1960s Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Tournament - SemiFinals

We are down to the final four of the Topps 1960s All-Star Rookie Cup Tournament. 

These four teams will be featured in a pair of best of 3 SemiFinals to determine which two face off for the best of the 1960s Final. 

SemiFinal A - Team Boog (1963) vs Olva's Army (1965) 

Team Boog 1963 (4-2)	2 - 5 - 2
Oliva's Army 1965 (2-0)	3 - 6 - 3
W - Wally Bunker (2-0)	L: Dean Chance (1-3)
HR: Dick Allen 65 (1)

Oliva's Army take game 1 behind the strong pitching of Wally Bunker and a Home Run from the Phillies Dick Allen. 

1965 Topps Dick Allen

Team Boog 1963 (4-3)	2 - 10 - 1
Oliva's Army 1965 (3-0)	3 - 11 - 3
W: Bill McCool (2-0)	L: Al Jackson (3-1)
HR: Rico Carty 65 (1)

In game 2 Oliva's Army completes the sweep, Rico Carty's Home Run is the difference maker. 

With that sweep the undefeated Oliva's Army (4-0) become our first team to advance to the Final. 

Lets see who they will face.

SemiFinal B - Charlies Hustlers (1964) vs Little Joes (1966)

Charlie's Huslers 1964 (2-1)	0 - 2 - 0
Little Joes 1966 (2-0)	1 - 10 - 1
W: Frank Linzy (2-0)	L: Ray Culp (1-1)

Frank Linzy pitches a Gem and Little Joe's take game 1

Charlie's Huslers 1964 (2-2)	4 - 4 - 0
Little Joes 1966 (3-0)	5 - 6 - 2
W: Marclino Lopez (2-0)	L: Gary Peters (1-2)
HR: Paul Schall 66 (1), Tommy Harper 64 (1)

Little Joe's (4-0) eliminate overall #1 Seed Charlies Hustlers which sets up a Final between two undefeated teams. 

Finals

The Pitching matchups will be as follows.

For odd numbered Games 

Oliva's Army 1965 (4-0)	Wally Bunker (2-0)
Little Joe's 1966 (4-0)	Frank Linzy (2-0)

For Evens

Oliva's Army 1965 (4-0)	Bill McCool (2-0)
Little Joe's 1966 (4-0)	Marcelino Lopez (2-0)

Two Undefeated teams, Little Joes will go in as the top seed. Originally the Little Joes were seeded 2 and Oliva's Army 4. 

Topps All-Star Rookie Index

This is an Index of the our Topps All-Star Rookie Card / Rookie Cup Postings

1965 Topps #460 Richie Allen

1960 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1959 Rookies: Phillies Joe Koppe; HOF: McCovey RC)
1961 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1960 Rookies: Jim Coker, Tony Curry; HOF: Santo RC)
1962 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1961 Rookies: Charlie Smith; HOF B Williams, J Torre RC )
1963 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1962 Rookies)
1964 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1963 Rookies Set: Ray Culp; HOF: Rose)
1965 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1964 Rookies HoF: Dick ALLEN, Oliva VG: Campaneris RC, Conigliaro, Carty )

1966 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1965 Rookies P Corrales, J Cardenal, HoF: Joe Morgan, Tony Perez )
1967 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1966 Rookies: Davey Johnson, Woodie Fryman)
1968 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1967 Rookies)

1969 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1968 Rookies Del Unser, J Koosman, HOF Bobby Cox VG Bobby Bonds)

1970 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1969 Rookies: Hisle, D Money, Sizemore, HOVG A Oliver, Piniella, C May)

1971 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1970 Rookies: Bowa; HoVG: T Munson)
1972 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1971 Rookies)
1973 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1972 Rookies: Tommy Hutton, G Maddox; HoF C Fisk)
1974 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1973 Rookies)
1975 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1974 Rookies)
1976 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1975 Rookies: Tom Underwood, HoF G Carter, J Rice VG: F Lynn))

1977 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1976 Rookies: Mark Fidrych, Butch Wynegar, Chet Lemon) 
1978 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1978 Rookies)
1979 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1978 Rookies)

1980 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1979 Rookies)

1981 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1980 Rookies)
1982 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1981 Rookies)
1983 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1982 Rookies)
1984 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1983 Rookies)
1985 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1984 Rookies)
1986 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1985 Rookies)
1987 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1986 Rookies)
1988 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1987 Rookies HoVG McGwire, Mike Greenwell; PA/NJ: J Musselman)
1989 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1988 Rookies: Dave Gallagher, Ron Gant, HoVG Buhner, Grace)

1990 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1989 Rookies: Tom Gordon, HoF Griffey JR, HoVG Sheffield, Jim Abbott)
1991 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1990 Rookies: HoF L Walker)
1992 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1991 Rookies: HoF Bagwell, I Rodriguez)
1993 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1992 Rookies: HoF J Kent, HoVG Lofton, Moises)
1994 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1993 Rookies: HoF Piazza)
1995 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1994 Rookies)
1996 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1995 Rookies)
1997 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1996 Rookies: HoF Jeter, Billy Wagner)

1998 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1997 Rookies: HoF ROLEN, HoVG Garciaparra, A Jones)
1999 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1998 Rookies: AJ Hinch HoVG: T Helton, K Wood)

2000 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (1999 Rookies Ben Davis, HoF Beltran)
2001 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2000 Rookies)
2002 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2001 Rookies)
2003 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2002 Rookies)
2004 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2003 Rookies)
2005 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2004 Rookies)
2006 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2005 Rookies)
2007 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2006 Rookies: Verlander, P Fielder, N Markakis, F Liriano)
2008 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2007 Rookies)
2009 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2008 Rookies: J Bruce, B Ziegler, J Lannan HoVG J Votto)

2010 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2009 Rookies)
2011 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2010 Rookies)
2012 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2011 Rookies)
2013 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2012 Rookies)
2014 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2013 Rookies)
2015 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2014 Rookies)
2016 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2015 Rookies)
2017 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2016 Rookies)
2018 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2017 Rookies)
2019 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2018 Rookies)

2020 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2019 Rookies)

2021 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2020 Rookies)
2022 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2021 Rookies)
2023 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2022 Rookies)
2024 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2023 Rookies)

2025 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2024 Rookies)

2026 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team (2025 Rookies)

Other Articles on the Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Team
Matt from Number 5 Type Collection Column on "Selected by the Youth of America"

Sources and Links

Cards from the Quarry TASR coverage

B-R Bullpen

FA Sports Cards Trading Card DB Topps All-Star Rookie Card List

Fan Attic Sports Cards Site

2016 Topps the Originals: Duos

Today we take a look at the rather random Dual Player cards of 1967 Heritage
 

1967 Topps #334 Twin Terrors Bob Allison and Harmon Killebrew
Four our cover card we picked this one because the Dual Player cards typically feature 2 players and it’s a Twins Card – get it?

However I am thinking Topps may dump the 'Terror' portion of “Twin Terror” for this cards Heritage counterpart.
 
Future Hall of Famer and 500 HR club member Harmon Killebrew was an obvious choice to represent the Twins. Bob Allison’s qualifications were a bit more wanting, he was coming off of a 70 game 1966 season in which he hit 8 Home Runs, well down from the 28 he averaged from 1959-65.

Flip

#334 Twin Terrors Allison Killebrew (b-side)

Nice bios of each players on the back of the cards. Although 2/3 of the text is dedicated to the lesser accomplished Allison. Regardless it is about twice as many words as I expected to see on the upcoming Heritage Card.
  
More Duos

 The Tigers card features a couple of mega prospects one of which is in the Hall of Fame. 

 

The White Sox came up with one of the weaker combos in the subset. Don Buford is acceptable but Pete Ward is coming off a 1966 season where he batted .219 with 3 dingers.

But for mre the Indians card is the worst of the 1967T Multi-Player subset. "Tribe Thumpers" is NOT alliterative!

Menke would spend some time as Hitting Coach for the Phillies, We probably should dedicate a post to him at some point.

Pretty strong one here - Donn Clendenon batted .299 with 28 Home Runs in 1966. He was just a step behind Willie Stargell (.315, 33 HR), but both were outpaced by teammate Roberto Clemente who won the MVP award in 1966.

We will Definitely be returning to this card in a future posting. 

Over at the 1967 Topps blog there is a write up on the #423 Giants Fence Busters Card that features Mays and McCovey.

Checklist
1967 is a decent edition of this subset, you may recall the 1966 duos were very random and consisted of just five cards. There is a great deal of Randomness in 1967 as well, but it's size (12 cards) and talent makes it a stronger set.

Team	1967 Topps	2016 Heritage
Cardinals	#63 Card Clubbers Brock/Flood	#63 Stephen Piscotty - Matt Carpenter
Indians	#109 Tribe Thumpers Colavito Wagner	109 Francisco Lindor - Jason Kipnis
White Sox	#143 Sox Sockers Ward Buford	#143 Josh Reddick (Oakland Athletics)
Mets	#186 Mets Maulers - Kranepool Swoboda	#186 Curtis Granderson - Juan Lagares
Tigers	#216 Bengal Belters Cash Kaline	#216 Ian Kinsler - Miguel Cabrera
Pirates	#266 Pitt Power – Stargell Clendenon	#266 Starling Marte - Andrew McCutchen
Phillies	#309 Hurlers Beware Callison Allen	#309 Maikel Franco - Ryan Howard
Twins	#334 Twins Terrors Allison Killebrew	#334 Miguel Sano - Byron Buxton
Braves	#396 Altanta Aces Menke Cloninger	#396 Nick Markakis  (solo?)
Giants	#423 Fence Busters – Mays McCovey	#423 Brandon Belt (solo?)
Indians	#463 Hill Aces McDowell Siebert	#463 Josh Hamilton - Texas
Orioles	#521 Bird Bombers Powell Blefray	na
Orioles	#1 Robinson Bauer Robinson	#1 Moustakas Escobar Hosmer

Last week we got a glimpse at the 2016 Heritage Checker for comparison. We have added the list here for comparison. To me the originals win on almost every card - the exceptions are possibly #109 Indians, #216 Tigers (close call), and amazingly Phillies (2008 WSC puts Howard over Dick Allen). 

Quick note on the Mets card, Topps has a run of Rookie Pairs that run from 161-190 that they interrupted to match Granderson/Lagares with Kranepool/Swaboda. One may make the argument that the Heritage card should win the Met battle, for me the 1999 SI Greats of the Game card w/ Ed Kranepool eating the Fried Chicken Dinner gives the edge to 1967T.

Sources and Links
1967 Topps/2016 Heritage Index
Harmon Killebrew HoF Index
1967 Topps Blog
Cardboard Connection 
Terapeak
Baseball-ref
Pnilly Inquirer

2016 Heritage the Originals: 1966 Topps League Leaders

Today our 2016 Heritage Preview takes a look at the 1967 Topps League Leader cards.

1967 Topps #242 NL League Leaders RBI Aaron Clemente Allen

In a better world this card would have Three Hall of Famers on it. Unfortunately we live in the cruel universe where Dick (nee Richie) Allen resides on the edges of the Hall.

Regardless, I LOVE THIS CARD!!! What Phillies fan would not?

Dick Allen with two of the all time great Hall of Famers, Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente. Oddly on this card we have two players who were bestowed different names for the early portion of their careers. Roberto Clemente is listed as the Americanized Bob while Dick Allen is listed as Richie.

The 1967T LL cards are pretty vanilla but strong. This format is very similar to the the 1966T LL cards. If I had a quibble with the design it would would be the use N. LEAGUE rather than NL.

The 2016 Heritage version of this card will feature Nelson Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, and Anthony Rizzo. I am pretty comfortable stating the panel on the original will be remembered a lot longer than the upcoming Heritage LL card.

flip

1967 Topps #242 NL League Leaders RBI Aaron Clemente Allen (b-side)

Solid listing of players on the back of the card. Five of the seven players over the 100 RBI threshold are in the Hall, the other two played for the Phillies :(

There are a dozen league leader cards in 1967 Topps, six cards for each league: ERA, Pitching (wins), and Strikeouts for pitchers; Batting (Average), RBI, and Home Runs for Hitters. In addition to appearing on the RBI card, Dick Allen is also the center panel on the HR card between Aaron and Willie Mays (WOW!). Jim Bunning occupies the 2-spot on the NL Strikeouts Leaders card.

I am a little curious if Topps will do anything with NL Wins LL card, Bob Gibson and Gaylord Perry tied for third place in Ws with 21 each in 1966 so they had to split the final spot on the #236 card.

There Will not be any Phillies on the 6 NL Leader cards in 2016 Heritage.

Sources and Index
2016 Heritage/1967 Topps Index
Dick Allen Player Collection Index
Hank Aaron HoF Index
Roberto Clemente HoF Index
baseball-ref

Player Collection Index: Dick Allen

This is an index of our postings related to Dick Allen Cards. Hopefully someday we will be able to migrate this index over to it's rightful place amongst our Hall of Fame guides.

1965 Topps #460 Richie Allen
1964 Topps RC (1964 Phillies Series)
1964 Topps RC (2013 Heritage Preview)
1964 Topps Custom solo
1965 Topps (1964 Phillies Series)
1966 Topps (2015 Heritage Preview)
1967 Topps (2014 Golden Era HoF Ballot)

1967 Topps #242 LL RBI Aaron Clemente Dick Allen (2016 Heritage Preview)

1969 Topps LL Home Runs (w/ McCovey, Banks)

Fan Authentics Card Show 2015 1030-1031 Oaks PA

I was in a crazy mood for this years Fan Authentics show. I picked up lots of stuff but wasn't looking for anything special. Most of my time was spent in Dime Boxes but I also dedicated a fair chunk of my trip to BuyBacks - which I think were mostly from 2015T Update.

Here are some highlights, If time permits I may come back at a later time and give some of these cards more analysis.

1958 Topps Pancho Herrera

Buybacks made up a big part of my day1 finds. I handn't picked up many Phillies Buy Backs and I believe this Pancho Herrera is my earliest. This card went for 50 cents or a Dollar.

Collecting goal may be to pick up a Phillies BuyBack from each year of Topps.

1974 Topps Steve Carlton BuyBack
1978 Topps World Series Highlight Reggie Jackson

Even found Buybacks of Hall of Famers. Each of the above 70s era cards went for $2.


1959 Topps Buybacks Walt Moryn, Morrie Martin, Murray Wall

Found 3 buybacks from one of my favorite early sets. 50 cents or a Dollar on each.

1975 Topps Jim Kaat

Found lots of 1975T buybacks. Most are destined for Night Owl territory, but Kaat is likely staying in the Phungo collection.

 

1975 Topps Buybacks

These are the 1975T BuyBacks, Twitchell will stay local, the rest are destined to travel.

1974 Topps Fred Kendall Buyback

I bypassed the Padres Kendall initially, until I saw the one with the Phillies flags. Will definitely return to this one at a future date. (.50 each)

Vintage

1958 Topps Kluszewski/Williams

Picked up the Ted's card for $9.

1967 Topps Checker w/ Jim Kaat

Focusing a bit on 1967T a bit getting ready for 2016 Heritage. Curious if the Checklists which have been left out of recent editions of Heritage will return in the upcoming release. The presents of a player on the card may factor in Topps decision.

1973 Topps Dick Allen

This is a Stamp Card as well, but it is of the 75th anniversary variety. ($1)


World Series

1973 Topps World Series Highlights Johnny Bench

And there were buybacks of WS HL cards that included Hall of Famers. ($1-$2)

1967 Topps WS HL Brooks Robinson

More 1967 Topps, This is the Vanilla no stamp variety.  ($1)

 

Special Collections

2010 Topps Ring of Honor Brad Lidge

Another more modern WS Highlight Card. This is one that reps a game that Team Phungo was very happy to have attended. (Dime Box)

Nolan Ryan No-Hitter Number Six

Added to my Nolan Ryan No-Hitter Collection with this one. Will probably be a future posting on this one at some point. (dimebox)

Len Dykstra, Ken Griffey Jr

As part of Our 2016 HoF Ballot feature we discuss this card (DimeBox)

Dom Brown RC Auto

I am not sure that I was supposed to get this but, they were handing out free autographed Dom Brown RCs when I entered the Show on Friday.



 

2015 Topps Heritage the Originals - 1966 Topps

We have slowly been putting together a series of posts looking at different aspects of 1966 Topps/2015 Heritage.

 1966 Topps #80 Richie Allen
 
I haven't seen 2015H live yet, so most of these links are to posts that related to 1966 Topps. A few of these are for upcoming features that we hope to hit in the feature

Base cards #506 Bo Belinsky
Team Combo Cards
League Leader Cards (Ks Sonny Siebert Mystery)
Variations  #104 Alex Johnson (Traded Variation)
Phillies Checker comparison

HoF RC Fergie Jenkins
HoF Card and Hero Number #100 Sandy Koufax 
HoF RC Sutton 

Sources and Links
Dick Allen Player Collection Index

Golden Era HoF Ballot Dick Allen 1967 Topps #450

The most prominent Phillies player on the Golden Era Ballot is Dick Allen. Today I would like to take a look at his chances of getting selected.

1967 Topps #450 Richie Allen
1967 Topps #450 Dick Allen

Rather than going into detail about Dick Allen's on the field credentials or his complex off the field issues I would like to dissect his chances by analyzing the Golden Era Committee.

The GEC consists of 16 members, 12 Yes Votes (75%) gets you into the Hall

There are seven Hall of Fame Players on the committee
Jim Bunning - YES: Curmudgeon but was a former teammate
Rod Carew - YES
Fergie Jenkins - YES: Former Teammate
Al Kaline - YES
Joe Morgan - no: According to his ESPN B-cast nobody was as good as Joe
Ozze Smith - YES
Don Sutton - no: Allen wasn't particulary successful vs Sutton BA=.257 1 HR in 41 AB

Five Executives
Pat Gillick - YES: Gillick back with Phillies, Undertands what it would mean to Organization
Jim Frey - no: I was too lazy to figure out which Jim Frey this was so penciled him as a no
David Glass - no: Royals Owner is former CEO of Walmart. The man is into cost-cutting = minimalist

Roland Hemond - YES: As GM of  White Sox Hemond acquired Dick Allen
Bob Watson - YES: former player repping exec branch.

Four Media Members
Steve Hirdt - YES: Stats Guy - he will surely see Dick Allen's numbers
Dick Kaegel - YES: Covers Royals, probably in good mood.
Phil Pepe - no: in 2008 Pepe didn't see Andre Dawson as HoF and the Hawk has similar credentials to Dick Allen
Tracy Ringolsby - no: President of the BBWAA in 1986 when Allen appeared on less than 10% of ballot 

The Verdict
YES = 10 votes, No = 6 Votes. Dick Allen gets passed over. Pains me to say it but I am thinking my very unscientific survey will end up being pretty close to the actual results.

1967 Topps #450
1967 is the first time that Dick Allen has his position listed as an outfielder - well partially anyway. Perhaps if Allen had spent his entire career at third base he would garner more serious consideration for the Hall. I think some voters view him as more of a first baseman or outfielder even if his most prolific years were at third.

Sources & Links
2015 HoF Ballot Index
Dick Allen Player Collection Index 
Philadelphia Inquirer
Baseball-ref
SABR
Royals Review
Yes Network
Hall of Fame

1964 Phillies @ 50: Dick Allen (RC) 1964 Topps #243

Last week we may committed a bit of a fuax pas by marking a Mets 50th anniversary and overlooking a significant Phillies Anniversary

1964 Topps #243 Richie Allen & John Herrnstien (RC)

50 years ago last Thursday Dick Allen, then known as Richie, Hit his first career Home Run as the Phillies defeated the Cubs 10-8. The Homer was hit at Wrigley Field off of southpaw Dick Ellsworth.

The 18 run slugfest that day featured 8 Home Runs between the two teams, including 4 from 3 different Hall of Famers (Billy Willaims (2), Ron Santo, and Lou Brock). Phillies pitcher Art Mahaffey also hit his last of 3 career Homers that day.

1964T Rookie Card
We have featured both Allen and Herrnstein in our 1964 Phillies retrospective previosuly. I have been meaning to post this card to bring the two players together since posting each of them separately as part of the Phungo cross feature on 1965T/2014 Topps Heritage. Herrnstein was originally posted here on February 17, A week later we put together this posting on Dick Allen. 

   
Sources
1964 Phillies Series 
Dick Allen Player Collection Index
baseball-ref

2014 03 08 Card Show Valley Forge PA: $2 Box - 1969 Topps #6 LL HR Dick Allen & 2 HoF

Next up on our VF show Show n Tell is a card from the $2 Bin.


1969 Topps #6 League Leaders Willie McCovey Dick Allen Ernie Banks

This is a pretty unique LL card for Phils fans. We have one of the clubs most prolific Home Run hitters flanked by a pair of first ballot Hall of Famers.  It was the 2nd of 3 Home Run titles for Willie McCovey who led the league in 1963 and would win the HR title again in 1969. Dick Allen finished second in the league with 33 followed by Banks at 32. It was the 2nd time that Allen was runner-up, he would finally win an Home Run title in 1972 as a member of the ALs White Sox. 1968 was the last time Ernie Banks would hit 30+ Home Runs. Previously Banks had won HR titles in 1958 and 1960. 

In 1968 McCovey's 36 Homers was the lowest total to lead the NL since Ralph Kiner won the title with 23 dingers in 1946. Since '68 the Home Run title has been won with 36 or less homers five times 1974 Mike Schmidt (36), Schmidt again in Strike shortened 1981 (31), 1984 Schmidt and Dale Murphy(36),  1992 Fred McGriff (35), and last year when Pedro Alvarez and Paul Goldschmidt each had 36.  

2014 03 14 VF Card Show
1973 Topps #503 Phil Niekro

Sources 
Dick Allen Player Collection Index 
Willie McCovey Index

Baseball-ref

1964 Phillies @ 50: Dick Allen 1965 Topps #460

In 1964 the then 22 year old Dick Allen was the starting third baseman for every one of the '64 Phillies 162 games. He batted .318 with 29 Homers and 91 RBI and led the league in both Runs scored (125) and total bases (352).

1965 Topps #460 Richie Allen

Not only was Allen a member of the Topps All-Rookie team, He was also the overwhelming NL selection for Rookie of the Year, receiving 18 of the 20 RoY votes cast. His rookie numbers were so good that he finished 7th in the MVP voting and likely deserved better finishing 3rd in the league in WAR(8.8) trailing only Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Ron Santo.

The 64 Phillies may have collapsed in September, but none of that can be blamed on Dick Allen. Even during their 10 game losing streak he batted .415, slugged .634 - good enough for an OPS of 1.076.  

For various reasons Dick Allen wore out his welcome in Philadelphia and in 1969 he was traded. Allen and the Phillies eventually resolved their differences and he returned to the Phillies in 1975. A year later he helped the Phillies to make the playoffs, it was Allen's only appearance in the Postseason.

I believe that someday Dick Allen will get in the Hall of Fame. In addition to his Rookie of the Year award he took home MVP hardware in 1972 (White Sox).  For his career Allen hit 351 Homers and racked up 1119 RBI. He led the league multiple times in several key offensive categories: Home Runs (twice), OBP (twice 2), Slugging (3 times), OPS (4). His MVP was earned as he led the league in oWAR that season, the second time that he had done so (1966).  

Today Dick Allen is 71 and near as I can tell he is based out of Western Pennsylvania and maintains a fairly active Twitter account. He is a regular at Phillies Alumni events and always appears to be enjoying the festivities. 

1965 Topps
This card is doing double duty, in addition to being part of the 1964 Phillies retrospective, we are also using it as part of our 1965 Topps series. On this card we see the Rookie Cup Trophy icon which was in use for the 6th time in 1965.  The 64 Topps Rookie team is well represented in the 1965T set with members including Bert Campaneris, Rico Carty, Tony Conigliaro, and Tony Oliva.

In 2014 Heritage the Rookie Cup third baseman will be Nolan Arenado of the Rockies who we have seen already in flagship.  Since Dick Allen is #460 in 65T that means his card number will fall in the short print series in Heritage. It will be interesting to see what route Topps takes with the #460 card, They could put in current Phillies rookie 3B Cody Asche. or match the RC trophy with Arenado or more likely ignore Dick Allen altogether. 

Richie Allen
Early in his career Dick Allen played under the name Richie, which is his Topps On card name through 1969. In 1970 Topps he becomes Rich Allen, He finally becomes Dick Allen in 1973 Topps  

2014 Topps Heritage the Originals Index
Base Cards (John Herrnstein)
Rookie Cup (Dick Allen)

Sources & Links

1965 Topps Rookie Cup Team
1964 Phillies Series 
Dick Allen Player Collection Index
Baseball-ref
Wrigley Wax
baseball Card Database

2013 Topps Heritage the Originals - 1964 Topps RCs #263 Richie Allen

This is the second post in our retrospective of 1964 Topps in anticipation of the upcoming 2013 Topps Heritage release.

In 1964 Topps issued Rookie Cards with pairs of players from the same team. One of the better RC in the set is of Dick (He should be a Hall of Famer) Allen.

1964 Topps #263 Richie Allen/John Herrnstein 

Early in his career Allen was known by or referred to as Richie Allen and that the way he is displayed on his 1964 Rookie Card. To Topps he didn't become Dick Allen until 1973 and he went through and interim period 1970-1972 as Rich Allen.

The 64 Rookie Design is solid.  The smaller titling of "1964 Rookie Stars" atop the team name looks stylish and fits in well with the base set design.  The solid black background for the nameplate mimics the base card nameplate as well.

I have featured Dick Allen hear nearly enough, but I think you may see him hear one or two more times while we look at 1964 Topps.

Most of you likely know about the fine site Dick Allen Hall of Fame which is in addition to being dedicated to Dick Allen also has several fine custom cards of many ball players.

1964 Topps Rookies 

Other Notable RCs in the set HoF #541 HoF Phil Niekro, #287 Tony Conigliaro, #146 Tommy John #244 Tony LaRussa, and #167 Lou Piniella.  The LaRussa card is a base card the other four are all two player cards similar to the Richie Allen card above.   

Additional 1964 features the 2nd year card of Pete Rose (#125). This is his first solo card - The 1963 Topps Rose card was a Quad (#537) 

Prior 1964 Topps the Originals Postings 

1964 Topps Design (Ray Culp, Lou Brock, Gus Triandos) 

More info on 1964 Topps

The full series is in the process of being covered at the 1964 Topps Blog 

The Phillies Room has a posting on the 1964 Topps Phillies as part of the ongoing Topps Phillies Series.

Dean's Cards

Beckett

Other Sources
Dick Allen Player Collection Index
Bob Lemke's Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards 
eBay
Surf Baseball Card Collectiblies, Philadelphia Phillies