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Three years later, Backman still trying to get to the bigs

By Jeff Pearlman
Special to Page 2

Monday, October 22, 2007

"It seems like everywhere Wally goes, good things happen." -- Nick Leyva, Philadelphia Phillies manager, 1991 PRINEVILLE, Ore. -- In this blue-collar town of 9,090 residents, two pizzerias, Boss Hogg's Smokes and the Dixon Saddle Shop ("Saddle Repairs While You Wait!"), you are allowed to root for the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox, the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs. You can root for the Blazers, Dolphins, Knicks, Pacers, Predators, Chiefs, Bills, Penguins, Cowboys, Raptors, Blues ...

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