Tony Phillips, who played for six major league teams including the White Sox, has died of an apparent heart attack, according to several reports. Phillips was 56.
Our friend Tony Phillips has passed away. We'll miss the amazing player and charismatic person. pic.twitter.com/gSwmTkAjXM
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) February 19, 2016
Tony Phillips, former #Athletics infielder, dies of apparent heart attack: https://t.co/5w57S88zjm via @sfchronicle
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) February 19, 2016
Phillips played one full season with the White Sox in 1996, leading the American League in walks that year with 125. He was traded to the Angels during the next season.
White Sox manager Robin Ventura played with Phillips in Chicago.
“He was great,” Ventura said Friday. “He was crazy, in a good way. Brought a lot of spirit and everything else to your team. Was a great player, a very dedicated guy of just playing hard every day. Everybody that was around him, he was the loudest guy in the room, but a fun guy to play with.”
The versatile journeyman played just about every position during his 18-year career.
Tony Phillips literally played 100s of games at every position on the diamond except P & C. https://t.co/okkB2C4pJm https://t.co/NNsrkzuoFQ
— Daniel Rubin (@DanielYRubin) February 19, 2016
Phillips won a World Series ring with the 1989 Oakland A’s. Pitcher Dave Stewart was one of his A’s teammates and first reported his death.
Very sad news: Dave Stewart tells me that Tony Phillips has died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 56.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) February 19, 2016
Dave Stewart says he got the awful news this morning from Rickey Henderson. Stewart says Tony Phillips "was like my little brother."
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) February 19, 2016
Dave Stewart says losing Bob Welch, Dave Henderson and now Tony Phillips from those great #Athletics teams, "It's just unbelievable."
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) February 19, 2016
Phillips finished his MLB career at age 40 with 2,023 hits and 1,300 runs.
Phillips was still playing up until last year for independent-league teams, hoping to secure a contract in the Dominican Republic.
