I’m too young to have seen Dick Allen play baseball, but I’m well aware of his importance to Black baseball, especially in Philly.
He took no crap, and made it clear that integrating the big leagues alone wasn’t enough. Respect was warranted. That paved the way for guys like Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard to later shine by being themselves.
Too bad Dick Allen passed just a couple years before being inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer. But I had to draw this as a tribute. Between the mutton chops and fro and old school Philly colors… really one of the more fun athletes to illustrate.