According to an April 12, 1929 newspaper obituary clipping found on the back of a family portrait: "He broke into professional baseball with Wilkes-Barre in 1914, where his work attracted Connie Mack.

During his best years he was a member of the [Philadelphia] Athletics, St. Louis [Browns], Cleveland [Indians] and Washington [Senators] in the American League.

The Millers recently sent him to Des Moines, in the Western Association, while he was ill at home in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania.

"Tom Phillips, former big league pitcher, died at the Philipsburg state hospital here today after a lingering illness from diabetes.

He had recently returned from Hot Springs, where he had spent the winter in hopes of regaining his health."