Bill Phillips

Who was Bill Phillips?

William Corcoran Phillips, nicknamed "Whoa Bill" or "Silver Bill," was an American right-handed pitcher and manager in Major League Baseball.

Born in Allenport, Pennsylvania, Phillips is best remembered for managing the 1914 Indianapolis Hoosiers to the Federal League pennant. His top hitter was Benny Kauff and the top pitcher was Cy Falkenberg. Later he and Bill McKechnie managed the Newark Pepper, finishing the 1915 season fifth in the Federal League.

At the age of 21, Phillips broke into the big leagues on August 11, 1890, playing his first 10 games for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys. As a player he pitched for seven seasons in the majors. In 1895 he came back to play 18 more games for the Cincinnati Reds. In 1899 he went 17–9 on a team that featured 19-year-old rookie Sam Crawford and manager Buck Ewing. Phillips played for the Reds from 1899 to 1903, playing his last game on September 22. He died at age 72 in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, and was buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Fayette City, Pennsylvania.