Wally Backman is a former professional baseball player who played for several teams during his career. He was born on September 22, 1959, in Hillsboro, Oregon, and grew up in Aloha, Oregon. Backman was a standout athlete in high school and was drafted by the New York Mets in the first round of the 1977 Major League Baseball draft.
Backman made his Major League debut with the Mets in 1980 and quickly became a fan favorite. He was known for his gritty style of play and his ability to get on base. Backman played second base for the Mets and was a key member of the team that won the World Series in 1986.
After his time with the Mets, Backman played for several other teams, including the Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, and Seattle Mariners. He continued to be a solid player and was known for his leadership and work ethic.
Backman retired from baseball in 1993 and began his coaching career. He worked as a minor league coach for several years before being hired as the manager of the South Georgia Waves in 2000. Backman quickly made a name for himself as a successful manager and was named the Minor League Manager of the Year in 2004.
In 2004, Backman was hired as the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he was fired just four days later due to controversy surrounding his past. Backman had been arrested twice in the past, once for a DUI and once for a domestic dispute. The Diamondbacks felt that Backman had not been forthcoming about these incidents during the hiring process and decided to let him go.
Despite this setback, Backman continued to work in baseball and was eventually hired as the manager of the New York Mets' Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s. He led the team to the playoffs in 2014 and was named the Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year.
Backman's baseball career has been marked by both success and controversy. He was a talented player who was beloved by fans, but he also had some personal issues that caused problems for him later in his career. Despite these setbacks, Backman has continued to work in baseball and has proven himself to be a successful coach and manager.
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