Former Roswell baseball star Tony Phillips dies

Former major league baseball player Tony Phillips, once a multi-sport standout at Roswell High School, has died at age 56.

Phillips, who played the infield and the outfield, spent nine of his 18 major-league seasons with the Oakland A's, and he also logged five years with Detroit, two each with the Angels and White Sox, and one year for both the Mets and Toronto. He returned to Oakland for his final season in 1999.

The A's organization announced Phillips' death occurred Wednesday in Arizona and was unexpected, but did not provide a cause.

"I am in total shock. Played golf with Tony Phillips last week he was driving the ball over 300 yards seemed so healthy and full of life," former A's slugger Jose Canseco posted on Twitter. "RIP Tony Phillips. My thoughts and prayers with your family at this tough time. Going to miss you."

Phillips was a .266 hitter with 160 home runs and 819 RBIs in 2,161 games. He made the final defensive play in the A's sweep of the San Francisco Giants during the earthquake-interrupted 1989 World Series.