I wrote: "That's one small step for man. One giant leap for Rich Allen."
Historical note: Coincidentally, Jimmy Rollins showed up late on Thursday, July 24, exactly 39 years from the date that Allen made his first appearance following his hiatus.
Not to diminish the impact of Rollins and his disturbing regression from National League MVP to a merely good middle infielder, but when it comes to breaking rules, J-Roll couldn't carry Allen's fine slips.
There is one ball club no-no Allen was never guilty of, however. Let's make that clear: No. 15 never, ever, took a play off. He used to tell writers, "All I owe anybody is a hard game of ball." And he gave them that and more. Even when manager Gene Mauch stuck him in left when he was too injured to throw a baseball 20 feet to designated relay man Bobby Wine, Allen ran the bases hard and knew his role in the offense.
It is one reason why, despite all the off-field stuff during his career - and let's be real here, Crash did cause the exit of two managers - his teammates generally liked and respected him.
When Rollins got stuck in traffic last Thursday, driving his own auto from the Phillies' Manhattan Le Parker Meridien hotel, he wound up at Shea Stadium less than an hour before a 12:10 p.m. start. That was well past a club rule that considers any player late who arrives after the arrival of the second team bus.
Manager Charlie Manuel benched him for his tardiness, the shortstop's second official demerit of the season. The first was for failing to run out a fly ball that was misplayed. Manuel waited until the end of the inning that time, then sent Eric Bruntlett out to shortstop.
