Andy Phillip

Andrew Michael "Handy Andy" Phillip


Born:
March 7, 1922
Granite City, IL

Died:
April 28, 2001
Rancho Mirage, CA


Career
1937-38 Granite City High School - Illinois (High School)
1938-39 Granite City High School - Illinois (High School)
1939-40 Granite City High School - Illinois (High School)
1940-41 University of Illinois (College) Freshmen
1941-42 University of Illinois (College)
1942-43 University of Illinois (College)
1943-44 Granite City Fleishman's (Independent)
1946-47 University of Illinois (College)
1947-48 Chicago Stags (BAA)
1948-49 Chicago Stags (BAA)
1949-50 Chicago Stags (NBA)
1950-51 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1951-52 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1952-53 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1952-53 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1953-54 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1954-55 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1955-56 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1956-57 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1957-58 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1958-59 St. Louis Hawks (NBA) Head coach
1961-62 Chicago Majors (ABL) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1961

Phillip lead Granite City to the Illinois State Title in his senior year, and the enrolled at Illinois where as one of the "Whiz Kids" he broke the conference scoring record in his junior year. He left school to join the Marines, where he saw combat in the Pacific, including Iwo Jima. After his service, he returned to play at Illinois before graduating. He joined the Chicago Stags in 1947-48, commencing on a 12-year career in the BAA/NBA. One of the more highly-skilled passers the game has ever seen, Phillip's career ended when his knee problems became to much to bear. He tried his hand a coaching, before moving out to California where he worked as a probation officer.

Phillips died of congestive heart failure in 2001 at the age of 79.

He and his wife, Corky, had one son.

Source:
NY Times Obit, March 4, 2001

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/phillan01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=phillan01