Ruben Phillips

Ruben L. Phillips also listed as Reuben, Rueben

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2"

• Born ~1931 in Sint Maarten Netherlands

BR register page

Biographical Information

Ruben Phillips was perhaps the first pro player from Sint Maarten.

He played for the Netherlands Antilles national team in the 1952 Amateur World Series, striking out 13 in a win over Colombia and pitched a one-hitter in a 1-0 loss to Puerto Rico. In 1953, he no-hit Venezuela's Valdespino de Caracas. In the 1953 Amateur World Series, he was back with the Antilles.

Phillips and Nel Harms were the first people living in Aruba to sign with a US pro team when they signed with the Charlotte Hornets, though neither was born in Aruba; Harms was born in the US while Phillips was born elsewhere in the Antilles, in Sint Maarten. He spent most of 1954 with the Clovis Pioneers (6-5, 3.91 in 32 G) and was 1-0 in five games for the Miami Beach Flamingos/Greater Miami Flamingos. He was second in the West Texas-New Mexico League in ERA for pitchers with 100+ IP, behind John Isenhart, as the loop was noted for its high offense.

In 1955, he was 9-10 with a 5.37 ERA for Clovis and hit .212. The next year, he batted .250 and slugged .419 (with five dingers) while going 11-11 between Clovis and the Plainview Ponies. He ended his US career at 27-26.

Sources: Aruba ESSO news, History of Baseball in Aruba