One of eleven children growing up in Oak Park, IL, Phil played all sports. As quarterback and halfback at North Austin Boys Club football at Amundsen Park, he led each team to a Pop Warner championship.
Phil started high school at Oak Park & River Forest where he quarterbacked an undefeated freshman team. After his family moved to Texas, they returned to Chicago, where he attended and played his senior year at Taft High School. His team won the Public League Championship in 1972- 73 and played in the City of Chicago Prep Bowl. This championship team was just elected into the Taft High School Hall of Fame. He graduated from Elmhurst College where he played football and was co-captain. He played safety and punter. He led the team with a single season of 111 tackles and seven interceptions, both school records at the time.
Upon graduation, he started playing 16 – inch softball with his college buddies on the Den and Alley teams. They played at Amundsen & Kosciuszko Park. He then helped start the “Titans” with Tom Eukovich. They started playing at Sayre Park, Berwyn and later at Kelly Park. He then went on to play for ten years with the Blue Max team led by (HOF) Frank Holan Award winner Jimmy Giblin. His teams won the Amundsen, Bellwood and La Grange leagues and placed at Portage Park. They also played in the tough Kelly Park and Clarendon Park leagues. The Blue Max won the Andy Frain tournament championship at Clarendon Park beating a (HOF) Billy Bereckis led team. Phil led the team in hitting when the Blue Max won the tournament championship at the Cicero Clyde Park Suburban Life tournament. Another highlight was playing with the Blue Max in the Berwyn tournament where the Blue Max lost to the Bobcats 8-7. The Blue Max played in the Metro Championship at Lou Boudreau Field where they eventually lost to the champion Stickman. Phil also played with his brother Tony on the Jets in Hamlin and Wells Parks with (HOF) Carl Maniscalco.
Concurrently, Phil played on the Blue Max infused team called Spirit in the Forest Park House League where they won three championships and automatic bid entries into the prestigious 16 – inch No Glove Tournament. He also played on the Clan that won the league three years later. He played on the highly ranked Josephs team, which included the (HOF) Jimmy Krause. Josephs went on to league championships at Melrose Park, Bensenville. The Josephs team placed fourth in the Forest Park tournament and also participated in many tournaments up at Trevor, WI.
Phil then hooked up with (HOF) Manager – “Chubbs” Polfus and the HOF team Takers from Oak Park. Also on the team were (HOF) Stan Bachaus and Wall of Fame player Jimmy Walsh. The Takers went on to win Kosciuszko and Oak Park, leagues. Currently, Phil is still playing three nights per week in the over 50 leagues. Phil played on The Takers with (HOF) Angelo Alesia in the Clyde Park 50 – and – over – league where they won four consecutive championships.
Phil now plays with the Crush team run by Mickey Ballestri (HOF) at La Grange and won the 50 – and – over – league and championship. Phil also plays with the March Manufacturing Doctors in the Berwyn 39 and over – league where they won the Berwyn league and championship in 2016 and 2017. The team was run by (HOF) Ray Topps. Phil plays with the team “Still Cruisin” in the Glenview league with HOF players Wally Pecs, Mark Frighetto, Tim Decker, Jerry Rhea and Stan Bachusz. They finished tied in the regular season for first place in 2016.
Phil would like to thank his teammates and his brother Tony for their competitiveness and friendships. He would like to thank his bride, Jan, for forty years of support, patience and love! Phil and Jan live in Elmwood Park. They have two terrific sons and daughters-in-law, Daniel (Anna) and Jason (Jen) and are blessed to have three terrific grandchildren, Tessa, Lukas, and Joseph.