Though the White Sox will have another former player enshrined in baseball immortality, he won’t be donning the team’s logo.
On Monday, the National Baseball Hall of Fame announced the cap selections for Cooperstown’s newest Hall of Fame inductees this summer. They are as follows:
- Dick Allen: Phillies
- Dave Parker: Pirates
- CC Sabathia: Yankees
- Ichiro Suzuki: Mariners
- Billy Wagner: Astros
While most of the above decisions are pretty straightforward, Allen’s comes with a bit of disappointment from the South Side faithful. Various reports have surfaced claiming the slugger, who passed away in December 2020, wanted to go in with a White Sox cap on his plaque. CHSN’s Chuck Garfien backed this up after speaking with Allen’s biographer David Fletcher, who said bluntly, “Dick told me several times (that if he made the Hall of Fame) he wanted to go in as a White Sox.”
During an interview with the Chicago Tribune a month before his passing, Allen spoke highly of Chicago as he reflected on his time with the White Sox.
“It’s better than anywhere I’ve been my whole baseball career. I might say my whole baseball life. I’ve never been treated any better. You guys are the best for my money.”
Allen, who was elected through the Classic Era Committee this past December, played 15 seasons for five different teams throughout his career. The seven-time All-Star notably secured the Rookie of the Year award with the Phillies in 1964 and slashed .290/.371/.530 with 351 home runs in 1,070 games across two different stints with the club spanning nine seasons.
In December 1971, the White Sox acquired Allen from the Dodgers in exchange for Tommy John and Steve Huntz. Allen, who primarily played first baseman during his three seasons on the South Side, notched All-Star honors in each while winning the MVP award in 1972, becoming the first black player in team history to do so. He hit .307/.398/.589 with 85 home runs and 42 RBI in 348 games until the franchise reluctantly sold his contract to the Braves after the 1974 campaign.
Though the decision surrounding Allen’s cap doesn’t come as a complete surprise, it’s still unfortunate that the newest Hall of Famer’s wishes weren’t considered. Regardless, White Sox fans will forever remember Allen for his contributions over his remarkable tenure in Chicago.
Hall of Fame induction weekend is planned for the end of July, with plaques revealed immediately before each electee’s induction speech on July 27. For more information on the National Baseball Hall of Fame, you can visit their website here.
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