http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/13/sports/baseball/wally-backman-new-york-mets-las-vegas-51s-manager.html 2016-09-13 05:13:17 Wally Backman Will Not Return as Mets’ Class AAA Manager Backman spent five seasons managing in Las Vegas and was a finalist for the Mets’ managing job that went to Terry Collins in 2010. === WASHINGTON — Wally Backman, who played second base for the 1986 World Series champion Either way, Backman will not be in the dugout next year for what would have been his sixth season as the Mets’ Class AAA manager. Backman was a finalist for the Mets’ managing job that went to Terry Collins in 2010, and he spent seven seasons managing in the team’s minor league system. His first season as the Mets’ Class AAA manager was in Buffalo, and he was named the Pacific Coast League manager of the year in 2014 after guiding Las Vegas to an 81-63 season. Backman, 56, played nine seasons for the Mets, who gave him a chance to return to baseball after he was Backman was known as a fiery, old-school manager who used humor to deliver news of call-ups to the major leagues to players. But he also reportedly clashed with the Mets’ front office at times. Alderson said Backman had decided to “move on and look for other opportunities with the possibility of a major league coaching position.” “We had a lot of players graduate from Las Vegas, and prior to that time Buffalo, to the major leagues,” Alderson added. “I’m very pleased with the work he did, and I wish him the best of luck.”