PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Late Phillies legend Dick Allen missed making the Baseball Hall of Fame by one vote in 2014, which was the last time he was up for election. Allen's next chance is this weekend in Orlando. Fans have been wanting Allen to make it for years.
Allen is on the Golden Days Era ballot for the Hall of Fame and Museum. He needs 12 votes from the 16 person committee, which includes former teammate Mike Schmidt.
"Mike Schmidt, when he gets up in front of that room, he's going to talk. If he can't convince four or five undecided people, then no one else can. So right now, I'm happy," said Mark "Frog" Carfagno, campaign manager of the group Dick Allen Belongs in the Hall of Fame.
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In the 1970s, Allen befriended Carfagno, a longtime member of the Phillies grounds crew at Veterans Stadium. They remained close friends through the rest of Allen's life.
Carfagno says he is optimistic. Allen produced results for the Phillies as a player, while enduring horrible racism in Philadelphia in the '60s. Carfagno also says that Allen saved the Chicago White Sox from relocating as he won the 1972 American League MVP.
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"People have to understand, you know, what he went through as an African American. That's overlooked too much."
Carfagno will be in Orlando this weekend. He says he hopes to finally see his friend Dick Allen get the recognition that many believe he deserves.
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