Ron Allen (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Ronald Frederick Allen is a former professional baseball
player. He played part of the 1972 season in Major League Baseball
for the St. Louis Cardinals
, primarily as a first baseman
., and the brother of . He was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed.
Dick Allen
and outfielder
-infielder
Hank Allen
. Wampum captured the 1958 and 1960 state championship in basketball.
Ron Allen scored 1,195 career points as a star forward and center for Wampum high school in Wampum Pennsylvania.
Allen was named the section 20 MVP his senior year at Wampum, an honor that was shared by all of his brothers -- Coy Craine Allen, Ceasar Craine, Harold Allen and Dick Allen -- during their playing days under legendary coach Butler Hennon.
Allen went on to attend Youngstown State University
on a basketball scholarship, scoring 1,001 career points, and also ranks in the top 25 in career rebounds. He is a member of the YSU Hall of Fame.
on June 13, 1964, Allen began his professional career with the Miami Marlins
of the Florida State League
. He led the Carolina League
with 100 RBI while playing for the Tidewater Tides in 1967. Prior to the 1970 season, he was traded to the New York Mets
for a player to be named later
. He was acquired by the Cardinals before the 1972 season.
career was very short as he played in just seven games in 1972 for the St. Louis Cardinals
. He made his major league debut on August 11, 1972, and his final appearance on August 21, 1972. In five games at first base, Allen handled 30 out of 31 chances
successfully for a .968 fielding percentage
.
Allen's best day as a major leaguer was on August 17, 1972 at San Diego Stadium, thanks in part to teammate Joe Torre
. Torre was ejected from the game in the bottom of the 8th inning, and Allen came in as his replacement at first base. The next inning he got his only major league hit
, a home run
against San Diego Padres
right-hander Mike Corkins
.
As of October 2006, with 358 home runs among them, the Allen brothers ranked # 11 in MLB brother combination home runs (out of more than 350 combinations all-time). Allen has also been inducted to the Reading Phillies
Hall of Fame.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. He played part of the 1972 season 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...
for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, primarily as a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
., and the brother of . He was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed.
Early life
Allen starred at Wampum High School alongside his older brothers, future baseball All-StarAll-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
Dick Allen
Dick Allen
Richard Anthony Allen is a former Major League Baseball player and R&B singer. He played first and third base and outfield in Major League Baseball and ranked among his sport's top offensive producers of the 1960s and early 1970s...
and outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
-infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
Hank Allen
Hank Allen
Harold Andrew "Hank" Allen is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators , Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago White Sox ....
. Wampum captured the 1958 and 1960 state championship in basketball.
Ron Allen scored 1,195 career points as a star forward and center for Wampum high school in Wampum Pennsylvania.
Allen was named the section 20 MVP his senior year at Wampum, an honor that was shared by all of his brothers -- Coy Craine Allen, Ceasar Craine, Harold Allen and Dick Allen -- during their playing days under legendary coach Butler Hennon.
Allen went on to attend Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2010, there were 15,194 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. It is recognized as being one of the premier schools in the country, comparable to Ivy League...
on a basketball scholarship, scoring 1,001 career points, and also ranks in the top 25 in career rebounds. He is a member of the YSU Hall of Fame.
Minor leagues
Originally signed by the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on June 13, 1964, Allen began his professional career with the Miami Marlins
Fort Myers Miracle
The Fort Myers Miracle is the Class A Advanced minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club, currently managed by Jake Mauer. Home games are played at the Lee County Sports Complex in Hammond Stadium, which has a capacity of 7,500, and opened in...
of the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
. He led the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
with 100 RBI while playing for the Tidewater Tides in 1967. Prior to the 1970 season, he was traded to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
for a player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
. He was acquired by the Cardinals before the 1972 season.
Major leagues
Allen's major leagueMajor 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...
career was very short as he played in just seven games in 1972 for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. He made his major league debut on August 11, 1972, and his final appearance on August 21, 1972. In five games at first base, Allen handled 30 out of 31 chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
successfully for a .968 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
.
Allen's best day as a major leaguer was on August 17, 1972 at San Diego Stadium, thanks in part to teammate Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
. Torre was ejected from the game in the bottom of the 8th inning, and Allen came in as his replacement at first base. The next inning he got his only major league hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
against San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
right-hander Mike Corkins
Mike Corkins
Michael Patrick Corkins is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. The right-hander was signed by the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent before the 1965 season, and later drafted by the San Diego Padres from the Giants as the 31st pick in the 1968 MLB expansion draft...
.
Later life and legacy
Allen received his B.S. in General Studies on August 14, 2010 from Youngstown State University. He graduated 46 years and 195 days after scoring his last point for the Penguins, fulfilling a promise made to his mother to earn his college degree.As of October 2006, with 358 home runs among them, the Allen brothers ranked # 11 in MLB brother combination home runs (out of more than 350 combinations all-time). Allen has also been inducted to the Reading Phillies
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
Hall of Fame.