Bubba Phillips
Born: 2/24/1928 in West Point, MS, USA
Died: 6/22/1993 in Hattiesburg, MS, USA
MLB Debut: 1955-04-12 | Final Game: 1964-09-18
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: John Melvin Phillips
Biography
Bubba Phillips, born in 1928, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1955 to 1964. Primarily known as a position player, Phillips played in 1,062 games throughout his career, amassing 835 hits and 62 home runs. His offensive contributions included 356 RBIs, with a career batting average of .255. Additionally, he demonstrated a measure of speed on the bases, recording 25 stolen bases during his time in the league.
Phillips' career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, characterized by the rise of power hitters and the integration of African American players into the sport. While he may not have been a household name, his consistent performance and versatility contributed to the teams he played for, including the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, and the Cleveland Indians. His legacy is that of a solid contributor in an era that laid the groundwork for the modern game, showcasing the skills and determination that defined many players of his generation.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1062 | 3278 | 348 | 835 | 135 | 8 | 62 | 356 | 25 | 182 | 314 | 0.255 | 0.297 | 0.358 | 0.655 | -5720.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | DET | AL | 95 | 184 | 18 | 43 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 2 | 14 | 20 | 0.234 | -657.8 |
| 1956 | CHW | AL | 67 | 99 | 16 | 27 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 0.273 | -40.8 |
| 1957 | CHW | AL | 121 | 393 | 38 | 106 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 42 | 5 | 28 | 32 | 0.270 | -230.2 |
| 1958 | CHW | AL | 84 | 260 | 26 | 71 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 30 | 3 | 15 | 14 | 0.273 | -316.1 |
| 1959 | CHW | AL | 117 | 379 | 43 | 100 | 27 | 1 | 5 | 40 | 1 | 27 | 28 | 0.264 | -195.8 |
| 1960 | CLE | AL | 113 | 304 | 34 | 63 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 33 | 1 | 14 | 37 | 0.207 | -1406.0 |
| 1961 | CLE | AL | 143 | 546 | 64 | 144 | 23 | 1 | 18 | 72 | 1 | 29 | 61 | 0.264 | -316.1 |
| 1962 | CLE | AL | 148 | 562 | 53 | 145 | 26 | 0 | 10 | 54 | 4 | 20 | 55 | 0.258 | -1277.1 |
| 1963 | DET | AL | 128 | 464 | 42 | 114 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 45 | 6 | 19 | 42 | 0.246 | -1307.9 |
| 1964 | DET | AL | 46 | 87 | 14 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 13 | 0.253 | 27.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.300 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | WS | CHA | 3 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.300 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 762 | 717 | 808 | 1416 | 92 | 133 |
| OF | 214 | 138 | 403 | 8 | 7 | 2 |
| SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | DET | 3B | 4 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| 1955 | DET | OF | 65 | 35 | 128 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | CHA | 3B | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1956 | CHA | OF | 35 | 23 | 59 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1957 | CHA | 3B | 97 | 92 | 91 | 227 | 14 | 18 |
| 1957 | CHA | OF | 20 | 16 | 56 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1958 | CHA | 3B | 47 | 42 | 38 | 86 | 6 | 12 |
| 1958 | CHA | OF | 37 | 30 | 84 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 1959 | CHA | 3B | 100 | 86 | 90 | 202 | 15 | 13 |
| 1959 | CHA | OF | 23 | 17 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960 | CLE | 3B | 85 | 74 | 87 | 135 | 11 | 18 |
| 1960 | CLE | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960 | CLE | OF | 25 | 10 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1961 | CLE | 3B | 143 | 143 | 188 | 246 | 19 | 23 |
| 1962 | CLE | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1962 | CLE | 3B | 145 | 144 | 175 | 243 | 10 | 16 |
| 1962 | CLE | OF | 3 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | DET | 3B | 117 | 112 | 116 | 226 | 14 | 26 |
| 1963 | DET | OF | 5 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | DET | 3B | 22 | 19 | 18 | 40 | 1 | 5 |
| 1964 | DET | OF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 763 |
| Shortstop | 1 |
| Left Field | 109 |
| Center Field | 63 |
| Right Field | 47 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg | MS | 1947, 1948 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 17th | 5.0 | 280 | 0 |