GaryMrMets
02-22-2002, 01:20 AM
http://www.barons.com/Backman%20Release.htm
“AMAZIN MET” JOINS BARONS STAFF
BIRMINGHAM, AL – The Birmingham Barons have announced that former big leaguer, Wally Backman, has been named manager of the Barons in 2002.* Pitching coach Curt Hasler, hitting coach Gregg Ritchie, and trainer Joe Geck will return from the 2001 second half Western Division Champions coaching staff.***
Wally Backman, 42, will replace Nick Capra who has been promoted to the White Sox AAA-affiliate, the Charlotte Knights.* Last season, Backman managed the Winston-Salem Warthogs, the Class-A affiliate of the White Sox, and led them to a 54-86 record.* He spent the previous two seasons with the Tri-City Posse of the Independent Western Baseball League.* Backman guided Tri-City to the WBL Championship Title in his first season.* He began his professional coaching career in 1997 with Catskill of the Northeast Independent League.*
Backman played 14 major-league seasons and won a World Series title in 1986 with the New York Mets.* He played for New York (1980-88), Minnesota Twins (1989), Pittsburgh Pirates (1990), Philadelphia Phillies (1991-92) and Seattle Mariners (1993).* He hit .275 (893-3,245) with 240 RBI in 1,102 career big league games.* Backman recorded six hits in a game on 4/27/90 at San Diego, the first National League player since 1975 to accomplish the feat.* He was selected by the Mets in the first round (16th overall) of the 1977 draft.
Backman and his wife Sandy have seven children: Lisa, Sheila, Cobey, Jennifer, Wally Jr., Natasha and Tiffany and reside in Prineville, Oregon.* Backman graduated from Aloha High School in Oregon, where he is a member of the Hall of Fame.* He was an All-American and All-State selection in baseball his senior season.
Curt Hasler, 37, returns for his 12th season with the White Sox organization and his fourth with the Barons.* Hasler pitched in the White Sox organization from 1987-91 and posted 34-30 career record.* Over the past three seasons, 11 of his pitchers have been promoted to the White Sox.*
Gregg Ritchie, 38, will begin his seventh season in the White Sox organization and his third as hitting coach in Birmingham.* Ritchie played professionally for 10 seasons, with the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers organization.* Last season, the Barons finished second in the Southern League with a .268 team batting average and third in home runs with 129.
Joe Geck, 32, returns for his second season as the Barons trainer.* Geck spent the previous two years with the Winston-Salem Warthogs.* This will be Joe’s tenth year in the White Sox organization.* He graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Wellness Leadership and served as a student trainer for the men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, soccer, and tennis teams.
“AMAZIN MET” JOINS BARONS STAFF
BIRMINGHAM, AL – The Birmingham Barons have announced that former big leaguer, Wally Backman, has been named manager of the Barons in 2002.* Pitching coach Curt Hasler, hitting coach Gregg Ritchie, and trainer Joe Geck will return from the 2001 second half Western Division Champions coaching staff.***
Wally Backman, 42, will replace Nick Capra who has been promoted to the White Sox AAA-affiliate, the Charlotte Knights.* Last season, Backman managed the Winston-Salem Warthogs, the Class-A affiliate of the White Sox, and led them to a 54-86 record.* He spent the previous two seasons with the Tri-City Posse of the Independent Western Baseball League.* Backman guided Tri-City to the WBL Championship Title in his first season.* He began his professional coaching career in 1997 with Catskill of the Northeast Independent League.*
Backman played 14 major-league seasons and won a World Series title in 1986 with the New York Mets.* He played for New York (1980-88), Minnesota Twins (1989), Pittsburgh Pirates (1990), Philadelphia Phillies (1991-92) and Seattle Mariners (1993).* He hit .275 (893-3,245) with 240 RBI in 1,102 career big league games.* Backman recorded six hits in a game on 4/27/90 at San Diego, the first National League player since 1975 to accomplish the feat.* He was selected by the Mets in the first round (16th overall) of the 1977 draft.
Backman and his wife Sandy have seven children: Lisa, Sheila, Cobey, Jennifer, Wally Jr., Natasha and Tiffany and reside in Prineville, Oregon.* Backman graduated from Aloha High School in Oregon, where he is a member of the Hall of Fame.* He was an All-American and All-State selection in baseball his senior season.
Curt Hasler, 37, returns for his 12th season with the White Sox organization and his fourth with the Barons.* Hasler pitched in the White Sox organization from 1987-91 and posted 34-30 career record.* Over the past three seasons, 11 of his pitchers have been promoted to the White Sox.*
Gregg Ritchie, 38, will begin his seventh season in the White Sox organization and his third as hitting coach in Birmingham.* Ritchie played professionally for 10 seasons, with the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers organization.* Last season, the Barons finished second in the Southern League with a .268 team batting average and third in home runs with 129.
Joe Geck, 32, returns for his second season as the Barons trainer.* Geck spent the previous two years with the Winston-Salem Warthogs.* This will be Joe’s tenth year in the White Sox organization.* He graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Wellness Leadership and served as a student trainer for the men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, soccer, and tennis teams.