American Baseball first baseman Dick Allen’s wife, Barbara Moore, was his classmate.
Dick Allen and Dave Parker were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, as revealed by the Classic Baseball Era committee on December 8, 2024.
Highlights
- Dick Allen has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame via the classic era committee.
- He married Barbara Moore in 1962 but separated in 1981. Later, he married Willa Allen, with whom he lived for 33 years.
- Barbara and Dick had three children: Richard Allen, Button Eron Allen, and Terri Allen.
Parker (14 votes) and Allen (13 votes) each received more than the minimum 12 of 16 votes necessary for induction.
Allen and Parker will be officially inducted to Cooperstown on July 26, 2025, along with any players inducted by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
The results of the writers’ ballot will be announced officially on January 21, 2024.
However, the news is undoubtedly bittersweet for Allen’s family and supporters as he passed away in 2020.
He twice fell a single vote shy of induction in past appearances on Era Committee/Veterans Committee ballots. When he was eligible, Allen didn’t receive much attention on the writers’ ballots.
At long last, Cooperstown has not finally recognized the slugger for an outstanding 15-year career highlighted by the 1972 AL MVP Award.
Allen was a seven-time All-Star who twice led the American League in home runs and had an outstanding 155 wRC+ for his career.
Dick Allen Married Willa Allen After Separating From Barbara Moore
Former American Baseball First Baseman Dick Allen tied the knot with his classmate Barbara Moore in 1962. However, their marriage ended with the divorce in 1981.
Dick said Barbara’s father, whose nickname was “Bucket,” served as a father figure for Dick and that he admired and loved him greatly.
Barbara is not active on social media, so only limited information is available regarding her personal life.
Later, Dick exchanged his vows with his second wife, Willa Allen, which lasted for over 33 years. Before Dick’s passing, the couple lived in Wampum, Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Willa Allen, wife of the late great Dick Allen spoke during Pioneers in Pinstripes the ceremony. #RingTheBell #Jackie42 pic.twitter.com/CC9n168wVj
— O.J. Spivey (@OJPhilly) April 15, 2024
Earlier, Dick Allen was surrounded by autograph hunters before the White Sox season opener against the California Angels at Comiskey Park on April 5, 1974.
His son remained disheartened that one elusive vote kept his father out of the Hall of Fame.
Following the incident, his wife Willa described being very disappointed by the outcome.
However, she wasn’t surprised. During the interview with the Chicago Tribune in 2021, Willa said,
“He wasn’t a conformist; he was anything but that,” “He was his own person no matter what. In a way, he was an introvert, but he believed firmly in what he believed in, and that’s what he was going to stand for. “During the ’60s, of course, Black players had to stay in their place, and that definitely was not Dick. … He had a battle with the league and everything that at that time they represented that he thought was unfair. I think he’s been punished for that.”
Willa Allen
Recently, MLB has congratulated Willa and her entire family as many White Sox fans joined them in applauding the Hall of Fame recognition for Dick.
Dick Allen Had Three Children With His First Wife, Barbara Moore
Dick Allen and Barbara Moore were blessed with two sons: Eron Button Allen & Richard Allen, and one daughter Terri Allen.
Recently, Dick’s son found out that their late father is a Hall of Famer. During a celebration in a conference room at the Hilton Anatole, Dick’s son Richard Allen said,
“Just like champagne popping,” “I wanted to hear it, wanted to see it, it’s just so much to take in. A big sigh of relief mainly. Just long overdue. Long overdue.”
Richard Allen
From Dallas, the moment Dick Allen’s son, Richard Jr., found out his late father is a Hall of Famer. Finally. pic.twitter.com/rMsRSCAwtG
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) December 9, 2024
Growing up, Richard wanted to be a baseball star like his father, but Dick wanted his son to focus on education and business acumen.
Instead of baseball, Dick guided his son to manage his racehorses. On the other hand, Dick’s son Button Eron Allen has stayed away from the media spotlight.
Sadly, his daughter Terri Allen, who grew up in the Pennridge area, was shot to d*ath by her boyfriend on May 30, 2021, in the parking lot outside her apartment in Largo, Md.
Her boyfriend, Clarence E. Ford of Mitchellville, Md,., later shot and k*lled himself in a car as he fled the scene with police in pursuit.
According to Prince George County Police Cpl., the shooting occurred just after midnight when Allen returned to her apartment just outside Washington, D.C.
As she returned, Ford confronted her, and an argument ensued. Ford then produced a gun and fired three shots, hitting Allen in the head and chest.
Additional Information
- Dick Allen was born in Wampum, one of nine children of Era and Coy Allen, a truck driver.
- He faced racial harassment while playing for the Phillies’ minor league affiliate in Little Rock; residents sent death threats to Allen, the local team’s first black player.
- Allen was acquired by the White Sox from the Dodgers for Tommy John and Steve Huntz at the Winter Meetings on December 2, 1971.
