Artemus Ward "Nick" Allen (September 14, 1888 – October 16, 1939) was a catcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Buffalo Buffeds/Blues,

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...

, and

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

. Allen became a minor league baseball manager after his playing career was over and earned the nickname "Roarin' Nick" for his altercations with umpires. He stood at 6' 0" and weighed 180 lbs."Nick Allen Statistics and History"
''baseball-reference.com''. Retrieved 2010-12-27.

Career

Allen was born in Norton, Kansas. He started his professional baseball career in 1910 in the

Kansas State League The Kansas State League was a minor league baseball league in the United States that operated in the state of Kansas in the late 19th century and into the early 20th century. History The Kansas State League was first established in 1887 as a ...

. He batted .188 in 105 games that year and then moved on to the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, American Association, and

Northern League Northern League may refer to: Sport Baseball * Northern League (baseball, 1902–71), a name used by several minor leagues that operated in the upper midwestern U.S. and Manitoba from 1902 to 1971 * Northern League (baseball, 1993–2010), an indep ...

, each for just one season."Nick Allen Minor League Statistics & History"
''baseball-reference.com''. Retrieved 2010-12-27. In February 1914, Allen signed with the Federal League's Buffalo Buffeds. He made his major league debut on May 1, 1914 but various injuries shortened his rookie season.Sandoval, Jim
"Nick Allen"
''bioproj.sabr.org''. Retrieved 2010-12-27. In 1915, he returned and played in an MLB career-high 84 games. He committed 21 errors and batted .205. The Federal League folded after 1915, and Allen was sold to the Chicago Cubs. He played 5 games for Chicago, going 1 for 16 at the plate. He then returned to the minors for 1916 and 1917. The Cincinnati Reds bought his contract in 1917, and he was a backup catcher on the major league squad from 1918 to 1920. In 1919, he batted .320 (in 15 games), and the Reds won the National League pennant and World Series. Allen was traded to the American Association's

St. Paul Saints The St. Paul Saints are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and have played their home games at CHS Field since 2015. They prev ...

before the 1921 season. He batted .317 in 128 games during his first campaign in St. Paul. He then served as the team's manager from 1924 to 1928, winning one pennant."Nick Allen's Obit"
''thedeadballera.com''. Retrieved 2010-12-27. In mid-1929, he took over as manager for the Tulsa Oilers of the Western League and guided that team to a pennant, as well. Allen was a manager and

scout Scout may refer to: Youth movement *Scout (Scouting), a child, usually 10–18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement **Scouts (The Scout Association), section for 10-14 year olds in the United Kingdom **Scouts BSA, sectio ...

for various teams in the 1930s. Known as "Roarin' Nick" because of his "umpire baiting" on the field, Allen claimed that his actions were done solely to increase attendance at the ballpark. Allen was hospitalized in February 1939 for cancer, and he died on October 16, 1939.

References

External links

Retrosheet

SABR BioProject Biography
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Nick 1888 births 1939 deaths Baseball players from Kansas Brooklyn Dodgers scouts Buffalo Blues players Buffalo Buffeds players Chicago Cubs players Cincinnati Reds players Dubuque Hustlers players Major League Baseball catchers Milwaukee Brewers (AA) players Minneapolis Millers (baseball) players Minor league baseball managers New York Yankees scouts Newton Railroaders players People from Cook County, Illinois People from Norton, Kansas Providence Grays (minor league) players St. Paul Saints (AA) managers St. Paul Saints (AA) players Topeka Savages players