Philly Burbs: Dick Allen on MLB Network’s “Studio 42 With Bob Costas” Tuesday night

Right after the tenth at the Meadowlands.

With Allen Iverson’s return, people have been naturally drawing comparisons between A.I.‘s checkered times in town and Dick Allen’s turbulent relationship with the Phillies and their fans, which continued upon his return in 1975.

Forget the buffoonish sideshow Terrell Owens created and A.I.‘s petulant child act. Allen, the slow-to-integrate Phillies’ first African-American superstar, was easily the most controversial athlete to ever play in Philadelphia. Allen’s troubles had as much to do with race relations and narrow minds in the turbulent ‘60s as his own actions. But his often brooding, guarded nature didn’t help matters any.

I’m thinking this should make for a particularly interesting edition of MLB Network’s “Studio 42” tomorrow night (presuming it was recorded after the A.I. signing was announced), when Allen goes one-on-one with Bob Costas. The hour-long chat airs at 8:00 pm.