Hall of Fame Honors: Dick Allen, Dave Parker Finally Receive Their Due

Former MVP winners Dick Allen and Dave Parker were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, with results announced on Sunday night at the MLB winter meetings in Dallas.

Allen and Parker were two of the eight players on the Classical Baseball Era ballot this year, with Paker receiving 14 votes and Allen 13 from the 16-member committee. 12 votes (75 percent) is required for induction. Former Dodgers pitcher Tommy John received seven votes (43.8 percent), his best showing on any of the 20 Hall of Fame ballots he’s been on (15 years on the BBWAA ballot, five veterans committee ballots).

No other players received even five votes, and none of the other vote totals were unveiled by the Hall of Fame. Other former Dodgers in this group were Steve Garvey (now also 0-for-20 in Hall of Fame ballots) and Ken Boyer.

Allen played one year for the Dodgers, and hit .295/.395/.468 with 23 home runs and a 151 OPS+ in 1971, splitting time between third base, left field, and first base. The Dodgers got him from the Cardinals for Ted Sizemore and Bob Stinton, then traded him to the White Sox for John at the 1971 winter meetings.

Allen won American League MVP with Chicago in 1972 after leading the league in home runs, RBI, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, OPS+, walks, and WAR. The seven-time All-Star hit .292/.378/.534 with 351 home runs and a 156 OPS+ in his 15 major league seasons.

Allen’s 156 OPS+ is tied for 25th-best in major league history, with a minimum 3,000 plate appearances.

Parker was a common Dodgers foe for several years, mostly with the Pirates and later with the Reds. The seven-time All-Star won two batting titles, including in his 1978 National League MVP season when he hit .334/.394/.585 with 30 home runs, 117 RBI, and a 166 OPS+.

In the 1979 All-Star Game, Parker threw out Brian Downing at home plate at the Kingdome, a highlight that was ubiquitous for the next decade-plus on television.

Parker with the A’s also had the only three hits against Orel Hershiser in Game 2 of the 1988 World Series (and struck out to end the Dodgers’ shutout win).

In 19 major league seasons, Parker hit .290/.339/.471 with 339 home runs and a 121 OPS+.

Allen died in 2020, and will be represented by family at the induction ceremony. Allen and Parker will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 27, 2025 in Cooperstown.