Nick Allen
Encyclopedia
Artemus Ward "Nick" Allen (September 14, 1888 – October 16, 1939) was a catcher
in Major League Baseball
. He played for the Buffalo Buffeds/Blues
, Chicago Cubs
, and Cincinnati Reds
. Allen became a minor league baseball manager
after his playing career was over and earned the nickname "Roarin' Nick" for his altercations with umpires
. He stood at 6' 0" and weighed 180 lbs.
. He started his professional baseball career in 1910 in the Kansas State League
. He batted
.188 in 105 games that year and then moved on to the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, American Association
, and Northern League, each for just one season.
In February 1914, Allen signed with the Federal League
's Buffalo Buffeds. He made his major league debut on May 1, 1914 but various injuries shortened his rookie season. In 1915, he returned and played in an MLB career-high 84 games. He committed 21 errors
and batted .205.
The Federal League folded after 1915, and Allen was sold to the Chicago Cubs. He played 5 games for Chicago, going 1 for 16 at the plate. He then returned to the minors for 1916 and 1917. The Cincinnati Reds bought his contract in 1917, and he was a backup catcher on the major league squad from 1918 to 1920. In 1919, he batted .320 (in 15 games), and the Reds won the National League
pennant and World Series
.
Allen was traded to the American Association's St. Paul Saints
before the 1921 season. He batted .317 in 128 games during his first campaign in St. Paul. He then served as the team's manager from 1924 to 1928, winning one pennant. In mid-1929, he took over as manager for the Tulsa Oilers
of the Western League
and guided that team to a pennant, as well.
Allen was a manager and scout
for various teams in the 1930s. Known as "Roarin' Nick" because of his "umpire baiting" on the field, Allen claimed that his actions were done solely to increase attendance at the ballpark.
Allen was hospitalized in February 1939 for cancer, and he died on October 16, 1939.
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He played for the Buffalo Buffeds/Blues
Buffalo Buffeds/Blues
The Buffalo Blues were a professional baseball club that played in the short-lived Federal League, which was a minor league in 1913 and a full-fledged outlaw major league the next two years. It was the last major league baseball team to be based in the city of Buffalo...
, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. Allen became a minor league baseball manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
after his playing career was over and earned the nickname "Roarin' Nick" for his altercations with umpires
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
. He stood at 6' 0" and weighed 180 lbs.
Career
Allen was born in Norton, KansasNorton, Kansas
Norton is a city in and the county seat of Norton County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,928.-History:...
. He started his professional baseball career in 1910 in the Kansas State League
Kansas State League
Three different baseball leagues in the United States have used the name Kansas State League. All three leagues were based in the state of Kansas in the early 20th century...
. He batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.188 in 105 games that year and then moved on to the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
, and Northern League, each for just one season.
In February 1914, Allen signed with the Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
's Buffalo Buffeds. He made his major league debut on May 1, 1914 but various injuries shortened his rookie season. In 1915, he returned and played in an MLB career-high 84 games. He committed 21 errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
and batted .205.
The Federal League folded after 1915, and Allen was sold to the Chicago Cubs. He played 5 games for Chicago, going 1 for 16 at the plate. He then returned to the minors for 1916 and 1917. The Cincinnati Reds bought his contract in 1917, and he was a backup catcher on the major league squad from 1918 to 1920. In 1919, he batted .320 (in 15 games), and the Reds won the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
pennant and World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
.
Allen was traded to the American Association's St. Paul Saints
St. Paul Saints
The St. Paul Saints are a professional baseball team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. The Saints are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
before the 1921 season. He batted .317 in 128 games during his first campaign in St. Paul. He then served as the team's manager from 1924 to 1928, winning one pennant. In mid-1929, he took over as manager for the Tulsa Oilers
Tulsa Oilers (baseball)
The Tulsa Oilers, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off in multiple leagues from 1905 to 1976. For most of their history, they played at Oiler Park, which opened on July 11, 1934, and was located on the Tulsa County Fairgrounds at 15th Street and...
of the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
and guided that team to a pennant, as well.
Allen was a manager and scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for various teams in the 1930s. Known as "Roarin' Nick" because of his "umpire baiting" on the field, Allen claimed that his actions were done solely to increase attendance at the ballpark.
Allen was hospitalized in February 1939 for cancer, and he died on October 16, 1939.