Wally Backman
MANAGERWally Backman completed his first season as manager in the Northern League in 2008, guiding the JackHammers to a 43-53 record. Backman, best known for his 14-year playing career highlighted by a world championship in 1986 with the New York Mets, started his managerial career in 1997 with Catskill of the Northeast League and worked his way up to the Double A level with the White Sox organization (Birmingham, Southern League, 2002-2003). The Oregon native spent the 2004 season with the Arizona Diamonbacks High A team in Lancaster in the California League and led the club to an 86-54 record. He was named “Sporting News Minor League Manager of the Year” for guiding his team to the best record in the California League and announced as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks on November 1, 2004. As a player, Backman logged nine years with the New York Mets (1980-1988), two years with the Philadelphia Phillies (1990-1991) and one year both with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1990) and Seattle Mariners (1993). In addition to his world championship in 1986, he also played in the National Championship Series with the Mets in 1988 and the Pirates in 1990.
