Phillips was the umpire in charge on July 12, 1979, when
Bill Veeck promoted Disco
Demolition Night at
Comiskey Park, during which fans burned disco records in a huge
bonfire on the field between games of a doubleheader. The field became such a mess
that Phillips deemed it unplayable and forfeited the game to the Tigers. In 1982,
in another highly publicized decision, Phillips ejected
Gaylord Perry for throwing
an illegal grease ball. Perry was suspended for ten days. A former Missouri Valley
Conference basketball referee, Phillips became their supervisor of basketball officials
after his umpiring career ended.
(RTM)
Dave Phillips
teams