J. R. Phillips

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

Early life and amateur career Phillips was given the nickname "J. R." as a toddler by a family friend but the etymology of the nickname was forgotten by the time Phillips was an adult. He played football at Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, California and was recruited to play quarterback for USC and Oklahoma State. On the baseball field, he pitched and hit. He was selected by the California Angels in the 1988 Major League Baseball draft. The Angels were the only team that were interested in him as a hitter and not a pitcher. 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 high minor leagues (AAA), but failed to translate that success in the majors.

Personal life In or around 1993, he had a son also named J.R.