Kennewick, WA (Sportsbooks) - Wally Backman, briefly the manager of the
Arizona Diamondbacks, was sentenced to 10 days in jail Friday for violating his probation.
Last month Backman was hired to manage the Diamondbacks, but was fired four days later when an earlier DUI conviction and a guilty plea to harassment charges surfaced. Arizona then hired Bob Melvin to manage the team.
The former major league second baseman also received a $250 fine from Benton County District Judge Holly Hollenbeck.
Backman was arrested and pleaded guilty to a driving under the influence charge in Kennewick in 2000, when he was the manager of the Tri-City Posse, a minor league franchise.
After serving one day in jail, the remaining 364 were suspended on the condition that he avoided further legal problems.
But Backman violated his five-year probation when he was arrested in 2001 after a fight at his home -- in Prineville, Oregon -- involving his wife and one of her friends.
Hollenbeck also extended Backman's probation through January 2008, and ordered that he not drink alcohol during the period.
The 45-year-old Backman was ordered to report to jail on January 3, 2005.
Backman, who managed at Class A Lancaster for the Diamondbacks this past season, had spent the last eight years as a minor league skipper. He was hired to replace interim manager Al Pedrique, who was moved into that position after the team fired Bob Brenly on July 2.
But Backman never signed his contract with Arizona.
A first-round pick of the New York Mets, Backman hit .275 with 240 RBI in 1,102 games during a 14-year career. He was a key figure in their 1986 World Series championship team.
