Bees Introduce World Series Champion as Manager

NEW BRITAIN, CT — One of the most intense, scrappy players of his generation was introduced Thursday as the new manager of the New Britain Bees of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Wally Backman, a 14-year major league veteran who played an instrumental role in the New York Mets' World Series championship in 1986, spoke at a press conference at New Britain City Hall, alongside Bees ownership and management and Mayor Erin Stewart.

"We're very pleased to welcome you to town," Stewart said. "This year is going to be the best year yet for the Bees, and I'm sure it will be filled with a lot more entertainment. Let's just say you're going to want to check out some games this year."

Backman, 58, batted .275 in 1,102 major league games, including nine seasons with the Mets and stints with Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Seattle. His best offensive season was the World Series championship year of 1986, when he hit .320 with 67 runs scored and 13 stolen bases.

A fiery ballplayer who carried over that intensity to the managerial ranks, Backman believes management will build a roster of players very much like himself.

"The team will be a lot different than it was in the past," he said. "We'll have more speed this year. I'm intense, I like to win and players like that. I like baseball being played the way it's supposed to be played. I believe the Atlantic League is the best league out there for players trying to get back to the big leagues."

Bacakman spent the past 19 years as a manager in independent and affiliated minor league baseball. He spent the 2017 season in the Mexican Baseball League, first as manager of Acereros de Monclova, then bench coach for Pericos de Puebla. Among his players this past year were former big leaguers Endy Chavez and Julio Borbon, who he hinted may possibly sign with the Bees, though nothing has been confirmed yet.

Photo credit: Tim Jensen