Ultimate Utility Man Tony Phillips Dies of Apparent Heart Attack at 56
By Kyle Koster
Former utility man Tony Phillips has died of a heart attack, according to his former teammate Dave Stewart.
Phillips spent 18 seasons in the majors with six different teams. He was a member of the Oakland Athletics for the first nine years of his career and won a World Series in 1989.
Baseball Reference lists him as an outfielder, third baseman and second baseman but he played every position but catcher during his tenure. He started at seven of them in at least 97 games (first base being the exception).
He retired in 1999 at the age of 40 but continued to play independent baseball until 2012 before taking a break. He suited up for the Pittsburgh Diamonds for a few games just last year.
Remembered for both his unique crouching batting stance and fiery temperament, Phillips made the final out in the 1988 World Series and ended the 1989 Fall Classic with an assist.
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