Listed at 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) tall and 193 pounds (88 kg), Phillips batted and threw right-handed, and was nicknamed "Stretch" for his flexibility when covering first base.

Phillips entered the majors in 1947 with the New York Yankees, playing for them two and half years joining the Pittsburgh Pirates (1949–52) and Detroit Tigers (1955–57).

[1] Through the end of the 2016 season, Phillips is one of just 28 players in major league history to hit an ultimate grand slam.

A member of the 1947 World Champions New York Yankees, Phillips also earned Pacific Coast League MVP honors in 1954, after hitting .300 with 17 homers for Triple-A Hollywood Stars.

After a brief minor league managerial career, Phillips returned to Clarkson University where he devoted himself to coaching baseball, spanning 24 seasons as the Golden Knights’ skipper, amassing nearly 200 victories.