Horace Phillips
From BR Bullpen
- Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown
[edit] Biographical Information
Horace Phillips was a manager in the major leagues for eight years. His first effort was the 1879 Troy Trojans, where he managed part of the season. It was Dan Brouthers' rookie year.
In 1883, he managed the Columbus Buckeyes of the American Association.
In 1884, he managed the Grand Rapids team in the Northwestern League. Although the team won over 3/4 of its games, it was dropped from the league when it refused to pay $500 to help support the league when other teams dropped out. Phillips had personally recruited Frank Cox. The Detroit Wolverines guaranteed the debts of the Grand Rapids team as a way of getting access to sign five of the players, including Cox. The Cleveland Spiders also signed some of the Grand Rapids players. Source: SABR Biography of Frank Cox.
Phillips himself found himself as one of five men who spent time managing the 1884 Pittsburgh Alleghenys. He managed for 35 games. He continued to manage the team in 1885-86, as they improved tremendously. In 1884, they had gone 9-24 under him, while in 1885 they improved to 56-55, and then improved again in 1886 to 80-57, which was good for second place.
Phillips continued to manage the Alleghenys in 1887 as they began play in the National League. Key players such as Pud Galvin continued on the team. Phillips managed for 1887-88 and part of 1889. He was 36 years old at the time.
See also the reference to Phillips in SABR Biography of Pop Smith.
- Phillips was apparently involved with one of the "Hop Bitters" teams financed by Hop Bitters medicine king Asa Soule. One reference says that in 1880 "the manager spent $400 on a drunken spree" (it is not specified if Phillips was the manager), and another says that in April 1881 "Horace Phillips loses his litigation against Hop Bitter owner A. S. Soule stemming from last year's disappearance with club funds and is ordered to repay $1,463". Asa Soule and the Hop Bitters Co. and April 1881 in baseball history.
| Preceded by George Creamer | Pittsburgh Alleghenys Manager 1884-1889 | Succeeded by Fred Dunlap |
