Allen, Morandini named club ambassadors

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies have named Dick Allen and Mickey Morandini as club ambassadors.
The team announced Thursday that they will join Gary Matthews, who has served in the role since 2014.
"Whether they are appearing at community events, interacting with fans at the ballpark or speaking to young athletes, the role of our ambassadors is to maintain the Phillies' ongoing efforts to connect with our fan base on an intimate level," Phillies executive vice president David Buck said in a statement. "Dick, Mickey and Gary are well-suited to serve in these roles. We anticipate adding additional ambassadors over the next several years, giving us an opportunity to connect with a different generation of fans."
The club ambassador program started in 2014 with Matthews and Chris Wheeler, whose role will be reduced in the future. He primarily will help the Phillies during Spring Training in Clearwater, Fla.
Allen, 75, hit .290 with 204 home runs, 655 RBIs and a .902 OPS in 1,070 games with the Phillies. He was selected to seven All-Star Games, including three with the Phillies. He ranks second in franchise history in slugging percentage (.530) and 10th in home runs.
Morandini, 51, spent the previous two seasons as the Phillies' first-base coach. He was a member of the 1993 National League championship team and represented the Phillies in the '95 All-Star Game. Morandini played parts of nine seasons in Philadelphia and batted .267 with 169 doubles, 44 triples and 103 stolen bases in 965 games.