philliesphhan wrote:Haha it's good to know that the retarded media has never changed. Gordon beat out Ted Williams to be MVP in 1942.

That was one of Williams' triple crown years, too. Unbelievable.

But to the committee's credit, Gordon was the best 2B in the AL for most of the years that he played, and presumably would have been for two more seasons if not for the war.

Barry Jive wrote:

Results of the 2008 Post-1942 Players Ballot (48 votes needed for election): Santo (39 votes, 60.9 percent), Jim Kaat (38, 59.4 percent), Tony Oliva (33, 51.6 percent), Gil Hodges (28, 43.8 percent), Joe Torre (19, 29.7 percent), Maury Wills (15, 23.4 percent), Luis Tiant (13, 20.3 percent), Vada Pinson (12, 18.8 percent), Al Oliver (nine, 14.1 percent), Dick Allen (seven, 10.9 percent).

source

I was disappointed when I heard that Allen hadn't been elected, but now I'm genuinely upset. 10.9 percent? That's ridiculous.

I hate to ask, but is it evidence that he really is as disliked as James suggested in his article?

If I were in charge of the Phillies, and lord knows I should be, this information would prompt me to put on an all-out Dick Allen media blitz over the next two years. Give him a job like World B. Free's job with the Sixers over the past few years ("Ambassador of Basketball"). Make him a regularly seen figure at CBP. Compile highlights and show them at the ballpark and on rain delays from time to time.

The Phillies really f-ed up when they sent him to Little Rock in 1963. This is hte best way I can think of to make it up to him. He should be getting more than 10.9% of the goddamn vote. More importantly, among that list of players, there is NO WAY he should be last.

Would 10.9% make you feel better?

jerseyhoya wrote:Would 10.9% make you feel better?

Yeah, all better.

But seriously, that's absurd. His numbers should garner him at least 25-50 percent.

For fun, I've done a little work on this over the years: Dick Allen Hall of Fame

Here is the infamous Bill James piece.
and
A couple of years ago Craig R. Wright takes on the James opinion here.

The baseball hall of fame is a strange and secure organization. Not anything like the basketball or football versions. Dick Allen has been working in community relations with the Phillies for several years. The fact that Al Oliver got more votes this time around than him tells me that he will NEVER get in. Sad. He will always be a hall-of-famer in my book.

for the record, I think he belongs in as well. I was throwing out the manager thing as a possible reason why he is so unpopular with the baseball establishment. I wonder if Joe Morgan's recent inanity had anything to do with Oliver's surge? My dad was really excited when the Phils acquired "Alligator Al" (that's what he called him anyway) during the 84 stretch run.

Dick Allen HOF wrote:The baseball hall of fame is a strange and secure organization. Not anything like the basketball or football versions. Dick Allen has been working in community relations with the Phillies for several years. The fact that Al Oliver got more votes this time around than him tells me that he will NEVER get in. Sad. He will always be a hall-of-famer in my book.

Is there any rule that says the Phillies can't openly campaign for Allen's election, or do stuff behind the scenes? I feel like they probably did whatever they could to help Richie Ashburn out. Perhaps they could distribute comparisons of Allen's peak seasons to other players already in the HOF to the living HOF members, and do other things to promote him to the HOFers. Get Schmidt in on it, and Carlton too. Maybe Senator Bunning. He is a senator after all. Hell, get Joe Morgan in on it. He's a former Phillies and played against Allen. I would think he would be supportive.

But maybe he isn't. Allen just needs a few high-profile advocates who have sway with the voters - in other words, a few of the living HOFers themselves.

There is not any rule about a club pushing a former player. It happens all the time. I think the Cubs practically have hired a PR firm to push the Ron Santo case forward.

The fact of the matter is he got 7 votes.

Guys that played with him (Gossage & Schmidt) have been quite vocal -- and it does not seem to make a difference.

I just read a very interesting column in Philly.com last week. Best part is where Dick Allen points to his former roommate Bill White as a perfect example of the "unknown criteria" needed for the HOF. He is right.

Dick Allen HOF wrote:For fun, I've done a little work on this over the years: Dick Allen Hall of Fame

Here is the infamous Bill James piece.
and
A couple of years ago Craig R. Wright takes on the James opinion here.

The baseball hall of fame is a strange and secure organization. Not anything like the basketball or football versions. Dick Allen has been working in community relations with the Phillies for several years. The fact that Al Oliver got more votes this time around than him tells me that he will NEVER get in. Sad. He will always be a hall-of-famer in my book.

It's like a guy you know was framed on death row and they won't let him out. How could he be the lowest vote total. Behind Al Oliver, Joe Torre, Tony Oliva, Jim Kaat -- all fine players with some HUGE seasons -- but none in the class of Allen as pure feared slugger. Neither was Santo for that matter.

It's clear now, the guy is almost 70 and got 7 votes outof 75 or something... including Joe Morgan, Willie Mays, Mike Schmidt Hank Aaron I assume all those guys -- many who played against him -- I don't get it at all?!

He's HOF to me. And the Phils are retarded for not retiring his # and making a big big stink about him. At least acknowledge him here locally and perhaps someday some vet committee who is too young to remember will be more obhective... Allen won't live to see it but maybe some of us will?!

Booooo! To Joe Morgan and his cronies!

Crash -- forget these chumps -- enjoy your horses and retirement...

Ok seriously -- how could he be last?

Gossage and Schimdt likely were 2 of the 7. Who were the other 5? BUt that means people like Carew, Aaron, Mays, McCovey, Carlton, Seaver, Palmer, GIbson , Bench, Morgan -- who is on this group, how many were there? How could these people not give him a vote???

I can see him not getting 75%, but getting 10%??

The man was MVP in 72 for the Sox, and he then was awared the highest contract for MLB history. That isn't done for many guys not worthy of the HOF. 10%? Were these fools jealous? Everyone alive during his career knows how good he was. No one is going to say Maury WIlls or Al Oliver were in his class -- and as a slugger neither was Torre or Santo... f*** man this is really revealing.... what has the guy done to piss anyone off in the last 25 years???

Drugs Delaney wrote:I'll be surprised if he gets 50% of the vote.

Yeah.