Neil Allen (born January 24, 1958) is currently the pitching coach for the Montgomery Biscuits, AA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In 2006, Allen was pitching coach for the Columbus Clippers, a position he also held from 2003-2004. During the 2005 season, Allen was the bullpen pitching coach for the New York Yankees. From 1979-1981, Allen was a relief pitcher for the New York Mets. Allen played for the Mets from 1979-1983, the St. Louis Cardinals from 1983-1985, the Yankees in 1985, the Chicago White Sox from 1986-1987, the Yankees again from 1987-1988, and finally for the Cleveland Indians in 1989.
Allen is perhaps best known in St. Louis, where he was acquired from the Mets, along with Rick Ownbey, for Keith Hernandez. This trade spawned the theory of the "Curse of Keith Hernandez" in 2004.[1] The "curse" was broken, however, with the Cardinals' 2006 World Series victory.