From the halls of Congress to the fields of science, from the pulpit to the battlefield, American Freemasons have left their mark on nearly every chapter of our nation’s story. In the 20th century, one of those Brothers made his mark not with a gavel or a quill, but with a bat, a glove, and an enduring passion for teaching the game of baseball.
Ethan Nathan Allen was a Major League ball player, coach, innovator, and Brother of Yeatman Lodge No. 162 in Cincinnati. He embodied the values of Freemasonry in every role he held. On the diamond, he displayed perseverance and discipline. As a coach at Yale, he became a mentor who shaped not just ballplayers but men of character. And through his books, films, and creations, he showed the Masonic devotion to education and the spreading of knowledge to others.
Allen’s life reminds us that the lessons of Masonry are not confined to the Lodge. They are lived out in our passions, our communities, and even our professions. His story is not only a tale of baseball, but a reflection of how Masons help build the character of a nation.
An Ohio Boy, Born and Raised
Ethan Nathan Allen was born on January 1, 1904, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Laura Francis and David Allen. Growing up in the Queen City, Allen quickly proved himself to be a gifted athlete. At Withrow High School, he was a three-sport standout, excelling in baseball, basketball, and track.
He continued his athletic success at the University of Cincinnati, where he again lettered in three sports and shone brightest on the diamond. In his senior season of 1926, he batted an extraordinary .473 and led the Bearcats as team captain. His coach, Boyd Chambers, who was also a scout for the Cincinnati Reds recommended him to the hometown club. The Reds signed Allen, and that June he debuted in Major League Baseball.
Unlike most players, Allen never played a day in the minor leagues. He jumped straight from the University of Cincinnati to the Reds’ roster, an achievement that is as rare today as it was then.
A Career Built on Consistency
Over the next 13 years, he played for six major league teams: the Cincinnati Reds, New York Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Browns. He quickly earned a reputation as a cerebral player who was fast on the basepaths, dependable in the outfield, and smart at the plate.
In 1,138 games, he compiled more than 1,300 hits, 47 home runs, and 501 runs batted in, with a .300 lifetime batting average. He hit .300 or better six times, including a career-best .330 season in 1934 with the Phillies. Known more for line drives than towering home runs, Allen embodied the steady excellence and humility that made him a valued teammate wherever he went.
Beyond the Diamond
Even during his playing years, Allen was thinking about how to teach and preserve the game. He enrolled at Columbia University’s Teachers College in the offseasons and earned a master’s degree in physical education in 1933. He later wrote more than a dozen books on baseball fundamentals and directed motion pictures for the National League, producing instructional films that reached millions of viewers.
Perhaps his most enduring creation was All-Star Baseball, a board game first released in 1941. Using player statistics printed on discs and a spinner to simulate at-bats, it became one of the most beloved baseball games of the 20th century. For Allen, it was another way to teach the fundamentals to young player, and a reflection of his lifelong desire to pass on knowledge about the game he adored.
A Coach and Mentor
In 1946, Allen began his most influential chapter when he was named head baseball coach at Yale University. Over 22 seasons, he led the Bulldogs to 327 victories, five league championships, and two College World Series appearances. His players remembered him not only for his knowledge of the game but for the lessons he taught about life.
One of those players was team captain George H. W. Bush, who would later become the 41st President of the United States. Bush recalled Allen as “a wonderful coach, a real gentleman, and most important, a warm and close friend.” Other players described him as a no-nonsense leader who demanded discipline, perseverance, and resilience. To Allen, talent was less important than character, and he took pride in coaching players who worked hard to play their best.
Allen’s former assistant, Joe Rossomando, summed him up best: “He not only taught baseball, but taught character.” That dedication to building his players into men of integrity reflects the very heart of Masonry and the call we all hear to take what we have learned and pass it forward to the next generation in the hopes we can leave the world a better place
Remembering Ethan Allen’s Legacy
Brother Allen’s life was one of achievement and service. He played with baseball’s greats, helped shape the way the game was taught, mentored generations of young men, and even helped a future president build confidence on the field. As an Ohio Freemason, he exemplified the Masonic principles of leadership, education, and commitment to the next generation.
When he passed away in 1993 at the age of 89, Ethan Allen left behind a legacy of perseverance, innovation, and care for his fellow man. His is a legacy that continues to inspire, both on the field and in the Lodge.
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