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In 1952 the Pittsburgh Courier polled 31 Negro League players, writers, officials, and managers to select the greatest black players. Today the first and second teams selected by that poll are littered with members of the Hall of Fame.

One player from the list on the outside looking in is second baseman, Newt Allen. The captain of the Kansas City Monarchs, Allen helped his team capture Negro National League pennants in 1923, 1924, 1925, and 1929.

He was the starting second sacker for the first World Series was held between the Negro National League and the Eastern Colored League when Allen’s Monarchs bested Hilldale for the title.

In the collection is this oversized card in which Allen has penned, “Newton H. Allen 2nd Baseman for Kansas City Monarchs 1923-1950”.

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Hall of Fame voters have yet to recognize Newt Allen as worthy of induction. The legendary Buck O’Neil does, however, list Allen on his All Time Negro League All Stars.

A quick glance down the list finds it peppered with other Hall of Fame players. Allen was chosen in the 1952 Pittsburgh Courier poll as the second team utility player.

It’s difficult to argue with O’Neil not just because the list has so many Cooperstown men. Buck O’Neil was around baseball and the Negro Leagues for his entire life.

In 2008, the Hall of Fame today created the “Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award”. According to the Hall’s website the purpose of the award is “to honor an individual whose extraordinary efforts enhanced baseball’s positive impact on society, broadened the game’s appeal, and whose character, integrity and dignity are comparable to the qualities exhibited by O’Neil.”