Remembering Allen
A handful of Dick Allen’s teammates shared their memories of No. 15, who will be posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 27. “A great teammate” is the common response.
Allen’s plaque will feature a Phillies cap. The last Phillies inductee with the same cap: Jim Bunning in 1996. It's fitting as Bunning and Allen were teammates starting in 1964.
John Briggs
An outfielder from Paterson, N.J., Briggs was on the same Phillies team as Allen from 1964 through '69. At age 81, he still lives in Paterson with his wife and two sons. They are his care givers as John lost his eyesight some three years ago.
“So happy when I learned he finally got in Cooperstown," Briggs said. "It is a real shame he’s not around. He was a close friend, and we talked a lot. He never talked about the Hall of Fame. He was so proud he was inducted into the Negro League Hall of Fame in Kansas City.
“The first time I met him was 1963 in Spring Training. I was in Leesburg, Fla., where the Class A teams trained. He was in the camp with the Double-A and Triple-A players. Believe they were in Dade City. They came to Leesburg one time, and we said hello, nothing more than that. I remember seeing those big shoulders and strong hands. His power was obvious.
“That September, the Phillies brought me, Richie, Rick Wise and some other young players to the big leagues. Only he dressed and played in the games. The rest of us sat in the stands during games. Our friendship started that month.
“Then he, Rick and I were in the Majors all of 1964. He was a great teammate, got along with everybody. He invited Black teammates to his house for dinner.
“Like I said, we stayed in touch. In early December of 2020, I called but was told he was resting and couldn’t talk. I said just tell him ‘Briggsy’ called. I was so shocked when I learned he died a few days later. I didn’t know he wasn’t well.”
Ray Culp
The 83-year-old Culp was a right-handed pitcher with the Phillies. He lives in Austin, Texas, and has “been in the same house for 65 years.” He was a teammate of Allen’s in Spring Training, the Minor Leagues and big leagues with the Phillies.
“Thrilled to hear he finally made it. He deserves it," Culp said. "Richie was a tremendous hitter, right up there with the greatest sluggers of his era.
“We were on the same club in Williamsport in 1962. We were very close. Spent a lot of time riding buses. He played center field. Not being critical, but they kept trying to find his best position. There never was any doubt about his bat.
“While pitching for the Red Sox I faced him a few times when he was with White Sox. Remember getting him out on a curveball one time, a towering fly ball. Thankfully, he just missed it.
“Richie was a great athlete, could have been anything he wanted, running back or defensive back in football. He was a tremendous basketball player, and he excelled in the high jump.”
Clay Dalrymple
Dalrymple caught for Phillies from 1960-68 before ending his career in Baltimore, 1969-71. Now 88, he resides in his hometown of Chico, Calif.
“Dick and I were very close, hung out together many times. Enjoyed being around him," said Dalrymple.
“One of the strongest teammates I have ever been around. When he made contact, the ball exploded off his bat and went a long, long way. He could run, but he was best known for his bat. When he came to bat, you watched.”
Art Mahaffey
A right-handed pitcher, Art was a teammate of Allen’s in September 1963 and the 1964-65 seasons. Now 86, Art resides near Allentown, Pa.
“When I first met him, Spring Training in 1964, he was called Richie. I always called him Richie whenever we were together," Mahaffey said.
“I had heard a lot about him and how he could hit towering balls over any fence, left, center or right. Just watching him take batting practice you could tell he was going to be a star. When he hit the ball, you heard the sound and then watched.
“He never cared much about practice. He was a natural hitter and didn’t need BP.
“He could be different. I remember one time after I struck out a batter, the catcher threw the ball to the first baseman. The ball would go around the infield, then to the third baseman who would throw it back to me. Well, this one time he rolled it to me.
“He was a great teammate. I liked him as much as anyone. I only wish he knew he was a Hall of Famer.”
Bob Oldis
A former Phillies catcher and the 1964 bullpen coach, Oldis lives in Gilbert, Ariz. At 97, he's the second-oldest Phillies alumnus behind Bobby Shantz (99).
“He deserved to get in," Oldis said. "A helluva player. He was super strong. After one of his monster homers, I asked him what it felt like hitting a ball that far. He said, ‘I’ll let you know tomorrow’ and laughed. Couldn’t find a better teammate.”
Bill White
White was a first baseman with the Giants, Cardinals, Phillies (1966-68) and Cardinals. Now 91, he's a resident of suburban Philadelphia. He played against Allen and was also a teammate.
“I was fortunate to play with a lot of great players and Dick is in that category," White said. "Everything he hit was hard. He played hard, was tough, always gave 100%, an excellent baserunner. He could take out an infielder at second base to break up double plays, the best I’ve seen.
“I roomed with him when I came to Philadelphia. Later, we lived near each other in Bucks County. We spent a lot of time together. Such a great friend.”
Bobby Wine
Wine was the Phillies shortstop during the 1960 and 1962-68 seasons. Now 86, he's a resident of Norristown, Pa.
“Wasn’t shocked when I heard he finally got in. With his numbers he deserves it," said Wine.
“He played hard every game, strong wrists, great athletic reactions, could steal a base when you needed one. Didn’t always conform, but he was the kind of guy you wanted on your team. Playing third base for the first time in 1964, he was always asking for help on where to play the hitters. We slumped at the end of that season. He didn’t.
“When he moved to left field, Gene Mauch talked to both of us. On any play to left field, Gene wanted me to go out and take his throw to keep the hitter from reaching second base. It often worked. But one time I was about 20-25 feet from him. He fired the ball so hard all I could do was hit the ground. The ball whizzed by my head. I got up and glared at him. He just shrugged his shoulders.
“Richie, I still call him Richie, always came to the alumni weekends. We had so much fun remembering stories. He’d laugh and laugh. One of the better teammates.”
Rick Wise
A right-handed pitcher with the Phillies (1964, 1966-71), Wise was a teammate who also pitched against Allen. The 79-year-old resides in Beaverton, Ore.
“Richie, 'Briggsy' and I were rookies in Spring Training in 1964," Wise said. "The first time I met him was at Jack Russell Stadium. Our lockers were in a narrow row next to the main locker room. First big league camp for the three of us and we were in 'Rookie Row.'
“When the season started, Richie was in the lineup and I didn’t pitch very much early on. I tried to keep my eyes and ears open, and my mouth shut. Just trying to learn how to be in the Majors.
“Richie had prodigious power. When he laid the bat on the ball, it went a long way. He had tremendous power to right-center. He was an exceptional baserunner, not a basestealer but someone who went from first to third or scored from second with ease. He never dogged it in a game.
“He was a good teammate. It was never about himself."