By Bob Phillips

Wally Backman's last managerial gig was with Las Vegas, the AAA

Pacific Coast League affiliate of the Mets.

NEW BRITAIN–The Bridgeport Bluefish have left the state which means the Atlantic League of

Professional Baseball, widely recognized as the top independent league in the U.S., is left with just one team in the Nutmeg State: the New Britain Bees. And last week, the Bees announced that they will be adding a hefty helping of star quality to the team—not so much with the active roster, but with the manager. Last week, the Bees announced that former Mets star Wally Backman will be the team’s new skipper beginning in 2018.

This will be Backman’s 20th year of managing—many of them in the White Sox, D-Backs and Mets organizations. He has led three different teams to league championships: Tri-City Posse (Pasco, Wash.) of the Independent Western Baseball League in 1999, the Birmingham Barons (AA, White Sox) in 2002, and the South Georgia Peanuts (Conyers, Ga.) of the Independent South Coast League in 2007. The fiery former second sacker also managed two Mets’ affiliates, the Brooklyn Cyclones (Class A) and the Las Vegas 51’s (AAA) to regular-season first-place finishes in 2010 and 2014, respectively. Overall, the 58-year-old skipper has earned 1,066 career victories as a professional manager.

“Wally Backman is a proven winner,” Bees general manager Brad Smith said. “His ability to instill a winning atmosphere and put an entertaining club on the field are two significant factors in bringing him aboard. We look forward to a successful 2018 season working with Wally, and hope everyone joins us in welcoming him to the Central Connecticut community.”

A fierce competitor, the Bees are hopeful that

Backman can light a fire beneath a team that

finished dead last in the Atlantic League.

Prior to his managerial career, Backman played for 17 seasons—14 of them in MLB. He was the Mets’ first round pick—No. 16 overall—in the 1977 amateur draft. After breaking into the big leagues in 1980, Backman spent nine seasons with the Mets, most notably as the starting second baseman for the 1986 World Series champions. He moved on to the Minnesota Twins in 1989, and also spent time with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1990), Philadelphia Phillies (1991-92), and Seattle Mariners (1993). Overall, Backman compiled a .275 batting average with 893 hits, 482 runs scored, 240 RBIs, 117 stolen bases, and a .349 on-base percentage in 1,102 Major League games.

Backman will succeed Stan Cliburn, the first manager in Bees history, and the only skipper the team had known since moving to New Britain from Camden, NJ, prior to the 2016 season. The former catcher was a long-time pitching coach in organized ball, and managed the New Britain Rock Cats for five seasons (2001-05), with his twin brother, Stu, serving as pitching coach. Last year, the Bees finished with the worst overall record in the Atlantic League, 58-81.

“I’m excited to get going in New Britain,” Backman said regarding his mission of re. “Atlantic League teams care about winning and helping players careers grow. Those are two things I am very passionate about. I look forward to working with everyone there. Our team will play the game with passion and give their best effort every day. We are going to put a great product on the field that fans will be proud of.”