Baseball star Richie Dick Allen forced Philadelphians to address the racism that existed in their city during the 1960s. While his candid opinions challenged the white baseball establishment, Allen’s tape-measure home runs earned the admiration of younger fans and fellow players, both black and white. The admiration, as well as Allen’s reputation as Baseball’s Bad Boy, continued after he left Philadelphia to play for the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago White Sox. Named the American League’s Most Valuable player in 1972, Allen was one of the game’s most misunderstood players. Based on interviews of teammates, family, friends, and Allen himself, this richly illustrated biography with original artwork by Dick Perez explores the star’s personal life as well as his playing career. It is a story about one of the finest baseball players of all time, and one who deserves to be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
AUTHOR:
William C. Kashatus is a historian, educator, and writer. A regular contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Kashatus earned a doctorate in American history at the University of Pennsylvania. He is author of more than a dozen baseball books, including September Swoon: Richie Allen, the 1964 Phillies, and Racial Integration, which was recognized by Elysian Fields Quarterly Review as the most important baseball book of 2004. Kashatus lives in Chester County, Pennsylvania, with his wife and three sons.

204 colour and b/w images