Eagles Coordinator Vic Fangio Celebrates Hall of Famer Dick Allen
At Eagles training camp on Tuesday, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio showcased a special addition to his collection: a Philadelphia Phillies No. 15 jersey honoring Dick Allen. "The guys, I asked them to get me this for me," Fangio remarked, beaming with pride. "And they came through. My all-time favorite Phillie right there. He was their best player when I was young, and he was obviously a great player."
Allen's legacy was solidified just days prior when he was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, a recognition long overdue, thanks to the tireless efforts of his former teammates, family, and friends. The Classic Baseball Era committee made the announcement in December, finally granting Allen the honor he deserved.
In 2020, the Phillies retired Allen's No. 15, a tribute that came months before his passing at 78. As the first Black superstar for the franchise, Allen broke barriers during a time when the Phillies were among the last teams in Major League Baseball to integrate. Last season, Citizens Bank Park unveiled a "Pioneers in Pinstripes" display, celebrating Allen alongside John Irving Kennedy, the franchise's first Black player, and other key figures in the team's integration history.
Over his 15-season career, Allen amassed 351 home runs and a .912 OPS. He earned the NL Rookie of the Year title in 1964 while playing for the Phillies. After enduring racial discrimination in Philadelphia, he requested a trade in 1970, leading to stints with the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers before finding success with the Chicago White Sox, where he won the AL MVP award. His career concluded with a bWAR of 58.8 during an era dominated by pitching.
"Dick was a sensitive Black man who refused to be treated as a second-class citizen," said Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt during Allen's 2020 induction ceremony. Schmidt reflected on the challenges Allen faced from fans and teammates alike, recalling how he wore a batting helmet throughout games due to the hostility directed at him.
Fangio's passion for Philadelphia sports is well-known; the Dunmore native proudly donned a Phillies hat during his first press conference of training camp last week. In a previous interview, he expressed how deeply invested he is in the team's performance: "I don't sleep at night until I know whether the Phillies won or lost. Even if they're on the West Coast."
On Tuesday, Fangio reminisced about a memorable day spent golfing with Hall of Fame pitcher Rich "Goose" Gossage, who was inducted in 2008. During their round, Gossage shared his admiration for Allen, calling him "the greatest player I ever played with." Fangio recalled their conversation: "We played 18 holes. We rode the same cart, and obviously, I talked baseball with him," he said. "He said [Allen] was the best teammate he had ever had."
