SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies manager Walt Weiss lost more than an old teammate on Friday when he learned of the death of former Major League utility man Tony Phillips, who passed away due to an apparent heart attack at age 56.
Weiss broke in with the Athletics for 16 games in 1987, and he made the squad out of Spring Training in '88 when Phillips walked over to the former shortstop.
"He just came up to me after our workout before Opening Day in Oakland and said, 'Where are you staying?'" Weiss recalled Saturday. "I said, 'I'm going to go look for a place right now.