J. R. Phillips

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#ff5731
bgcolor2=#003581
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=J. R. Phillips


position=First baseman
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1970|4|29
debutdate=September 3
debutyear=1993
debutteam=San Francisco Giants
finaldate=October 3
finalyear=1999
finalteam=Colorado Rockies
stat1label=Avg.
stat1value=.188
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=23
stat3label=RBI
stat3value=67
teams=
* San Francisco Giants (by|1993-by|1996)
* Philadelphia Phillies (by|1996)
* Houston Astros (by|1997-by|1998)
* Colorado Rockies (by|1999)

Charles Gene "J. R." Phillips (born April 29, 1970 in East Covina, California), is a former professional baseball player who played first base in the Major Leagues from by|1993-by|1999. He was drafted by the California Angels out of high school in the fourth round of the amateur draft in by|1988.

Growing up

Phillips learned much of his baseball knowledge from his father, Sonny. His father was a good ballplayer himself and played on several baseball teams when J.R. was a child. J.R., his younger brother, Michael, and mother always were in attendance at Sonny's baseball games. While residing in El Monte, California, in the mid- to late-1970s, Phillip's summer vacations were spent playing baseball with his nextdoor neighbors and various kids wanting to play baseball on a cul-de-sac street from morning until night, seven days a week. He and his friends played so much that his father painted bases right on the street. It is no doubt that this early, non-stop playing of baseball at such an early age sharpened his skills and put him ahead of other kids his age and eventually led him to be noticed by scouts in high school and finally to the Major Leagues.

Major league career

Phillips was selected on waivers by the San Francisco Giants in 1992 and made his Major league debut with the team following September call-ups on September 3 1993. He hit his first major-league home run off of Rene Arocha the following game, helping the Giants to a late-season victory in their 100-win season of by|1993.

After consecutive 27 home run seasons with the Giants' Triple-A farm team, the Phoenix Firebirds, Phillips was named the Giants starting first baseman going into the by|1995 season, but his lack of production at the big league level forced him into a platoon with Mark Carreon before mid-season. He hit a career-high 9 home runs and 28 RBIs, while hitting .195 over 231 at bats in 92 games. In the beginning of the by|1996 season, Phillips was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies.

He bounced between the minors and the majors over the next four seasons, playing for the Phillies, the Houston Astros and, finally, the Colorado Rockies. Even in by|1999, Phillips hit 41 home runs and 100 RBIs for the Rockies' Triple-A club, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, earning him a September call up. He managed to hit two more home runs but ended up playing his final game on October 3 1999, against the Giants.

Phillips can be classified as a AAAA-type player: one who had great success in the Minor leagues but failed to translate that success in the Majors.

Career hitting stats

* 242 Games
* 94 Hits
* 23 Home Runs
* 67 RBIs
* .188 Batting Average

External links

*baseball-reference|id=p/phillj.01