After spending 1954–55 in military service, he was recalled from Triple-A Wichita in June 1956, [1] pitched effectively in relief, and then was added to the Milwaukee starting rotation in August.

He then moved back into the bullpen for the stretch drive, which saw the Braves finish just short of the National League (NL) pennant, one game behind the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Sent to the minors at the beginning of 1960, Phillips was recalled from Triple-A to make a June 2 start against the Braves at Connie Mack Stadium, but he lasted only two innings, allowing six hits, four bases on balls, and four earned runs.

Phillips then returned to the minor leagues and would pitch at Triple-A for three years before his final big-league audition, which came in July 1963 for the Chicago White Sox.

In his American League (AL) debut on July 23, Phillips surrendered an eighth-inning grand slam home run to Norm Cash of the Detroit Tigers.

In 147 big league games, 102 in relief, Phillips posted a 16–22 record and 4.82 earned run average, allowing 460 hits and 211 bases on balls in 4382⁄3 innings pitched.