Report: Tony Phillips dead at 56 after apparent heart attack

(AP Images) Former Oakland Athletics utility man, and 18-year major-league veteran, Tony Phillips has died after an apparent heart attack, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Phillips was 56.

Slusser was informed of the news from Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart. Stewart and Phillips were teammates with the Athletics from 1986 to 1989.

Phillips spent the first eight years of his major-league career in Oakland. With the Athletics, he hit .250/.341/.361. During that time, Phillips established himself as a versatile player. With Oakland, he saw time at eight different positions (if you include DH).

Toward the end of Phillips tenure in Oakland, the team made it to two straight World Series. The club lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988, but managed to capture the title in 1989.

Phillips left for the Detroit Tigers during the offseason, and developed into an on-base machine. In five years with the club, he hit .281/.395/.405. Phillips would continue to provide value as a leadoff man, and went on to play for the Anaheim Angels, Chicago White Sox, New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays over his 18-year career.

During his final season in 1999, Phillips returned to Oakland. At 40, he hit .244/.362/.433, with 15 home runs.

Phillips remained involved in baseball following his retirement, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. He was still involved in coaching, and made “numerous appearances at the Coliseum for reunions and charity events.”

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