By: Matt Alberston, Historical Columnist 
Former Philadelphia Phillies greats Dick Allen and Pete Rose were announced as 2016 inductees to the New York-Penn League Hall of Fame. Allen and Rose played for the Elmira Pioneers and Geneva Redlegs respectively in 1960.
The New York-Penn League is the oldest, continuously operated minor league system in the United States, which began play in 1939. The system was originally known as the Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York (PONY) and operated as a Class D minor league between 1939 and 1962. The system re-branded in 1956, becoming the New York-Penn League. Major League Baseball restructured the minor leagues in 1963, at which time the NYPL became a Class B organization.
Both Allen and Rose began their professional careers in the system in 1960 while it was still a Class D league.
Dick Allen was a multi-sport athlete in high school. His skill on the diamond caught the eye of Phillies scout John Ogden, who signed Allen as a shortstop for approximately $70,000. Once with Elmira, Allen switched to the outfield. He finished the year with a .231/.389/.478. His play earned him a promotion to Magic Valley of the Pioneer League in 1961. He made his Major League debut in 1963 and was named National League Rookie of the Year in 1964.
Allen was one of the Phillies top performers in 1964, a season that ended with what is arguably the greatest collapse in baseball history. He was Philadelphia's first African-American superstar, known for his moonshot home runs at Connie Mack Stadium. He also became one of baseball's most controversial figures because he marched to the beat of his own drum.
The "Wampum Walloper" was a seven-time All-Star and the 1972 American League MVP. In recent years, Allen has earned considerable attention as a candidate for enshrinement to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, coming up one vote shy of induction in 2014.
Pete Rose was signed by his hometown Cincinnati Reds for $7,000 with a $5,000 guarantee if he made it to the major leagues. He was immediately sent to Geneva where he completed the season with a slash line of .277/.385/.343. Rose debuted for the Reds in 1963 and compiled a legendary career, best known for his constant hustle and intensity, which earned him the nickname "Charlie Hustle." He signed with the Phillies in 1979, and helped guide the club to its first world championship in 1980, before being released by Philadelphia after the 1983 season.
Rose's career is well chronicled. He was earned the 1962 National League Rookie of the year award, was a 17-time All-Star and was named the 1973 National League MVP. Additionally, he's major league baseball's all-time hit king and was a key member of three World Series winning teams.
However, like Allen, Rose remains a controversial figure and subject of conversation. In the late 1980's allegations surfaced that Rose bet on major league games and in August 1989, MLB Commissioner Bartle Giamatti declared Rose permanently banned from baseball. Ever since, baseball fans across the country have called for his reinstatement and induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Rose's involvement in baseball has increased since Rob Manfred was named MLB Commissioner in 2015.
