Tony Phillips Died In an Accident, Junior Dragster, JR Race Car Star
Tony Phillips, a versatile and productive player over 18 Major League seasons, including nine with the A’s and five with the Tigers, died on Wednesday in Arizona at age 56.
The cause of death was an apparent heart attack, the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Friday.
“The Oakland A’s lost another member of our family this week with the unexpected passing of Tony Phillips,” A’s president Michael Crowley said. “We all have fond memories of Tony making the final play in the A’s 1989 World Series. He was a remarkable player. Our thoughts are with his family.”
Phillips, drafted by the Expos in 1978, was traded twice before debuting with the A’s in ’82. He stayed there through ’89, when Oakland defeated San Francisco in the World Series, then returned for his final season in ’99. He played for Detroit from 1990-94 and also spent time with the Angels, White Sox, Blue Jays and Mets.
DiSarcina recalls Phillips as teacher, friend
The A’s fielded a dynamic infield with Phillips, Mike Gallego and Walt Weiss in the 1980s, one that measures up to any defensive infields in recent history. Gallego, a locker mate of Phillips during that time, remembered him fondly Friday.
“One of the most enthusiastic, energetic, passionate baseball teammates I’ve ever had,” said Gallego, the former A’s third-base coach who is now working in the Angels’ organization. “Almost frightening how much this guy looked forward to the next pitch.
“In the last four years, I don’t know how many people he called to tell them to come and take a look at him so he could have another chance to play the game again. This is a guy that was in his 50s. He called me a couple times to come out and take a look at him myself, because he knew I would give him an honest opinion. He would say, ‘I know you would tell me the truth.’ Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to tell him that.
“It was devastating to hear the news about Tony, because this guy was all about life. He lived a good, full one, and when you were around him, you usually enjoyed your day.”
Two other members of the 1989 A’s championship team, pitcher Bob Welch and outfielder Dave Henderson, have died within the past two years.
“It’s unbelievable, Rickey [Henderson] and I were just talking about it, first Welchy, then Hendu and now T.P.,” D-backs general manager and former A’s pitcher Dave Stewart told the Chronicle. “It’s crazy.”
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