Career
He previously worked as an analyst for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Playing career Allen played baseball at Santa Monica High School and was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth round of the 1977 Major League draft. He enjoyed a brief stint with the Seattle Mariners in 1983.
He was 23 years old when he made his major league debut on April 7, 1983.
He hit.296 in 27 at bats during a 15-game stint as an outfielder and designated hitter with the World Champion Detroit Tigers in 1984. He enjoyed another brief stint in the majors with the Cleveland Indians in 1988.
He hit a pair of home runs against Seibu Lions in the 1991 Japan Series and set a Japanese regular season record with four home runs in four consecutive at bats during his time in the league. He is infamous for charging the mound after Kazuhiko Daimon from the Yokohama Taiyo Whales hit him in the back with a pitch, and subsequently chasing the pitcher across the entire field with both teams" benches in tow.
Coaching career Prior to his work as a broadcaster, Allen spent four seasons as a hitting instructor in the Florida Marlins organization from 1992 through 1995.
In 1994 and 1995, he was the hitting coach for the Kane County Cougars, the Marlins Single-A affiliate in the Midwest League. Some of the notable batters he coached include Mike Redmond, Kevin Millar, and Luis Castillo. During his time in the organization, Allen worked under Marlins General Motors Dave Dombrowski, who would later become the Tigers president, Chief Executive Officer, and general manager.
Broadcasting = Arizona Diamondbacks From 1998–2002 he spent five seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a television (Fox Sports Arizona) and radio (KTAR) analyst.
Allen was replaced as Diamondbacks television analyst by former major leaguer Mark Grace. = Detroit Tigers Allen is the regular color commentator on Detroit Tigers telecasts for Fox Sports Detroit, joined by play-by-play man Mario Impemba.
= Fox Saturday In addition to his work for the Diamondbacks and Tigers, Allen does color commentary for Fox Saturday, including games involving the Tigers.