Sled Allen
Encyclopedia
Fletcher Manson "Sled" Allen (August 23, 1886 – October 16, 1959) was a professional baseball
catcher
and manager
. Allen was also a sports promoter
after retiring from baseball. Allen played a total of nine seasons in professional baseball, including a part of one in Major League Baseball
with the St. Louis Browns (1910). Over his major league career, Allen batted
.130 with three hits
in 14 games played
. Allen also played in the minor leagues
with the Class-C Enid Railroaders (1908–1909), the Class-A Louisville Colonels (1910) and the Class-B Houston Buffaloes
(1912–1916). During his minor league career, Allen compiled a .210 batting average with 465 hits, 63 doubles
, 15 triples
and five home run
s in 748 games. Allen was a manager in the minor leagues for the Class-B Houston Buffaloes (1911), the Class-D Ranger Nitros
(1921), the Class-D Lubbock Hubbers
(1923) and the Class-A Amarillo Texans (1928). Allen is the father of country music
singer Terry Allen.
career with the Class-C Enid Railroaders of the Western Association
. With the Railroaders that season, Allen batted
.147 with 47 hits
, five doubles
, one triple
and one home run
in 109 games played
. During the 1909 season, Allen continued playing for the Enid Railroaders. He batted .257 with 94 hits, 15 doubles, one triple and two home runs in 108 games.
Rule 5 draft
. Allen made his major league debut on May 4, 1910. His final major league appearance was on August 5, 1910. During his time with the Browns, Allen batted .130 with three runs
, three hits, one double and one walk in 14 games played. Allen played 12 total games on defense. Allen played all of his 12 games at the catcher position and spent a part of a game at first base. He committed three errors
, and seven assists
and made 21 putout
s in 31 total chances
. After leaving the Browns, Allen joined the minor league Class-A Louisville Colonels for the rest of the 1910 season. In 30 games with the Colonels, Allen batted .227 with 22 hits, one double and one triple.
of the Texas League
in 1911. That season, Allen was a player-manager, making it his debut as a manager
in professional baseball. He batted .187 with 69 hits, 11 doubles, two triples and two home runs in 155 games that season. Allen also led the Buffaloes to a 71–75 record
in 1911. In 1912, Allen continued his tenure with the Buffaloes as a player, but not a manager. In 92 games that season, Allen batted .243 with 75 hits, nine doubles and three triples. Allen continued playing with the Houston team in 1913 and batted .208 with 51 hits, one double and two triples in 80 games played. In 1914, Allen batted .218 with 48 hits, seven doubles and two triples in 68 games that season with Houston. Allen played 92 games with the Houston team in 1915. In those games, Allen batted .215 with 61 hits, 10 doubles and four triples. Allen spent hit final season as a professional baseball player in 1916. With Houston, Allen batted .185 with 28 hits and four doubles in 54 games played.
as a manager. At the helm of the Nitros, Allen led them to a 37–43 record. Allen was hired as the manager of the Class-D Lubbock Hubbers
of the Panhandle-Pecos Valley League during their inaugural season in 1922. That season, the Hubbers went 79–59. In 1923, still at the helm of the Lubbock team, Allen led them to a league championship after they finished with a 57–47 record. In 1928, Allen was one of three managers who led the Class-A Amarillo Texans of the Western League
.
. Allen, who resided in Lubbock, Texas
in the 1940s, converted a church into a nightclub
where he promoted boxing
and wrestling
events. Allen spent several years at the aforementioned nightclub before opening the "Sled Allen Arena". The arena was host to many events, including an interracial
dancing event featuring Ray Charles
in the 1950s. The "Cosmopolitan Dance" as it was called was an event that was aimed at bringing Hispanic
s, African-Americans and Caucasians together. Allen also promoted shows for Little Richard
and Elvis Presley
.
. He is the father of country music
singer Terry Allen. After his baseball career, Allen resided in Lubbock, Texas
. Allen died in Lubbock on October 16, 1959 and was buried in Lubbock City Cemetery. Allen's wife, Pauline, was a pianist
.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
. Allen was also a sports promoter
Promoter (entertainment)
An entertainment promoter i.e. music, wrestling, boxing etc is a person or company in the business of marketing and promoting live events such as concerts/gigs, boxing matches, sports entertainment , festivals, raves, and nightclubs.- Business model :Promoters are typically hired as independent...
after retiring from baseball. Allen played a total of nine seasons in professional baseball, including a part of one in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
with the St. Louis Browns (1910). Over his major league career, Allen batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.130 with three hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 14 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
. Allen also played in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
with the Class-C Enid Railroaders (1908–1909), the Class-A Louisville Colonels (1910) and the Class-B Houston Buffaloes
Houston Buffaloes
The Houston Buffaloes or Buffs were an American minor league baseball team that was founded in 1888, played in the Texas League in the years 1888-90, 1892, 1895-99, and 1907-1958 ; in the South Texas League in the years 1903-06; and in the American Association from 1959-61...
(1912–1916). During his minor league career, Allen compiled a .210 batting average with 465 hits, 63 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 15 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and five home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s in 748 games. Allen was a manager in the minor leagues for the Class-B Houston Buffaloes (1911), the Class-D Ranger Nitros
Ranger Nitros
The Ranger Nitros were a West Texas League baseball team based in Ranger, Texas, USA that existed from 1920 to 1922. Major league baseball players Tom Lovelace and Jim Galloway played for them . In 1921, they were managed by Sled Allen...
(1921), the Class-D Lubbock Hubbers
Lubbock Hubbers
The Lubbock Hubbers were a minor league baseball team based in Lubbock, Texas, USA that existed on-and-off from 1922 to 1956. They played in the West Texas League , Panhandle-Pecos Valley League , West Texas-New Mexico League and Big State League...
(1923) and the Class-A Amarillo Texans (1928). Allen is the father of country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer Terry Allen.
Professional career
Early career
In 1908, Allen began his professional baseballProfessional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
career with the Class-C Enid Railroaders of the Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...
. With the Railroaders that season, Allen batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.147 with 47 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, five doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, one triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and one home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in 109 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
. During the 1909 season, Allen continued playing for the Enid Railroaders. He batted .257 with 94 hits, 15 doubles, one triple and two home runs in 108 games.
St. Louis Browns
On September 1, 1909, Allen was drafted by the St. Louis Browns from the Enid Railroaders in Major League Baseball'sMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. Allen made his major league debut on May 4, 1910. His final major league appearance was on August 5, 1910. During his time with the Browns, Allen batted .130 with three runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, three hits, one double and one walk in 14 games played. Allen played 12 total games on defense. Allen played all of his 12 games at the catcher position and spent a part of a game at first base. He committed three errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
, and seven assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
and made 21 putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s in 31 total chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
. After leaving the Browns, Allen joined the minor league Class-A Louisville Colonels for the rest of the 1910 season. In 30 games with the Colonels, Allen batted .227 with 22 hits, one double and one triple.
Houston Buffaloes
Allen joined the Class-B Houston BuffaloesHouston Buffaloes
The Houston Buffaloes or Buffs were an American minor league baseball team that was founded in 1888, played in the Texas League in the years 1888-90, 1892, 1895-99, and 1907-1958 ; in the South Texas League in the years 1903-06; and in the American Association from 1959-61...
of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
in 1911. That season, Allen was a player-manager, making it his debut as a manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in professional baseball. He batted .187 with 69 hits, 11 doubles, two triples and two home runs in 155 games that season. Allen also led the Buffaloes to a 71–75 record
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
in 1911. In 1912, Allen continued his tenure with the Buffaloes as a player, but not a manager. In 92 games that season, Allen batted .243 with 75 hits, nine doubles and three triples. Allen continued playing with the Houston team in 1913 and batted .208 with 51 hits, one double and two triples in 80 games played. In 1914, Allen batted .218 with 48 hits, seven doubles and two triples in 68 games that season with Houston. Allen played 92 games with the Houston team in 1915. In those games, Allen batted .215 with 61 hits, 10 doubles and four triples. Allen spent hit final season as a professional baseball player in 1916. With Houston, Allen batted .185 with 28 hits and four doubles in 54 games played.
Managerial career
In 1921, Allen joined the Class-D Ranger Nitros of the West Texas LeagueWest Texas League
The West Texas League was a class-D minor league baseball league that existed from 1920 to 1922 and from 1928 to 1929.-1920-1922:The following teams played in 1920:*Abilene Eagles*Ranger Nitros*Mineral Wells Resorters*Cisco Scouts...
as a manager. At the helm of the Nitros, Allen led them to a 37–43 record. Allen was hired as the manager of the Class-D Lubbock Hubbers
Lubbock Hubbers
The Lubbock Hubbers were a minor league baseball team based in Lubbock, Texas, USA that existed on-and-off from 1922 to 1956. They played in the West Texas League , Panhandle-Pecos Valley League , West Texas-New Mexico League and Big State League...
of the Panhandle-Pecos Valley League during their inaugural season in 1922. That season, the Hubbers went 79–59. In 1923, still at the helm of the Lubbock team, Allen led them to a league championship after they finished with a 57–47 record. In 1928, Allen was one of three managers who led the Class-A Amarillo Texans of the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
.
Later life
After his professional career, Allen was a sports promoterPromoter (entertainment)
An entertainment promoter i.e. music, wrestling, boxing etc is a person or company in the business of marketing and promoting live events such as concerts/gigs, boxing matches, sports entertainment , festivals, raves, and nightclubs.- Business model :Promoters are typically hired as independent...
. Allen, who resided in Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
in the 1940s, converted a church into a nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
where he promoted boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
events. Allen spent several years at the aforementioned nightclub before opening the "Sled Allen Arena". The arena was host to many events, including an interracial
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
dancing event featuring Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
in the 1950s. The "Cosmopolitan Dance" as it was called was an event that was aimed at bringing Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
s, African-Americans and Caucasians together. Allen also promoted shows for Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
and Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
.
Personal
Allen was born on August 23, 1886 in West Plains, MissouriWest Plains, Missouri
West Plains is a city in Howell County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,866 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Howell County. The West Plains Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Howell County.-Geography:...
. He is the father of country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer Terry Allen. After his baseball career, Allen resided in Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
. Allen died in Lubbock on October 16, 1959 and was buried in Lubbock City Cemetery. Allen's wife, Pauline, was a pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
.