Phillip Wellman
From BR Bullpen
Phillip Lane Wellman
- Bats Both, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 18 lb.
- School Sam Houston State University
- Born December 5, 1962 in Marlin, TX USA
Phillip Wellman played in the minors from 1984 to 1987. He debuted as a utility man (primarily an outfielder) with the '84 Anderson Braves and hit .222/~.355/.304 as his ability to draw walks was his primary offensive skill. In 1985, Wellman batted .269/~.426/.512 as the top performer on the Sumter Braves. He stole 16 bases, homered 21 times and drew 105 walks. He was second in the South Atlantic League in walks and fourth in homers. An outfielder that year, he missed the SAL All-Star team, as Drew Denson, Sil Campusano and Marcus Lawton were the three outfielders honored. In '86, Wellman had a .216/~.362/.377 line for the Durham Bulls and .288/~.369/.391 as a third baseman with the Kenosha Twins. In 1987, Wellman was 0-1 as a pinch hitter for the Harrisburg Senators.
Wellman began his coaching career with the 1988 Pulaski Braves. He was a coach in the Atlanta Braves system from 1988 to 1991, including 1991 with the Durham Bulls, before managing from 1992-2003, except 2000 when he was a coach for the Louisville RiverBats. He was the hitting coach for the Greenville Braves in 2004-2005, and the Mississippi Braves in 2006, and was named skipper of Mississippi following the season.
On June 1, 2007, Wellman gained national attention when he went on a tirade against the umpires during a game. He protested strike and ball calls by covering home plate with dirt, then tracing in the dirt a new, significantly larger home plate. He then went on to uproot bases and throw them, crawl combat-style across the infield like a soldier, and hurl the rosin bag at an umpire as if it were a hand grenade. He concluded his tirade by pretending to eject the umpires themselves with a fist-pump and then blowing a farewell kiss to the crowd while taking a bow. The episode was broadcast on sports shows across the United States. It was reminiscent of Joe Mikulik's public meltdown a year earlier.
Sources include 1985 Baseball Guide, 1986-87 Baseball America Statistics Reports
[edit] Year-by-Year Managerial Record
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | GCL Orioles | Gulf Coast League | 29-29 | 9th | Baltimore Orioles | |
| 1993 | Lethbridge Mounties | Pioneer League | 29-44 | 7th | Co-op | |
| 1994 | Lethbridge Mounties | Pioneer League | 29-43 | 7th | Co-op | |
| 1995 | River City Rumblers | Appalachian League | 22-45 | 10th | Co-op | |
| 1996 | Winston-Salem Warthogs | Carolina League | 74-65 | 3rd | Cincinnati Reds | |
| 1997 | Burlington (IA) Bees | Midwest League | 72-68 | 3rd | Cincinnati Reds | Lost in 1st round |
| 1998 | Burlington (IA) Bees | Midwest League | 63-77 | 13th | Cincinnati Reds | |
| 1999 | Chattanooga Lookouts | Southern League | 78-62 | 2nd | Cincinnati Reds | Lost in 1st round |
| 2001 | Chattanooga Lookouts | Southern League | 72-67 | 5th | Cincinnati Reds | Lost in 1st round |
| 2002 | Chattanooga Lookouts | Southern League | 60-80 | 9th | Cincinnati Reds | |
| 2003 | Chattanooga Lookouts | Southern League | 66-74 | 8th | Cincinnati Reds | |
| 2007 | Mississippi Braves | Southern League | 67-72 | 6th | Atlanta Braves | Lost in 1st round |
| 2008 | Mississippi Braves | Southern League | Atlanta Braves |
