BACKLUND MAY PITCH FOR PITTSBURGH

Brett Backlund, a former Alaska Goldpanner trying to make the Pittsburgh Pirates roster, could be this year's Tim Wakefield.

Backlund, 23, was 11-1 with a 2.07 ERA for the University of Iowa and was the Big Ten player of the year last spring. After he was drafted on the seventh round by Pittsburgh, he zipped through the Pirates' farm system, going 7-1 with a 1.43 ERA for three teams. more...

BACKLUND HEROICS LIFTS PANNERS

Backlund's stay in Alaska might be short - he's negotiating with the Pittsburgh Pirates - but even one day was too long for the Oilers.  Backlund, who started the game as a designated hitter, also picked up the win by pitching the final three innings. more...

1992 Backlund still reflects on his heroic homer
1991 Baseball Under the Midnight Sun

 

EX-HAWKEYE: Backlund, a second-team All-American for Iowa in 1992, was the Hawkeyes' MVP as a junior and senior. An infielder as well as a pitcher, he played three years for Coach Duane Banks after a season at Yavapai Junior College in Prescott, Ariz.

"I looked at schools like Texas A&M and others, but programs like those you might sit for a year or two - I wanted to play," he said. "I knew the school would be better at Iowa. And, at Iowa, once you're given a scholarship, it's yours. Plus, they have what is like a five-year scholarship."

A native of Salem, Ore., Backlund was a three-sport all-stater at McNary High School, where his father is the head baseball coach.

Signed by Pittsburgh in 1992, he made only five appearances with Class A Augusta, Ga., then bounced back and forth between Class AA and Class AAA for the next 4 seasons. Backlund, 27, was a teammate at Calgary last year with former Briar Cliff star Reed Secrist.

In 141 minor league appearances, Backlund has 107 starts, 656 innings, a 35-43 record and a 4.34 ERA.

"The problem was I didn't ever do the same thing for more than a few weeks at a time," he said. "Most of the time, I was a starter. Then, I got released in spring training.

"I'm just trying to basically make this team. Once that happens, I can go from there."  (Sioux City Journal 5/21/97)

Headline: Familiarity aids Gopher catcher
Publish Date: 05/12/1992

By Juan C. Rodriguez

Gopher catcher Brian Hartmann possibly had an unfair advantage when he batted against Iowa ace Brett Backlund last Friday night.

Hartmann pinch hit for Bill Mobilia with the bases loaded in the seventh inning and won the game with a two-RBI hit off the glove of shortstop Matt Johnson.

``I was looking for a pitch up and trying to get something in the air,'' said Hartmann, who said he was only trying to tie the game with a sacrifice fly. ``I caught Brett at Olympic Trials and I know he has a good breaking ball and a slider so I wasn't expecting to see a lot of fastballs.''

Hartmann's first-hand knowledge proved to be the deciding factor in the victory that helped get Minnesota a second seed in this week's Big Ten tournament. The fifth-year senior waited patiently on the off-speed pitch he drilled into the hole between third and short.

Despite entering the inning on the short end of a 5-2 score, the Gophers rallied behind consecutive hits from Mark Merila, George Behr and Adam Sobocienski. Hartmann's smash allowed Darren Schwankl and Darren Grass to cross the plate and cap a four-run inning.

According to Gopher coach John Anderson, the decision to give Hartmann a crack at Backlund was based on his backstop's batting expertise.

``Brian faced Brett in the (Cape Cod) League before and he was the most experienced hitter on the bench,'' Anderson said. ``You just go with your gut; it wasn't a difficult choice.''

As a result of his former teammate's hit, Backlund was stricken with his first loss of the season after winning 11 straight. The Iowa right-hander also lost a chance at a spot in the Hawkeye record book.

With his 26th victory, Backlund could have overtaken John DeJarld for most wins in a season and career.

``There's been a lot of pressure on me the last few weeks,'' Backlund said. ``I thought I threw some good pitches in the seventh, but they happened to hit them where we weren't. They put together a lot of hits and didn't give me a chance to get in a good rhythm.''

Before the loss, Backlund led the conference with a 6-0 record and a 2.14 ERA.

BASEBALL CARD CHECKLIST

Goldpanners Statistics 90-91-92

Batting Stats

Pitching Stats

1990s All-Stars