PHOENIX (CBSNewYork/AP) — Tony Phillips, an infielder and outfielder who made the final defensive play in the Oakland Athletics’ sweep of the Giants during the earthquake-interrupted 1989 World Series and later played briefly for the Mets, has died. He was 56.
The A’s didn’t provide a cause of death Friday in announcing Phillips’ passing, which the club said occurred Wednesday in Arizona and was unexpected. The San Francisco Chronicle reported he died of an apparent heart attack.
Phillips played nine of his 18 major league seasons with the A’s, and he also spent five years with Detroit, two each with the Angels and White Sox and one year for both the Mets and Toronto.