On this day in 1959, before the term had even been coined in reference to versatile defenders like Ben Zobrist, Major League Baseball’s first real “super utility” player was born in Atlanta. His name was Keith Anthony Phillips.
Better known in the baseball world as “Tony,” Phillips went on to have an unparalleled and unusual 18-year career in the majors. Even the way in which he was drafted would be unrecognizable to most fans today.
Taken out of high school in Roswell, GA, by the Seattle Mariners in the 16th round of the June Amateur Draft, Phillips did not sign and went on to spend a semester at the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, NM.