# Neil Allen

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Neil_Allen
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Neil_Allen.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Allen
> Source revision: 1318709181
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Neil Patrick Allen** (born January 24, 1958) is an American former professional baseball [pitcher](/source/Pitcher) and [coach](/source/Coach_(baseball)). He played for the [New York Mets](/source/New_York_Mets), [St. Louis Cardinals](/source/St._Louis_Cardinals), [New York Yankees](/source/New_York_Yankees), [Chicago White Sox](/source/Chicago_White_Sox), and [Cleveland Indians](/source/Cleveland_Indians) of [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) from 1979 to 1989.

## Playing career

### New York Mets

The [New York Mets](/source/New_York_Mets) drafted Allen out of [Bishop Ward High School](/source/Bishop_Ward_High_School) in [Kansas City, Kansas](/source/Kansas_City,_Kansas), in the eleventh round of the [1976 Major League Baseball draft](/source/1976_Major_League_Baseball_draft). He went 10–2 with a 2.79 [earned run average](/source/Earned_run_average) and led the [Carolina League](/source/Carolina_League) with 126 [strikeouts](/source/Strikeouts) with the [Lynchburg Mets](/source/Lynchburg_Mets) in his second professional season.

Allen came up with the Mets as a [starting pitcher](/source/Starting_pitcher) in 1979, and he made his major league debut on April 15 against the [Philadelphia Phillies](/source/Philadelphia_Phillies) and former Met [Nino Espinosa](/source/Nino_Espinosa), giving up three [runs](/source/Run_(baseball)) in six [innings](/source/Inning) and taking the loss.[1] Allen was 0-5 as a starter when the Mets moved him to the [bullpen](/source/Bullpen). He won his next four decisions in a row as a [reliever](/source/Relief_pitcher), and on July 28, he earned his first major league [save](/source/Save_(baseball)).[2]

Soon Allen emerged as the club's [closer](/source/Closer_(baseball)), earning eight saves by the end of the season and 69 total in his Mets career. In May 1981, the Mets reached a deal to acquire [Ellis Valentine](/source/Ellis_Valentine) from the [Montreal Expos](/source/Montreal_Expos) for [Dan Norman](/source/Dan_Norman) and either Allen or [Jeff Reardon](/source/Jeff_Reardon). Unwilling to part with their closer, the Mets sent Reardon to the Expos.[3]

With Allen's record standing at 0–4 with a 5.68 ERA and a .301 [batting average against](/source/Batting_average_against) early in the 1983 season, the Mets made the decision to convert Allen back into a starter. Allen won his first two decisions, including a [shutout](/source/Shutout) of the [Los Angeles Dodgers](/source/Los_Angeles_Dodgers).[4] Two weeks later, on June 15, he and [Rick Ownbey](/source/Rick_Ownbey) were traded to the [St. Louis Cardinals](/source/St._Louis_Cardinals) for [Keith Hernandez](/source/Keith_Hernandez).[5]

### St. Louis Cardinals

Allen's first start as a Cardinal came against the Mets at [Shea Stadium](/source/Shea_Stadium). He held the Mets to four [hits](/source/Hit_(baseball)) with six [strikeouts](/source/Strikeout) (2 of Hernandez) over eight innings, and drove in one of the Cardinals' six runs.[6] His second win for the Cards also came against his former club. This time, he held them to one run over seven innings. He also had an [RBI](/source/Run_batted_in) [double](/source/Double_(baseball)), and scored a run in the second inning.[7] All told, he went 3–0 with a 0.87 ERA against the Mets in 1983.[8] Against the rest of the [National League](/source/National_League_(baseball)), he was 9–13 with a 4.76 ERA.

In 1984, he was returned to the bullpen, making only one emergency start.[9] Allen was 1–4 with a 5.59 [earned run average](/source/Earned_run_average), and began incurring the wrath of Cardinals fans.[10] On July 16, 1985 he was sold to the [New York Yankees](/source/New_York_Yankees). Allen was 1–0 with one save and a 2.76 ERA out of the Yankees' bullpen.[11]

### Chicago White Sox

Following the '85 season, Allen was traded to the [Chicago White Sox](/source/Chicago_White_Sox) with [Scott Bradley](/source/Scott_Bradley_(baseball)) and Glenn Braxton for [Ron Hassey](/source/Ron_Hassey), [Matt Winters](/source/Matt_Winters), Chris Alvarez and Eric Schmidt. The White Sox converted him back to a starter, and he earned his first win of the season against [Ron Guidry](/source/Ron_Guidry) at [Yankee Stadium](/source/Yankee_Stadium_(1923)) on May 15. Allen gave up only one earned run, four hits and two [walks](/source/Base_on_balls) in seven innings for the first White Sox victory over Guidry at Yankee Stadium since August 13, 1980.[12]

His next start at Yankee Stadium was even better. On July 20, Allen pitched a complete game two hitter to lead the White Sox to an 8–0 victory over the Yankees.[13] For the season, Allen went 7–2 with a 3.82 ERA.

### 1987–1990

The White Sox released Allen during the 1987 season after he posted an 0–7 record and 7.07 ERA. He signed with the Yankees for the remainder of the season, and returned again for 1988. He signed a minor league deal with the [Cleveland Indians](/source/Cleveland_Indians) in 1989, making three appearances for the big league club. He pitched for the [Cincinnati Reds](/source/Cincinnati_Reds)' AAA affiliate, the [Nashville Sounds](/source/Nashville_Sounds) in 1990 before retiring.

## Career stats

Seasons W L Pct. ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER R HR BB K WP HBP BAA Fld% Avg. SH 11 58 70 .453 3.88 434 59 7 6 75 988.1 985 426 464 73 417 611 39 9 .264 .980 .130 11

Allen was an above average fielding pitcher. He did not commit an [error](/source/Error_(baseball)) from 1983 to 1986.

## Coaching career

Allen began coaching shortly after his retirement. After a brief stint in the independent [Texas–Louisiana League](/source/Texas%E2%80%93Louisiana_League) as pitching coach with the Mobile BaySharks, Allen joined the [Toronto Blue Jays](/source/Toronto_Blue_Jays) in 1996 as pitching coach of their [New York–Penn League](/source/New_York%E2%80%93Penn_League) affiliate, the [St. Catharines Stompers](/source/St._Catharines_Stompers).

After four seasons with the Jays' organization, Allen returned to the Yankees in 2000 as pitching coach of the [Staten Island Yankees](/source/Staten_Island_Yankees). He was pitching coach for the [Columbus Clippers](/source/Columbus_Clippers) from 2003 to 2004, and returned to that position again in 2006 after serving as the bullpen pitching coach for the New York Yankees during the 2005 season. Allen, while the Columbus Clippers pitching coach, introduced [Chien-Ming Wang](/source/Chien-Ming_Wang)'s sinker, which became his signature pitch.[14]

In 2007, he joined the Rays' organization, working in their minor league system with his final stop as the pitching coach for the [Durham Bulls](/source/Durham_Bulls).[15]

In November 2014, the Minnesota Twins hired him as their major league pitching coach.[16]

On May 26, 2016, Allen was booked into Hennepin County jail on suspicion of [driving under the influence](/source/Driving_under_the_influence) and suspended indefinitely by the Twins.[17] After he completed a five-week outpatient treatment program at the [Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation](/source/Hazelden_Betty_Ford_Foundation) that the team had checked him in to, the Twins brought him back in early July.[18]

At the end of the 2017 season, Allen retired from his coaching career, and did not return to the Twins in 2018.

## References

1. ["Philadelphia Phillies 6, New York Mets 3"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN197904152.shtml). *[Baseball-Reference.com](/source/Baseball-Reference.com)*. April 15, 1979.

1. ["New York Mets 6, Chicago Cubs 4"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN197907280.shtml). Baseball-Reference.com. 1979-07-28.

1. Larry Liebenthal (2004). [*Double Blackjack: The Best & Worst Deals Made by the New York Mets*](https://books.google.com/books?id=PszlYvG2mfAC&pg=PT1). iUniverse, Inc. ISBN 9780595312764. Retrieved 2009-09-23.

1. ["New York Mets 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 0"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198305200.shtml). *Baseball-Reference.com*. May 20, 1983.

1. Herm Weiskopf (1983-06-27). ["Inside Pitch"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121025095659/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1120986/index.htm). *[Sports Illustrated](/source/Sports_Illustrated)*. Archived from [the original](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1120986/index.htm) on October 25, 2012.

1. ["St. Louis Cardinals 6, New York Mets 0"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198306210.shtml). *Baseball-Reference.com*. June 21, 1983.

1. ["St. Louis Cardinals 6, New York Mets 1"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN198306300.shtml). *Baseball-Reference.com*. June 30, 1983.

1. ["St. Louis Cardinals 2, New York Mets 1"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198309140.shtml). *Baseball-Reference.com*. September 14, 1983.

1. ["San Francisco Giants 6, St. Louis Cardinals 2"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN198407030.shtml). *Baseball-Reference.com*. July 3, 1984.

1. Jim Kaplan (1985-05-06). ["How Does St. Louis Spell Relief? Not N-e-i-l A-l-l-e-n, who can't escape the shadow cast by B-r-u-c-e S-u-t-t-e-r"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121025102104/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1119423/index.htm). *Sports Illustrated*. Archived from [the original](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1119423/index.htm) on October 25, 2012.

1. Henry Hecht (1985-07-29). ["Inside Pitch Statistics Through July 21"](https://archive.today/20121203001146/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1119706/index.htm). *Sports Illustrated*. Archived from [the original](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1119706/index.htm) on December 3, 2012.

1. ["Chicago White Sox 8, New York Yankees 1"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA198605150.shtml). Baseball-Reference.com. 1986-05-15.

1. ["Chicago White Sox 8, New York Yankees 0"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA198607200.shtml). Baseball-Reference.com. 1986-07-20.

1. Chen, Albert (2008-04-15). ["Chien-Ming Wang Has A Secret"](https://www.si.com/more-sports/2008/04/15/wang0421). *[Sports Illustrated](/source/Sports_Illustrated)*. Retrieved 2016-01-12.

1. Russell, Daniel (November 26, 2014). ["Twins hire Neil Allen as Pitching Coach"](http://www.draysbay.com/2014/11/26/7292651/twins-hire-neil-allen-as-pitching-coach). D Rays Bay.

1. Bollinger, Rhett (November 25, 2014). ["Three coaches join new manager Molitor's staff"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141129024033/http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/102430028/three-coaches-join-twins-manager-paul-molitors-staff). *MLB.com*. Archived from [the original](http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/102430028/three-coaches-join-twins-manager-paul-molitors-staff) on November 29, 2014.

1. Goff, Declan & McLaughlin, Shaymus (May 26, 2016). ["Twins' pitching coach suspended indefinitely after DWI arrest"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160628203155/http://bringmethenews.com/2016/05/26/twins-pitching-coach-suspended-indefinitely-after-dwi-arrest/). *bringmethenews.com*. Archived from [the original](http://bringmethenews.com/2016/05/26/twins-pitching-coach-suspended-indefinitely-after-dwi-arrest) on June 28, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2016.

1. ["Twins reinstate Neil Allen as pitching coach after DWI arrest"](http://www.twincities.com/2016/07/07/minnesota-twins-reinstate-neil-allen-as-pitching-coach/). 7 July 2016.

## External links

, or [The Ultimate Mets Database](http://ultimatemets.com/profile.php?PlayerCode=0296)

- [Neil Allen](https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/95b2e6e1) at [Society for American Baseball Research](/source/Society_for_American_Baseball_Research)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Neil Allen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Allen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Allen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.