Allen Lewis, 86; Hall of Fame Writer Covered the Phillies

Allen Lewis, 86, a former writer who earned entry to the Baseball Hall of Fame for his coverage of the Philadelphia Phillies for more than a quarter-century, died Sunday in Clearwater, Fla., after a long illness.

Lewis, who covered the Phillies for the Philadelphia Inquirer from 1946 to 1972 and retired in 1979, served on the Hall of Fame’s Veterans Committee from 1979 to 2000.

He was chairman of Major League Baseball’s Scoring Committee from 1960 to 1974.

In 1981, Lewis received the J.G. Taylor Spink Award, including admission to the writers’ wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

He was cited as “the foremost authority on baseball rules,” and was respected as a baseball historian who covered 24 World Series and witnessed 10 no-hitters.

Born in Beechville, Pa., Lewis graduated from Haverford College, where he played football and baseball.

During World War II, he served in the Army Air Forces, attaining the rank of captain.

After retiring to Florida, Lewis continued to follow his Phillies at their spring training camp in Clearwater, and was the first official scorer in 1998 for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.