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Former MLB player Tony Phillips died 5 years ago today, at just 56 years old.
Phillips is a longtime favorite of High Heat Stats because of the tremendous value he brought on the field, largely unrecognized.
Let's take a moment to appreciate his career.
A THREAD.
Phillips is a longtime favorite of High Heat Stats because of the tremendous value he brought on the field, largely unrecognized.
Let's take a moment to appreciate his career.
A THREAD.
There are two things in particular that made Phillips' career special:
1. He drew a TON of walks
2. He played great defense, ALL over the field
From 1982 to 1989, his first stint with the A's, he generally flew under the radar.
1. He drew a TON of walks
2. He played great defense, ALL over the field
From 1982 to 1989, his first stint with the A's, he generally flew under the radar.
At a time when batting average & home runs were king, he wasn't particularly good in either category. Over 1982-89 he battled .251, w/ just a .350 slugging percentage. He totaled just 33 homers over those 8 years.
BUT his .338 on-base percentage was good, bolstered by 342 walks.
BUT his .338 on-base percentage was good, bolstered by 342 walks.
Over those 8 years, he put up 14 WAR, including 4.4 in 1986, when his 76 walks led to a .367 OBP.
When Phillips joined the Tigers in 1990, he became a truly special player. He was one of the first in a new wave of players to really focus on drawing walks. That year, he drew 99 walks against only 85 strikeouts, while playing 2B, 3B, and SS. He put up 4.8 WAR.
His best season came in 1993: he led baseball with 132 walks, while batting .313 with a .443 OBP and 113 runs scored. He topped 5 WAR for the 3rd straight season.
Phillips' defensive versatility was legendary. He played all over, and played well.
In fact he's one of just 4 players in history with 100+ games at 2B, 3B, SS, LF, and RF.
The others are Woodie Held, Willie Bloomquist, and Roy Hartzell.
In fact he's one of just 4 players in history with 100+ games at 2B, 3B, SS, LF, and RF.
The others are Woodie Held, Willie Bloomquist, and Roy Hartzell.
Phillips is the ONLY player in MLB history to appear in at least 80 games at 2B, 3B, SS, LF, CF, RF, and DH.
Lowering the bar to 77 would admit Cesar Tovar to the club as well.
Lowering the bar to 77 would admit Cesar Tovar to the club as well.
From 1990 to 1995, only 2 position players in baseball put up at least 4 WAR every single season.
One was Barry Bonds and the other was, you guessed it--Tony Phillips.
One was Barry Bonds and the other was, you guessed it--Tony Phillips.
