Allan Lewis – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Allan Lewis made a mark in baseball history with a six-season run from 1967 to 1973 for the Kansas City and Oakland Athletics. Born in Panama on December 12, 1941, Lewis earned the nickname “The Panamanian Express” thanks to his blazing speed and his odd but fascinating role as baseball’s first designated runner.

Lewis retired after the 1973 season, walking away as a two-time World Series champ. He appeared in 156 major league games, almost always as a pinch runner.

What set Lewis apart wasn’t his bat or his power—it was his legs. He actually scored more runs (47) and stole more bases (44) than he had plate appearances (31). That stat alone says it all about his unusual job in the majors.

Owner Charles Finley became so intrigued by Lewis that he called him up himself, skipping the usual scouting and manager input.

Lewis’s story gives us a window into baseball’s experimental days in the late ’60s and early ’70s, when teams tried out new strategies. He traveled from the banana plantations of Bocas del Toro to the World Series, proving that speed and a single skill could open doors—even if you hardly ever picked up a bat.

Early Life and Background

Allan Lewis was born December 12, 1941, in Colón, Panama. Some sources say it might have actually been 1937.

He grew up in Bocas del Toro, a Caribbean town where he fell in love with baseball by listening to American Armed Forces Radio.

Childhood in Panama

Lewis spent his early years in Bocas del Toro, a town started by Jamaican immigrants in 1826. English Caribbean culture ran deep there, and you can see it in his family’s roots—his mom’s maiden name was Elliott.

“I love the game always since I was a kid,” Lewis said. “When I was a kid in Bocas del Toro, I used to listen to baseball on Armed Forces Radio.”

Bocas del Toro produced a surprising amount of baseball talent. Ivan Murrell, Sherman Obando, and Fernando Seguignol all came from the same place.

Lewis played Little League ball in his hometown. Baseball was big there, blending Caribbean vibes with the American game.

Education and Early Athleticism

Lewis attended Colegio Félix Olivares Contreras for high school in David, the capital of Chiriquí province. Moving inland gave him more chances to play sports.

On his 18th birthday, December 12, 1959, Lewis married Barbara Hall. They eventually raised nine kids—six boys and three girls.

He played for Chiriquí in Panama’s National Amateur Championships in 1960 and 1961. His team took the title in 1960, and his speed was already something people talked about.

Lewis could run the 100-yard dash in 9.5 seconds. That speed would end up catching the eyes of major league scouts later on.

Signing With Kansas City Athletics

The Kansas City Athletics found Lewis through their Latin American scout, Félix “Fellé” Delgado. Delgado spotted Lewis’s speed and saw his potential.

Kansas City signed him, sending him to Albuquerque in the Class D Sophomore League. His first pro season in 1961 got cut short by injuries.

Lewis hit .271 with 2 home runs and 20 RBIs, but an ankle injury kept him out early. Then, in June, he broke his leg and had to return to Panama to heal up.

The Athletics still believed in Lewis, so they kept him in their system. His journey from Panama to professional baseball in the U.S. was underway.

Professional Career Overview

Allan Lewis played pro ball for 12 years, spending six seasons in the minors before making it to the majors in 1967. His role as baseball’s first “designated runner” made him unforgettable, even if he barely hit.

Minor League Performance

Lewis started his pro career in 1961 after signing with Kansas City. They sent him to Albuquerque, where he hit .271 with 2 homers and 20 RBIs.

Injuries slowed him down early. He missed part of 1961 with an ankle injury, then broke his leg and had to go home.

Between 1962 and 1965, Lewis played mostly with Daytona Beach in the Class A Florida State League. He kept his average over .300 but didn’t show much power, sometimes finishing whole seasons without a home run.

Speed was his thing. Lewis could run the 100-yard dash in 9.5 seconds and started racking up stolen bases. In 1965, he stole 76 bases for Leesburg and made the league All-Star team.

His breakout came in 1966, when he stole 116 bases for Leesburg. He led the league in runs (92) and hits (156), and owner Charles Finley took notice.

Major League Debut

Lewis made his big league debut on April 11, 1967, with the Kansas City Athletics at age 25. Charles Finley personally brought him up, ignoring the usual channels.

His first game didn’t go so well. Lewis came in to pinch-run for Ed Charles in the seventh against Cleveland, but pitcher Steve Hargan picked him off right away.

“The first time I went in, everybody was waiting to see me,” Lewis remembered. “I took my lead, and [Hargan] picked me off, just like that. I froze.”

Still, Lewis found his place as a specialist. He stole 14 bases in 19 tries that rookie year, though he did get sent down to Double-A Birmingham twice.

Finley loved his speed, calling him “The Panamanian Express” and using him almost only as a pinch runner. Lewis actually finished his career with more runs (47) and steals (44) than plate appearances (31).

Transition to Oakland Athletics

When the A’s moved to Oakland in 1968, Lewis kept doing his thing for the team. He spent most of 1968 in Birmingham before returning to the majors.

He bounced between the minors and the big leagues through 1971, playing for the Iowa Oaks in Triple-A and getting called up for important stretches.

His biggest moment? September 27, 1970—he hit his only big league home run off Angels pitcher Greg Garrett at Anaheim Stadium. That solo shot was one of just six career hits for Lewis.

Lewis proved useful during Oakland’s championship runs in 1972 and 1973. He made it into the World Series both years, scoring key runs, even though Reds catcher Johnny Bench threw him out twice in 1972.

“I’m not afraid of Johnny Bench,” Lewis bragged before the 1972 Series. “He should be worrying about me.”

His last game came on September 30, 1973, against the White Sox. He stole a base in his final appearance.

Role as Pinch Runner and Speed Specialist

Allan Lewis changed the way people thought about pinch runners during his six years with the Kansas City and Oakland A’s from 1967 to 1973. Owner Charles Finley invented the “designated runner” job just for Lewis, who played in 156 games but only had 31 plate appearances, scoring 47 runs and stealing 44 bases.

Designated Runner Era

Charles Finley shook up baseball strategy by making Lewis the first specialized pinch runner. He called Lewis “The Panamanian Express” and brought him in without the usual input from scouts or managers.

Lewis got into games almost only as a pinch runner. He started in the field just three times in his whole big league career. Not many non-pitchers have played over 100 games with more appearances than plate appearances, but Lewis did.

Manager Alvin Dark didn’t like the idea at first but later came around. “A standout baserunner can give your team a tremendous lift during the eighth and ninth innings of a close game,” Dark said in 1973.

The experiment worked well enough that Commissioner Bowie Kuhn even thought about making a designated runner rule. After Lewis left, Finley brought in Olympic sprinter Herb Washington to fill the role.

Notable Pinch Running Appearances

Lewis made a difference in the A’s 1972 and 1973 World Series wins. He played in six of seven games during the 1972 Series against Cincinnati.

His biggest moment came in Game Four, when he scored the tying run on Gonzalo Márquez’s pinch single in the ninth. Even though Johnny Bench threw him out a couple times, Lewis still helped the team win it all.

In 1973, Lewis made the World Series roster again. He pinch-ran in three games against the Mets, scoring a clutch ninth-inning run in Game Two that pushed the game into extras.

After the 1973 championship, his teammates gave him a one-tenth World Series share. Lewis showed how valuable a single skill could be when the pressure was on.

Stolen Base Records

Lewis stole 44 bases in 156 big league games, and he did it efficiently. He succeeded in 14 of 19 tries as a rookie in 1967.

His minor league numbers were even wilder. Lewis stole 76 bases in 1965, then a staggering 116 in 1966 for Leesburg.

Running the 100-yard dash in 9.5 seconds, Lewis had elite speed. Fans loved him for that, and the nickname “The Panamanian Express” stuck.

Sure, he got picked off sometimes—like in his debut against Cleveland—but his stolen base percentages stayed solid. His speed and guts made him a real weapon in tight games.

1972 and 1973 World Series Highlights

Allan Lewis reached the peak of his career during Oakland’s back-to-back World Series wins. He scored crucial runs in key postseason moments and helped the A’s bring home their first titles since 1930.

Key Contributions in Postseason

Lewis served as Oakland’s go-to pinch runner in both championship runs. He usually entered late in games, subbing in as a baserunner when it mattered most.

In the 1972 Series against Cincinnati, Lewis played in six of seven games. Manager Dick Williams used him to pinch-run for slower guys like first baseman Mike Epstein.

Johnny Bench, the Reds’ catcher, proved to be Lewis’s biggest challenge. Bench threw him out twice in the first two games.

Lewis didn’t let Bench’s reputation faze him. He said before the Series: “I’m not afraid of Johnny Bench. He should be worrying about me.”

The 1973 postseason brought more of the same. Lewis pinch-ran in three World Series games against the Mets.

Scoring Runs in Critical Games

Lewis scored big runs in both World Series, even with his limited playing time. His speed made things happen and helped Oakland win close games.

In Game Four of the 1972 Series, Lewis scored the tying run on Gonzalo Márquez’s pinch single in the ninth.

That run kept the game going and gave Oakland a boost. The A’s eventually won the Series in seven games for their first title since 1930.

The 1973 World Series had another big moment from Lewis. He scored a clutch ninth-inning run in Game Two that sent it to extras.

Lewis also appeared in Game Seven of the 1972 Series and crossed the plate again. His baserunning helped Oakland clinch the championship.

A’s Championship Teams

The Oakland Athletics won back-to-back World Series in 1972 and 1973. Lewis played a key role on both squads, even if he didn’t get many at-bats.

The 1972 team beat Cincinnati in seven games, and Lewis got a World Series ring.

Oakland’s 1973 win came against the Mets, again in seven games. Lewis did his job as a pinch runner, helping the A’s repeat.

Charles O. Finley valued what Lewis brought to the table, keeping him on the roster for his unique skills. Finley believed players like Lewis could make a difference in tight games.

The team gave Lewis a one-tenth share of the 1973 World Series prize money, recognizing his impact even with limited playing time.

Lewis’s World Series moments stand out as the highlight of his six-season career. He reached the top of the baseball world by helping Oakland win it all—twice.

Career Statistics and Playing Style

Allan Lewis put up some truly unusual stats that show just how specialized his job was as baseball’s first designated runner. He actually scored more runs (47) and stole more bases (44) than he had plate appearances (31) over six seasons.

His defensive contributions barely registered, with just 10 outfield appearances. Traditional stats like OPS and WAR didn’t really capture his value, since he almost never batted.

Plate Appearances and Batting Metrics

Lewis wrapped up his career with a .207 batting average in only 31 plate appearances, spread across 156 games from 1967 to 1973. He picked up just 6 hits in the majors, though he did manage one home run on September 27, 1970, off Angels pitcher Greg Garrett.

By design, his offensive numbers were pretty much nonexistent. He drove in 3 runs in his career but crossed the plate 47 times, showing he did his job as a pinch runner even if he rarely swung a bat.

Because of his odd role, he played in more games than he had plate appearances. Only six other players in history share that weird stat, which really underlines how unique his spot on the roster was.

Manager Dick Williams once joked, “He’s a switch-hitter. He batted .300 last year, .150 left-handed and .150 right-handed.” That sums up how little Lewis got to hit.

Defensive Contributions in the Outfield

Lewis played the outfield just 10 times in his 156-game career. He started in the field only three times.

His primary position was technically outfielder, but owner Charles Finley almost always used him as a pinch runner.

He could really fly, clocking 9.5 seconds in the 100-yard dash back in the minors. That speed made him a weapon on the bases, but it didn’t get him much time in the field in the big leagues.

When Lewis did show up in the outfield, it was usually as a late-game sub, not as a regular. His defensive stats stayed tiny because of how Finley used him.

Impact on OPS and WAR

Lewis barely made a dent in advanced stats like OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) and WAR (Wins Above Replacement), just because he almost never batted. With only 31 plate appearances in six years, there just isn’t enough to measure.

He brought value through his baserunning, not the usual numbers SABR folks love. He swiped 44 bases and got to play in two World Series championships with Oakland.

Lewis helped win games in late-inning moments—stuff that box scores and modern analytics often miss. He scored important runs in the playoffs, but you can’t really put a number on that with today’s stats.

Retirement and Legacy

Allan Lewis called it a career after 1973, standing out as one of the most specialized players in MLB history. When he retired, the designated runner role faded out, but he’d already set the template for the next generation of pinch runners.

Retirement After 1973 Season

Lewis hung up his spikes for good after the Oakland Athletics won the 1973 World Series. In his last game, on September 30, 1973, against the White Sox, he came in as a pinch runner and stole a base.

The A’s sent him outright to their Triple-A Tucson team in December 1973. Rather than go down to the minors, he decided he was done at age 32.

His teammates didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for him during the 1973 World Series. Even though he’d helped win two titles, the other players only gave him a tenth of a World Series share. That says a lot about how the team viewed his role.

Influence on Future Pinch Runners

Lewis really pioneered the designated runner idea in pro baseball. He made it clear teams could have a guy on the roster whose only real job was to run, not hit or field.

Key Statistics:

• Stolen Bases: 44 career steals
• Success Rate: High percentage on stolen base attempts
• Runs Scored: 47 runs despite minimal at-bats

Other teams started thinking about roster spots differently after watching him. His speed became a weapon, especially in late-game rallies.

He showed that players with specialized skills could still help championship teams. Lewis scored some clutch runs in the 1972 and 1973 World Series, proving Charlie Finley’s wild idea actually worked.

Comparison With Herb Washington

After Lewis, Charlie Finley brought in Olympic sprinter Herb Washington in March 1974. Washington was supposed to take the designated runner concept to the next level, but he’d never played pro baseball.

Key Differences:

• Baseball Experience: Lewis played organized baseball; Washington had none
• Versatility: Lewis could play outfield; Washington was strictly a runner
• Longevity: Lewis lasted six seasons; Washington played parts of two seasons

Washington got more headlines but didn’t have as much success. He appeared in 105 games, but things like reading pitchers and taking leads tripped him up.

Lewis’s baseball background gave him an edge that Washington just didn’t have. He knew how to read pitchers and understood the game, which helped him in big moments. Washington’s speed alone couldn’t make up for his lack of baseball instincts.

That comparison really shows why Lewis was special—he combined speed with baseball smarts. He made the designated runner idea work, while Washington’s struggles proved you need more than just wheels.

Post-Baseball Contributions

After baseball, Allan Lewis switched gears and became an instructor and scout, focusing on developing talent in Central America. He made his biggest mark by discovering and mentoring two future big-league catchers, Einar Diaz and Carlos Ruiz, as a regional scouting supervisor for the Phillies.

Instructor and Scouting Career

Once his playing days ended in 1973, Lewis worked as an instructor in the A’s minor league system for a few years. He then went back to Panama and started scouting for the Cleveland Indians.

In January 1997, the Philadelphia Phillies hired him as a regional scouting supervisor. He covered Panama and Central America, but also spent time scouting in Ecuador and probably Colombia too.

Lewis had talked about wanting to scout even during his playing career. “I’d like to go as far as I can with my role and then be a scout in Latin America,” he said before the 1973 season. “Being a Latin myself would help.”

His time as a baserunner gave him a different perspective on evaluating catchers. He understood the position from the other side, which helped him spot catching talent.

Mentoring Einar Diaz and Carlos Ruiz

Lewis found Einar Diaz, a catcher from Chiriquí, for the Indians in 1990. He convinced Diaz to switch from the infield to catching, which turned out to be a great move.

In 1998, Lewis signed Carlos Ruiz from David, Panama, for the Phillies. Like Diaz, Ruiz started as an infielder, but Lewis switched him to catcher.

Ruiz became a big part of the Phillies, especially as a 2008 World Series champ. Both Diaz and Ruiz came out of Chiriquí, the same province where Lewis went to high school.

His knack for finding and developing catching talent came from his own playing days. Years of watching catchers as a runner helped him know exactly what to look for in a good one.

Impact on International Baseball

Lewis spent time coaching in Panama, helping to develop the sport there. Back in the winter of 2001-02, he took charge of the Carta Vieja Roneros in Chiriquí as Panama kicked off a new winter league.

In 2009, during the World Baseball Classic, the national team manager asked Lewis to help out. He stepped in and supported Panama’s squad, showing just how much he cared about baseball in his home country.

He worked as a scout too, and that really opened doors for Central American players looking to break into Major League Baseball. Thanks in part to Lewis, more Panamanian athletes started making their way into the pros.

After his playing days, Lewis didn’t just focus on individual talent. He put in work to build up the baseball scene across Central America.