Stats and Ranks
Some Interesting Stats and Facts
- Joined Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Willie McCovey as the only NL players to hit 40 HR with an OPS over 1.000 during the 1960′s.
- Was in triple crown contention throughout the year, finishing 4th in BA, 2nd in HR and 3rd in RBI
- Only player in Phillies history with 40 HR and 10 3B in a season
- Highest OPS by a Phillie from 1937 to 1981
- Highest OPS+ in Phillies history for a full season (Schmidt’s 1981 season is actually first, but they only played 107 games)
Why He’s Here
1966 will be remembered for when Frank Robinson hit for the triple crown. But Allen’s season was just a fraction behind Robinson. He hit for a better average and was only 20 points lower on OPS. He hit 9 fewer HR’s and had 12 fewer RBI’s than Robinson, but also had 81 fewer plate appearances.
The raw numbers might not be jaw-dropping by today’s standards, but the final bullet point above is huge. What OPS+ does is try to level the playing field for comparing players from different eras, leagues and stadiums. And by that standard, Dick Allen’s 1966 season was the best in Phillies’ history.
Looking at his NL ranks, it’s not hard to see why. Allen was 1st in SLG% and OPS, 2nd in HR, 3rd in RBI, OBP, R and Total Bases, and 4th in BA and 3B. Basically, he was top-4 in 8 of the 10 major categories.
One thing I like to do to compare seasons to modern day, is look at who had the same NL ranks in the most recent season. In 2009, here are the players that ranked where Dick Allen did in 1966:
Albert Pujols: 1st in OPS and SLG%, 3rd in RBI
Todd Helton: 3rd in OBP and 4th in BA
Prince Fielder: 2nd in HR
Chase Utley: 3rd in Runs
Ryan Howard: 3rd in Total Bases
Angel Pagan: 4th in Triples
Just looking at that list, you’ve got elite power, speed and hitting for average. Dick Allen was all of that rolled into one.
Previous Seasons
11. Jimmy Rollins, 2007
12. Billy Hamilton, 1894
13. Ed Delahanty, 1895
14. Curt Schilling, 1997
15. Lefty O’Doul, 1929
16. Brad Lidge, 2008
17. Chris Short, 1964
18. John Denny, 1983
19. Tug McGraw, 1980
20. Greg Luzinski, 1977
21. Gavvy Cravath, 1913
22. Lenny Dykstra, 1993
Five pitchers that just missed (and criteria for rankings)
In a series of terrific reads, this one really hits home. I unfortunately don’t have particular memories of 1966, despite it being Crash’s best year, they are all jumbled together from days so long ago. And to think he did it against the likes of Koufax, Marichal and Gibson. And to think that as great as Michael Jack was, he idolized Crash. Truly a special player, and win or lose, in a special time.
Typically, an outstanding piece with a lot of impressive stuff that you just don’t find many places.
#40 came in game 156 at Connie Mack Stadium on pitch thrown by 21 yr old N. Miami kid, Steve Carlton. RBI 110 came in same game on Allen’s 3rd hit in 13th inning, single to center scoring Callison, off Nelson Briles – Phils beat Cardinals, 4-3. I remember being disappointed that he was blanked in power numbers in last 6 of season.
#15 in action:
http://www.walkoffwalk.com/2010/07/anaheims-first-all-star-moment.html
[Tigers catcher, #11, Bill Freehan; flinching 3B, Brooks Robinson; Twins futile CF, #6, Tony Oliva; dugout pat, #21, the great Roberto Clemente]
note: following Ana Volens’ remake of “Echo’s of November” video, at bottom, scroll l or r, click on B & W “Dick Allen Story” … 8 min plus of good Dick Allen material.
One of a kind.
’66 – best Phillies year for the Wampum Walloper. ’72, managed by western PA neighborhood buddy Chuck Tanner (New Castle), was even better. [Joe Namath (Beaver Falls) played sports against Allen & his brothers out there while growing up.]
’66 HR 40 RBI 110 AVG .317 OBP .404 OPS+ 181 WAR 7.8
’72 HR 37 RBI 113 AVG .308 OBP .420 OPS+ 199 WAR 9.3 MVP
’66 Runs (112 to 90) & Total Bases (331 to 305) were greater.
#40 came in game 156 at Connie Mack Stadium on pitch thrown by 21 yr old N. Miami kid, Steve Carlton. >>
I would love watching that at bat.
I really wish I had first heard Echoes of November for a reason other than knowing RA had recorded it. I’d like to know how prejudiced my appreciateion of the song has been all these years because he recorded it, because I’ve always liked that song. Doowop and The Philly Sound has always been at the root of my musical tastes, so it’s hard to tell.