Steve Phillips
Encyclopedia
Steve Phillips is a former American
baseball
analyst for ESPN and baseball executive. He served as the general manager
of the New York Mets
from 1997
–2003
. He worked as a baseball analyst for ESPN
from 2005 until his dismissal on October 25, 2009 after admitting to having sex multiple times with a production assistant at the network.
after high school - he even signed a letter of intent - but opted instead to sign a professional baseball contract after being drafted by the Metropolitans. Phillips attended De La Salle Collegiate High School
in Detroit, Michigan
, and later earned a psychology degree from the University of Michigan
during baseball's offseasons.
on June 12, 2003 after a 29–35 start to the season. The Mets replaced him with assistant GM Jim Duquette
on an interim basis.
In the late 1990s, Phillips assembled a Mets team made up of stars, such as Al Leiter
, Mike Piazza
, and Robin Ventura
, and excellent role players, that played in the 2000 World Series
against the New York Yankees. He is also credited with drafting David Wright, Scott Kazmir
, and Lastings Milledge
, and signing José Reyes. Additionally, Phillips is criticized for acquiring aging and ineffective players with large contracts such as Mo Vaughn
, Roberto Alomar
, Pedro Astacio
, Mike Bordick
, Bobby Bonilla
, Rickey Henderson
, Kenny Rogers, and Jeromy Burnitz
. He had an uneasy, if not volatile relationship with manager Bobby Valentine
, and when Phillips decided to fire Valentine before the 2003 season, many expected the GM to be next. He traded future star, Jason Bay
, and also attempted to trade star shortstop José Reyes to the Cleveland Indians
.
Phillips is often erroneously blamed for trading Kazmir to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Victor Zambrano
on the July 31, 2004 trade deadline. Kazmir went on to become an All Star, while Zambrano never made an impact with the Mets and was out of major league baseball a few years later. It was, however, Jim Duquette
, Phillips' successor, who made the deal.
. He admitted to consensual sex with the woman, Rosa Rodriguez, who filed the suit, as well as multiple other affairs, but denied harassment and the civil suit was settled out of court. Phillips was away from the team for a total of eight days. The Mets defended Phillips privately and publicly, and the alleged victim's attorney was even quoted as believing in his sincerity.
prior to the 2005 baseball season, and was a regular on the nightly programs Baseball Tonight
and SportsCenter
. He primarily served as a game analyst during Wednesday Night Baseball
telecasts through 2008, moving to the Sunday Night Baseball
booth the following season. He also served as an analyst on Monday Night Baseball
.
As an analyst he was critical of the Cincinnati Reds
Rule 5 Draft
acquisition, Josh Hamilton, stating that Hamilton, who had walked away from the game because of substance abuse issues, was being given the chance to make the major league team (through the Rule 5 draft) without spending the time in the minor leagues which the other players had, thus sending the wrong message to those players.
On September 2, 2009, Phillips' wife of 19 years, Marni, filed for divorce.
On October 21, 2009 Phillips revealed that he had been involved in an affair with a 22-year-old ESPN production assistant.
After an initial suspension by ESPN, Phillips was fired by the company on October 25, 2009.
New York, with afternoon host, Mike Francesa
to be done throughout the baseball season. Around the MLB trade deadline, Phillips co-hosted a few three hour radio shows on the station as well.
channel, SIRIUS XM Radio, as the co-host of the "Gary & Phillips In the Morning Show" with Gary Williams. After Williams' departure to NBC to host the Golf Channel's morning show, Phillips' co-host was Dan Graca on an interim basis. Currently, Phillips is co-host of "Evan and Phillips" with Evan Cohen. in the same morning time slot.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
analyst for ESPN and baseball executive. He served as the general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
of the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
from 1997
1997 Major League Baseball season
*American League Championship Series MVP: Marquis Grissom**American League Division Series*National League Championship Series MVP: Liván Hernández**National League Division Series...
–2003
2003 Major League Baseball season
*World Series MVP: Josh Beckett**American League Championship Series MVP: Mariano Rivera**National League Championship Series MVP: Iván Rodríguez*All-Star Game, July 15 at U.S...
. He worked as a baseball analyst for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
from 2005 until his dismissal on October 25, 2009 after admitting to having sex multiple times with a production assistant at the network.
Early life
Phillips was offered a football scholarship to Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
after high school - he even signed a letter of intent - but opted instead to sign a professional baseball contract after being drafted by the Metropolitans. Phillips attended De La Salle Collegiate High School
De La Salle Collegiate High School
De La Salle Collegiate High School is an all-boys Catholic high school run by the De La Salle Christian Brothers. Founded in 1926, the school was located on the east side of Detroit before moving to its current location in Warren, Michigan in 1982. The school is dedicated to the Catholic education...
in Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and later earned a psychology degree from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
during baseball's offseasons.
New York Mets
He joined the Mets' front office in 1990, was named director of minor league operations on October 2, 1991, was promoted to general manager on July 16, 1997, and was fired by chief operating officer Fred WilponFred Wilpon
Fred Wilpon is a real estate developer, baseball executive and the majority owner of the New York Mets.-Biography:...
on June 12, 2003 after a 29–35 start to the season. The Mets replaced him with assistant GM Jim Duquette
Jim Duquette
James "Jim" Duquette was the general manager of the New York Mets for the 2004 season, before the team replaced him with Omar Minaya. Duquette subsequently stayed with the Mets in a front office job for a full season before moving on to the Baltimore Orioles...
on an interim basis.
In the late 1990s, Phillips assembled a Mets team made up of stars, such as Al Leiter
Al Leiter
Alois Terry "Al" Leiter is a former Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher. He is now a studio analyst for MLB Network, and a color commentator for the YES Network.-Early career :Leiter attended Central Regional High School....
, Mike Piazza
Mike Piazza
Michael Joseph "Mike" Piazza ; born September 4, 1968) is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played in his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics....
, and Robin Ventura
Robin Ventura
Robin Mark Ventura is the current manager of the Chicago White Sox. He is a former professional baseball player, a third baseman who played for four major league teams, most notably for the Chicago White Sox...
, and excellent role players, that played in the 2000 World Series
2000 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 21, 2000 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkThe opener fell on two anniversaries. Twenty-five years prior, Boston Red Sox's catcher Carlton Fisk ended Game 6 of the 1975 World Series with his famous home run off the left field foul pole in Fenway Park in Boston to beat...
against the New York Yankees. He is also credited with drafting David Wright, Scott Kazmir
Scott Kazmir
Scott Edward Kazmir is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Kazmir made his Major League debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2004 when he was only 20 years old and at one time held many of the franchise's career pitching records...
, and Lastings Milledge
Lastings Milledge
Lastings Darnell Milledge is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He was the youngest player in the National League during the 2006 season.-Early life:Milledge was born in Bradenton, Florida...
, and signing José Reyes. Additionally, Phillips is criticized for acquiring aging and ineffective players with large contracts such as Mo Vaughn
Mo Vaughn
Maurice Samuel 'Mo' Vaughn , nicknamed "The Hit Dog", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played from 1991 to 2003...
, Roberto Alomar
Roberto Alomar
Roberto "Robbie" Alomar Velázquez is a former Major League Baseball player , regarded by many as one of the best second basemen in MLB history. During his career he won more Gold Gloves than any other second baseman in history, and also won the second-most Silver Slugger Awards for a second...
, Pedro Astacio
Pedro Astacio
Pedro Julio Astacio is a Major League Baseball pitcher. He has played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Colorado Rockies , Houston Astros , New York Mets , Boston Red Sox , Texas Rangers , the San Diego Padres and the Washington Nationals...
, Mike Bordick
Mike Bordick
Michael Todd Bordick is an American retired professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball from 1990 to 2003 with four different teams: the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays.-Early life:Bordick's father, Michael, was in the Air Force,...
, Bobby Bonilla
Bobby Bonilla
Roberto Martin Antonio "Bobby" Bonilla is a former player in Major League Baseball who played from 1986 to 2001. Known in his playing days as "Bobby Bo," Bonilla is of Puerto Rican descent.-Playing career:...
, Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...
, Kenny Rogers, and Jeromy Burnitz
Jeromy Burnitz
Jeromy Neal Burnitz is a former baseball player who was a right fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the New York Mets , Cleveland Indians , Milwaukee Brewers , Los Angeles Dodgers , Colorado Rockies , Chicago Cubs , and Pittsburgh Pirates .Burnitz played his...
. He had an uneasy, if not volatile relationship with manager Bobby Valentine
Bobby Valentine
Robert John "Bobby V" Valentine is an American professional baseball manager and former player who is currently the manager of the Boston Red Sox. He previously managed the Texas Rangers and New York Mets as well as the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan...
, and when Phillips decided to fire Valentine before the 2003 season, many expected the GM to be next. He traded future star, Jason Bay
Jason Bay
Jason Raymond Bay is a Canadian professional baseball player. An outfielder, he currently plays for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball...
, and also attempted to trade star shortstop José Reyes to the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
.
Phillips is often erroneously blamed for trading Kazmir to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Victor Zambrano
Víctor Zambrano
Víctor Manuel Zambrano is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher.-Major League Career :...
on the July 31, 2004 trade deadline. Kazmir went on to become an All Star, while Zambrano never made an impact with the Mets and was out of major league baseball a few years later. It was, however, Jim Duquette
Jim Duquette
James "Jim" Duquette was the general manager of the New York Mets for the 2004 season, before the team replaced him with Omar Minaya. Duquette subsequently stayed with the Mets in a front office job for a full season before moving on to the Baltimore Orioles...
, Phillips' successor, who made the deal.
Harassment allegations
For a brief stint in 1998, Phillips took a leave of absence as general manager because of allegations of sexual harassmentSexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
. He admitted to consensual sex with the woman, Rosa Rodriguez, who filed the suit, as well as multiple other affairs, but denied harassment and the civil suit was settled out of court. Phillips was away from the team for a total of eight days. The Mets defended Phillips privately and publicly, and the alleged victim's attorney was even quoted as believing in his sincerity.
As an ESPN analyst
Phillips was hired as a baseball analyst for ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
prior to the 2005 baseball season, and was a regular on the nightly programs Baseball Tonight
Baseball Tonight
Baseball Tonight is a program that airs on ESPN. The show, which recapitulates the day's Major League Baseball action, has been on the air since 1990.-Air times:...
and SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
. He primarily served as a game analyst during Wednesday Night Baseball
Wednesday Night Baseball
Wednesday Night Baseball is a live game telecast of Major League Baseball that airs every Wednesday night during the regular season on ESPN and is also available in high definition on ESPNHD...
telecasts through 2008, moving to the Sunday Night Baseball
Sunday Night Baseball
Sunday Night Baseball is the Major League Baseball exclusive game of the week that is televised Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN during the regular season...
booth the following season. He also served as an analyst on Monday Night Baseball
Monday Night Baseball
Monday Night Baseball is a live game telecast of Major League Baseball that airs most Monday nights during the regular season on ESPN and is also available in high definition on ESPNHD. The official name of the game is Monday Night Baseball presented by Vonage. The game starts at 7 p.m...
.
As an analyst he was critical of the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
acquisition, Josh Hamilton, stating that Hamilton, who had walked away from the game because of substance abuse issues, was being given the chance to make the major league team (through the Rule 5 draft) without spending the time in the minor leagues which the other players had, thus sending the wrong message to those players.
On September 2, 2009, Phillips' wife of 19 years, Marni, filed for divorce.
On October 21, 2009 Phillips revealed that he had been involved in an affair with a 22-year-old ESPN production assistant.
After an initial suspension by ESPN, Phillips was fired by the company on October 25, 2009.
Career After ESPN
In April, 2010, Phillips began doing a weekly baseball segment on WFANWFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
New York, with afternoon host, Mike Francesa
Mike Francesa
Michael Patrick "Mike" Francesa, Jr. is an American radio talk show host and television commentator. He is primarily known in his former role co-hosting the popular Mike and the Mad Dog show on WFAN in New York City...
to be done throughout the baseball season. Around the MLB trade deadline, Phillips co-hosted a few three hour radio shows on the station as well.
Career With Mad Dog Radio
Beginning October 4th, 2010, Phillips joined the cast of the Mad Dog RadioMad Dog Radio
Mad Dog Radio is a Sirius XM Radio station which broadcasts sports talk, sports news, and play by play. The channel is located on channel 86 on the XM service and channel 123 on the Sirius service. This channel officially started broadcasting on November 12, 2008...
channel, SIRIUS XM Radio, as the co-host of the "Gary & Phillips In the Morning Show" with Gary Williams. After Williams' departure to NBC to host the Golf Channel's morning show, Phillips' co-host was Dan Graca on an interim basis. Currently, Phillips is co-host of "Evan and Phillips" with Evan Cohen. in the same morning time slot.