Tony Phillips
The are many examples of players in MLB Showdown who had careers that lasted just long enough to be included in the initial set in 2000, but while many of them were improperly represented by their showing, Tony Phillips was given a more or less accurate showing of what Tony Phillips was all about: a Utility player who was vastly underrated.
Phillips was originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 1977, but did not sign. The following year the Montreal Expos drafted him instead, who would trade him to the San Diego Padres in 1980, who then traded him to the Oakland Athletics in '81, who finally gave him the big callup in 1982.
1983 would see the beginning of the position flexibility that Phillips would become known for, though not so well for this year with that +0 at 2nd Base.
Defense evened out a bit for Tony in '84 as he continued on as Oakland's starting middle infielder.
Injury limited Phillips to the back end of the '85 season, so...
No, that is not a mistake, Tony Phillips here sports a better-than-perfect +6 rating at 2nd Base, a far cry from his +0 not too long ago. Between that, his A Speed and that 11 on-base, 1986 gives us the most enticing Phillips care yet for your starting lineup. Still not much power, with only 5 homers this year, though one of them came in a night where he hit for the cycle (the first cycle in Oakland history).
1987 saw a drop in Tony's on-base, speed and perfect defense...but his had his biggest selection of positions yet.
Here, Phillips brings his widest defensive selection yet; anywhere except Catcher and Centerfield...though with a +0 at Infield, it be hard to justify him at any infield spot beyond 1st Base, and even there is foolish with his weak chart. It was here though that Phillips would 1st taste postseason play, but he'd contribute little as the A's reached the World Series and lost to the Dodgers.
Phillips wouldn't be around to help the Athletics defend that title, as he signed on as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers for 1990. Installed as their leadoff hitter, Phillips would build himself better offensive numbers, including his career high of 19 Stolen Bases to go along with yet another year of better-than-perfect defense at 2nd Base.
1991 saw Phillips return to some defensive coverage in the outfield to go along with stellar infield defense. That +4 might not seem amazing for 2nd Base, but it makes for better-than-perfect for 3rd Base.
The outfield coverage gains some defensive utility, though it seems at the expense of his infield defense. The chart goes absolutely barren, too, though he did lead baseball that year with 114 Runs.
That 13 on-base is no joke for a leadoff hitter. 1993 saw Phillips get the only MVP votes in his career as he finished 16th overall with his baseball leading (and career high) 132 Walks.
The 1994 strike may have cut short a lot of personal campaigns, but Tony's leading 538 At Bats means his card has a very healthy sample size, so his 12 on-base is no fluke.
Before 1995 began, Phillips found himself traded to the California Angels. Here, his power peaked with a career high 27 Home Runs.
Tony would leave the Angels, though not for good, when he signed in the offseason with the Chicago White Sox. Here he would again lead the league with 125 Walks, though at the sacrifice of his defensive variety. This is where some...extracurricular activities begin to shine through. In a game in Milwaukee, Phillis claims to have listened to racial slurs from a fan in the stands. He would then take himself out of the game, change into street clothes, enter the stands to confront the fan directly and challenge him to a fight which later happened. In a twist that would never fly today, nobody was charged or suspended for it.
1997 began with more Phillips fire, this time with sportswriters, and ultimately a trade...
...back to the Angels, who were now known as the Anaheim Angels. Trouble followed him though as he was busted in August for cocaine possession. The charges were later dropped when he completed a deal to complete drug counseling and staying clean for a year. However, the arrest and stigma would haunt him. The Angels would release Phillips in the spring of 1998 and the season would begin with him still without a job. The Blue Jays had themselves solid pitching, but felt they needed a boost offensively, so they gave Tony a call...
Phillips did not play long in Toronto, as evident by my inability to find a good photo of him. For 2 weeks, Phillips did what he could as the leadoff hitter, which was pretty good considering his 11 on-base for that particular format, but the Blue Jays failed to muster much life in the standings and Phillips was deemed more valuable as a trade commodity...
...to the New York Mets. Probably his least unique card yet. Ho hum offensive player with just +1 corner outfield defense. This is not how Tony Phillips should end.
...And it did not end there. He would return to the Athletics for 1999, where the original Showdown set covers his final season with 2B/OF defensive usage, a more proper sendoff for Tony.
Tony would stay in game shape and play in various Independent Leagues well into his 40s. Even as recently as 2015 (in his 50s!) he was suiting up to play. Sadly, in 2016, Tony Phillips passed away from a heart attack, taking from us a Showdown original who had the heart and fury to carve out an 18 year MLB career for one of recent memories most versatile fielders.
