Two summers ago Terry Collins was managing the Duluth Huskies (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) — as a midseason replacement, no less. He’s now in line to manage the New York Mets, an amazing comeback by any measure.
Collins managed the Huskies for the second half of the 2009 Northwoods League season before joining the Mets in 2010 as minor league field coordinator.
He’s the last piece in the puzzle for the Mets’ extreme makeover of the front office this offseason. New GM Sandy Alderson has put together a staff that includes Paul DePodesta, John Ricco and J.P. Ricciardi.
Collins compiled a 444-434 record as manager of the Houston Astros (1994-96) and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (1997-99).
The four finalists for the job was an interesting group, to say the least; besides Collins the final list included Bob Melvin, Chip Hale and Wally Backman. Backman was the Diamondbacks manager for all of four days in November 2004 before being dismissed for events off the field. Backman worked his way back after that setback, managing in the independent South Coast League and Northern League before nabbing a job in the Mets organization with the Brooklyn Cyclones. After Backman was dismissed by the Diamondbacks, they went with Bob Melvin as manager.
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