Wally Backman: 1986 World Champion Mets Second Baseman (1980 - 1988)
Walter Wayne Backman was born September 22, 1959, in Hillsboro, Oregon. Wally Backman's dad played in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization during the sixties. Wally was drafted in the first round (16th pick overall) of the 1977 draft by the New York Mets. He hit over .280 every season in the minors and his defense improved, making him a fine defensive second baseman. His scrappy style of play is what made him so desirable. He would do anything to get on a base, a slap hitter who could bunt well, draw walks & get hit by pitches. His uniform usually got dirty from sliding and being a pest on the base paths. Mets Career: In September 1980 he got his big league call up. On September 2nd, he debuted in a loss at Los Angeles, getting an RBI base hit off Dave Goltz in his first career at bat. He later hit an RBI double in a successful debut. That month he would have a hit streak hitting safely in 16 of 21 games. On October 1st he had a four-hit game in a loss at Pittsburgh. O...
