Diamondbacks bench coach Jeff Banister is about to participate in the World Series for the first time. Against a Rangers team he managed to its most recent...
Arizona Diamondbacks' Jeff Banister, left, answers a question during a World Series baseball media day Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. The Arizona Diamondbacks will play the Texas Rangers in Game 1 of the World Series tomorrow.ARLINGTON — The last time Jeff Banister was on the main concourse at Globe Life Field, it was still under construction and he was still the Rangers manager. He’d come over to a luncheon to honor workers building the behemoth new stadium.
He was back up on the concourse Thursday, wearing a T-shirt honoring the late Roberto Clemente and the cap of his current employer,The man with the stride and sound of an old Western star is about to participate in the World Series for the first time after most of the last 37 years in baseball as the bench coach. Against the team he managed to its most recent playoff trip. And his best friend in the game, Rangers third base coach Tony Beasley.
It has not always been this way. Banister, hired nine years and a week ago as the Rangers’ manager after a lifetime in the Pittsburgh organization as a player and coach, led the team to a surprising AL West title in 2015. Was named AL Manager of the Year for it. In 2016, he led them back. But less than two years later, he was fired with 10 days to go in the 2018 season and the Rangers headed for a 95-loss season.
He went back to Pittsburgh but was let go during the summer of 2020 as the pandemic caused teams to make front office cutbacks. He was out of the game a year and only able“I wouldn’t be where I am today ,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said earlier in the postseason. “He’s been the best thing that’s ever happened to me as a manager. He fills in the gaps. He fills in my personality gaps. At times, I feel like he does a better job than me.”Banister felt the same about Beasley.
“He’s my brother,” Banister said. “That’s the only bittersweet part of this for me. I know when this is over, one of us is going to be really happy and one of us is not. But I think inside of us both, there will be an appreciation for the fact the other ends up on top. We’ll hug at the beginning and we’ll hug at the end.”“This is the game of baseball and what it does,” he said. “It brings things full circle.
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