hugged tightly, yelling with relief. "Finally! Finally!" It was a moment they had been waiting for four decades.The family, including Richard Jr., his son Trey, and nephew Rick Allen, received calls from Hall of Famers like Goose Gossage and Philadelphia Phillies owner John Middleton. Middleton, who retired Allen's number three months before his passing in 2020, openly cried upon hearing the news. "I'm still crying thinking about it," Middleton said. "I just wish he was here to enjoy it."

Baseball's Ultimate Honor

Although Dick Allen won't be walking across the stage at the induction ceremony this summer, his family plans to celebrate in a way he would have wanted. They'll be raising a cold beer to toast his achievement. "He always loved the green Heinekens," Richard Jr. said. "That's what we're getting. Ready to go get some green ones."Allen's son also shared that his father never wanted to talk about his 15-year career. He always felt others were more deserving. But now, his induction into the Hall of Fame is a testament to his greatness.

Long Battle and Ultimate Success

Allen was on the Hall of Fame ballot for 14 years, coming close twice but falling just one vote short in 2014 and 2021. But on this night, his heartbreak turned to euphoria when Hall of Fame president Josh Rawitch began reading his stats. He received 13 votes from the eight-member committee, one more than necessary.The family didn't even hear Rawitch call out his name on the TV set as the celebration reverberated in the Cardinal A room at the Anatole hotel. "We did it, we did it!" they exclaimed. And Gossage, who had been lobbying for Allen for years, called in on speaker phone, yelling, "No [freaking] way!"If Allen were alive, his family believes he might not show much emotion. He was more likely to talk about his love for horse racing than his baseball career. "He's probably telling one of his old stories, his horse stories," Richard Jr. said. "Deflecting the honor, but appreciative of it at the same time."

Linking with a Longtime Friend

The evening was even sweeter with the news that Dave Parker, Allen's longtime friend from the Pittsburgh Pirates, would be going into the Hall of Fame together. Richard Jr. still has a glove, Cobra 19, that Parker gave him as a kid and a large photograph of the two together.Both players battled deep-seated racism during their eras. Allen once wore a baseball helmet playing first base due to objects thrown from the stands. But now, they'll be linked together forever in baseball immortality.Parker, a seven-time All-Star who won the 1978 MVP award, has been battling Parkinson's disease. "I've been holding this speech in for 15 years," he said. "This has been a long time coming."Dick Allen was one of the premier power hitters of his generation, with six seasons of more than 30 homers and six seasons hitting at least. 300. He had the highest slugging percentage (.561) and OPS (.941) of every player with at least 3,000 plate appearances from 1964-1974, except for Hall of Famer Hank Aaron.Dave Parker was also one of the most feared hitters in his 19-year career, with 2,712 hits, 339 homers, and 1,493 RBI.These two sluggers have now achieved the ultimate honor in baseball, and their stories will be remembered for generations to come.