Tony Phillips, 1959–2016

[Edgy MD]

Susan Slusser, who holds the Athletics beat for the San Francisco Chronicle, is reporting that retired 17-year vet and 1998 Met Tony Phillips has died of a heart attack at 56. Her source is Dave Stewart.



Phillips was part of Sandy Alderson's powerhouse Athletics team that succeeded the Mets in dynastic profile at the end of the 1980s into the start of the 1990s. His passing follows close on the heels of A's teammates Bob Welch and Dave Henderson.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I didn't know Bob Welch died.

RIP Tony.

[Edgy MD]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I didn't know Bob Welch died. RIP Tony.

Bob Welch the baseball guy died almost two years to the day after Bob Welch the music guy. Died following accidental fall in summer 2014.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Geez, RIP

[Centerfield]

Sad to hear this. I feel like we just lost Darryl Hamilton. Not a great time to be a black former-Mets outfielder.

Someone go wrap Mookie in bubble tape.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Daryl Boston is probably having a panic attack.

If asked, I would have said that Tony Phillips was an infielder. I would have been wrong. He only played left field and right field for the Mets.

[Guest cooby classic]

I didn't know that Bob Welch the music guy was dead.


RIP to all of them

[G-Fafif]

One particularly great moment for Phillips as a Met that I was fortunate enough to be in attendance for early in the star-cross d September of 1998. RIP to someone who goes far too young.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Highest lifetime WAR for a player never selected to an MLB all-star game.

[Edgy MD]

That's a good stat. I can't begin to think who might threaten to displace him.

[Frayed Knot]

Guys younger than me shouldn't be dropping dead of heart attacks.
At least when it was James Gandolfini I could explain it away by his size. But that gets tougher when it happens to a professional athlete.

[seawolf17]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Highest lifetime WAR for a player never selected to an MLB all-star game.

That's a fascinating stat. He had a fantastic career; always really good, never great.

His 162-game averages are most players' wet dreams: .266/.374/.389, 12 HR, 112 K/99 BB, 13 SB.

[seawolf17]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Highest lifetime WAR for a player never selected to an MLB all-star game.

Phillips: 50.8 WAR

Other ASG-era guys who never made it I could find quickly:
Tim Salmon 40.5
Eric Chavez 37.4
Garry Maddox 36.7
(edit: if you want to include pitchers, Tom Candiotti was at 41.5)

Active leader is Shin-Soo Choo at 29.2.

[Frayed Knot]

MLB.com:
Even after his career in the Majors ended [w/Oakland in 1999], Phillips continued to play on multiple occasions.
He suited up in the Mexican League in 2002, in the independent North American League in '11 and '12, and even in the independent Pacific Association last year. At age 56, Phillips spent eight games with the Pittsburg (Calif.) Mettle, picking up three hits in 23 at-bats. He showed he still had his sharp batting eye, drawing 10 walks.

[Guest cooby classic]

Exactly two months older than I