Taylor Phillips

William Taylor Phillips (born June 18, 1933), nicknamed "T-Bone", is an American former professional baseball left-handed pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Braves, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago White Sox, from 1956 to 1960 and 1963. During his playing days, Phillips stood tall, weighing .

Playing career

Early years Taylor attended Douglas County High School (Douglasville, Georgia) and earned letters in baseball for three years, graduating in 1950. He attended the University of Georgia on a baseball scholarship for one semester.

Milwaukee Braves Phillips entered pro baseball in 1951 and joined the Braves' organization in 1953. After spending 1954–55 in military service, he was recalled from Triple-A Wichita in June 1956, But he lost ten of 17 decisions and posted a mediocre 4.76 earned run average. When Phillips got off to a poor start in , with a 7.56 ERA and 0–2 record through seven games, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on May 12, even-up, for another left-hander, Seth Morehead. Pitching largely in relief, Phillips continued to scuffle with the Phils, losing four of five decisions and putting up a 5.00 ERA in 72 innings pitched. As in 1958, he worked in 39 games, but made only five starts, with one complete game, for the two clubs. It would be Phillips‘ last full year in the major leagues.

Sent to the minors at the beginning of , Phillips was recalled from Triple-A to make a June 2 start against the Braves at Connie Mack Stadium, but he lasted only two innings, allowing six hits, four bases on balls, and four earned runs. Phillips was tagged with the 9–8 defeat, in what was his final MLB decision. In ten games and 14 innings through July 8, Phillips struggled to an 8.36 ERA.

Phillips then returned to the minor leagues and would pitch at Triple-A for three years before his final big-league audition, which came in July 1963 for the Chicago White Sox. In his American League (AL) debut on July 23, Phillips surrendered an eighth-inning grand slam home run to Norm Cash of the Detroit Tigers. It was the game-winning blow, although the loss was charged to Phillips’ predecessor on the mound, Eddie Fisher, who had put the winning run on base before Phillips entered the game. In later appearances against the New York Yankees (August 18) and Boston Red Sox (August 22), Phillips was treated roughly, and he finished his White Sox tenure with a 10.29 earned run average in ten games. He spent 1964 at Triple-A before retiring as an active player.

In 147 big league games, 102 in relief, Phillips posted a 16–22 record and 4.82 earned run average, allowing 460 hits and 211 bases on balls in 438 innings pitched. He struck out 233, earned six career saves, and threw nine complete games.