Former Harry Hill baseball star Dave Allen set to enter Greater Lansing Hall

Dave Allen was a standout baseball player in the late 1970s at Harry Hill High School in Lansing. He went on to play at Oral Roberts University and then was drafted by the San Francisco Giants, where he had a successful few years, playing with minor league affiliates in Montana, Iowa and California. Allen now resides in retirement in Texas and he got a text from his sister on a random Sunday morning several months ago. One of Allen's cousins had unexpectedly nominated him for the Great Lansing Sports Hall of Fame, and his sister delivered the news that he would be included as part of the 2026 induction class. Allen and six other individuals and one team will be inducted at the Lansing Center on Aug. 20. "I had moved away, been gone for years and hadn't been keeping up much, and sitting in church and getting that text from my sister caught me off guard," Allen said. "I was pretty surprised and emotional sitting with my family there, but very honored to say the least." Allen helped Harry Hill win two consecutive Diamond Classic titles in his junior and senior years of high school, including a pitchers duel in 1978 against Grand Ledge when Allen pitched all 11 innings in a 1-0 win. "That game was such an iconic game and moment in the Diamond Classic and really a description of how my career got started," Allen said. "As a junior, it really was a springboard after that game in front of a sold-out crowd and many scouts and college coaches there." Allen played four years at Oral Roberts while also playing in two summer college leagues in Hutchison, Kansas. Then after being drafted by the Giants, Allen played with multiple future major leaguers players and a few eventual Hall of Famers, primarily while in AAA Fresno. He played semi-pro baseball with Roger Clemens and in 1985 was roommates in the minor leagues with Will Clark after the Giants had signed him. Other MLB players Allen suited up with include Charlie Hayes, Greg Litton, John Burkett and Mike Moore. Even in that group, Allen was still a regular starter for Fresno up until his final season in 1989, in a Giants organization that made the World Series that season. "I'm probably one of the only players in the starting lineup there that didn't make it to the big leagues, but I was still a starter on that team," Allen said. "I had tweaked my knee and needed to have surgery, and I had a baby on the way and my wife and I had just bought a house. So I made the decision to take a year off, and I ended up just not going back. I felt like I could have, but I don't have any regrets." Today, Allen and his wife and have three children with seven grandchildren. His wife and daughter will accompany him to Lansing for the ceremony next week, where Allen plans to walk the stage and accept his honor despite having two knee replacement surgeries in the past six weeks. "It's been a fight all summer, but that's what my goal has been to walk up and receive that award," Allen said. "It will make it all worth it." Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott 50th Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame celebration When: 4:30 p.m. Aug. 20 Where: Lansing Center Tickets: Call (517) 484-0677 or email everyb21@gmail.com for information. 2026 inductees:  Dave Allen, John Holms, Tom Izzo, Debbie Kent, Cortney Scott, Denzel Valentine, Drew Valentine, 1999 Okemos softball Sponsors: Dean Transportation, Shaheen Chevrolet/Cadillac, Dan Henry Distributing, One North Kitchen & Bar, ASAP Printing, Applegate Home Comfort, Magic Johnson Enterprises, Edward Jones Investments, Gregory Eaton Associates,  Roland Carter Enterprise, The Bleacher Denizen  This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Former Harry Hill baseball star Dave Allen set to enter Greater Lansing Hall