Casey Swenski
To the PHILLIPS’ family, especially Big John & Billy. I received the very sad news yesterday here in MD when Steve’s buddy Walter Wade called me with word of Steve’s passing. I last talked to the old FLAME THROWER about 15 months ago and instead of talking sports we spent nearly 2hrs on all our medical maladies but laughed our arses off!!! Of course, Billy, and maybe John will remember this, but Steve & yours truly used to rip into an entire 24 pieces box of “Mrs.Paul’s” fish sticks! I remember circa early 80s I believe John rented the home at the end of my street on Willow. At the time, Big John was good friends with my older & only brother Michael as they played baseball together on the Saints diamond, a place Steve & I(to a much lesser extent - Billy G would not allow me to bat!!! Like I was pitching for the Indians every 3rd game!!) would play ball 6/7 years later. I will always remember Steve to be a kind and proud man, that I thoroughly enjoyed hanging around. I’ll never forget in Little League when he pitched for the Knights of Columbus, and he was older than yours truly and I’d tell Mr.Kauffman I had a stomach ache when it was my turn to head to the on deck circle. Let me tell U, that ball was whistling to the plate and as a 12hr old at
5”10 and 175lbs the “FLAME THROWER” was an apt moniker for young Stevie! Hell, all U had to do was stick your bat out and if he hit your bat it was gonna fly into the NORFOLK POND!! I remember how PETRIFIED my teammates and I, were knowing he was hurling that evening against us! I do believe if Mr.Dorrance had put together a Lorain Little All Star team for Williamsport, the Chinese Taipei team would have never touched my friend the FLAME THROWER!!! I still remember the long long home run he hit at Norfolk on June, 3rd, 1973 that flew into the BLACK River which was about 376 feet from home plate. Big John & Billy and all the family, you have my most heartfelt condolences. I’m sorry I did not take Steve up on his invitation to come over and cookout, just never enough time when I would come home. I leave you with this lasting thought - I believe the streets of HEAVEN are lined with GOLD from the pain we suffered on this earth, and well, my man Stevie Phillips paved an entire small community in HEAVEN! May God bless all of you in your time of sorrow. All my best, sincerely, Casey Swenski - SAINT CLASS of 81’
