A look at the 3 White Sox AL MVPs

Aug 10, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies former player Dick Allen during Phillies alumni ceremony prior to game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Mets, 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Dick Allen
AL MVP: 1972

The ’72 season for Allen was his first as a member of the Chicago White Sox, and one that fans should know more about.

Allen played in 148 games that season, and not only was he an All-Star, but he finished the season leading the majors in home runs (37), RBIs (113), walks (99), on-base percentage (.420), slugging percentage (.603), OPS (1.023) and OPS+ (199).

Not to mention, Allen had a .308 batting average, with 28 doubles and five triples to go with what amounted to 156 hits and 90 runs in 506 at-bats (609 plate appearances). Allen also had 305 total bases, including 19 stolen bases.

As for the ’72 White Sox, they finished 87-67 overall, second in the AL West.

In the MVP voting, Allen totaled 321 points (21 first-place votes), with second place going to Joe Rudi of the Oakland Athletics with 164 points (one first-place vote). Wilbur Wood of the White Sox was seventh in the voting that season with 78 points.

Allen played just three seasons with the White Sox, where in those seasons he had a combined batting average of .304. He played nine of his 15 total seasons in the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he was the Rookie of the Year in 1964.

After winning the MVP in ’72, the closest Allen ever got back to the AL MVP award was a 35th-place finish in ’73 and placing 23rd in ’74.