gold star for USAHOF

227. Tony Phillips

Tony Phillips never made an All-Star team, and he only had one year in which he received MVP votes (16th in 1995).  Yet, here we have a player worth talking about among some of those worth a Hall of Fame look.

What Phillips did well was get on base.  He twice led the league in Walks (1993 & 1996), and he was a key contributor in Oakland's 1989 World Series win.  Phillips accumulated 2,023 career Hits with 160 Home Runs and was also a league-leader in Runs Scored in 1992.  Defensively, he was versatile, able to play in the Outfield, Second, or Third, and do so at a more-than-average level.

Phillips retired with a career bWAR of 50.9, a number that actually eclipses many Baseball Hall of Famers.  Phillips was never a star, but he provided value for years, and if you want to classify him as a utility player (as many publications have), he was one of the best.

45. Tony Phillips

Tony Phillips had a long career spanning eighteen seasons but his five in Detroit clearly reflected the best offensive numbers of his career.  Phillips would lead the American League in Runs Scored in 1992 and in Walks in 1993, a season he also batted .313 and finished 16th in MVP voting.  The versatile player also put up his best defensive output as a Detroit Tiger.