Brandon Backe

Brandon Allen Backe is a professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. He was born on April 5, 1978 in  Galveston, Texas.

Backe made his Major League debut for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on July 19, 2002. In December 2003, he was traded to his hometown team the Houston Astros. After shuffling between Triple-A and the majors, pitching out of the bullpen while playing for the Astros, Backe was designated for assignment on June 26, 2009. He was released shortly.

Backe is known as the "Robert Horry of Baseball" due to his clutch performances in the 2004 post-season and also for his ERA of 2.95 in seven post-season outings.

Minor Leagues

Backe was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 18th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft. During his first three seasons in the minor leagues, he played every infield and outfield position. In fact, the two innings that he pitched for the rookie league Princeton Devil Rays in 1998 were the only time he spent on the mound during that time. In spite of his steady glove and versatility, it was clear that a light-hitting utility player had a very small chance of making the major leagues.

In 2001, he changed positions to pitcher and found immediate success. He rose through the ranks of the pitching-depleted Tampa Bay system climbing from Single-A to the major leagues in just a season and a half.


Major Leagues
Tampa Bay Rays

In just his second season as a pitcher, Backe was recalled on July 16, 2002 from the Double-A Orlando Rays and pitched nine times for the Devil Rays. He posted a 6.92 ERA giving up 10 runs in 13 innings, however 7 of those runs came in one outing - the first game of a July 23 doubleheader at Fenway Park, a game the Rays lost 22-4 and in which Backe allowed a pair of home runs to Nomar Garciaparra in one inning.

Backe began the 2003 season in the minor leagues, but was recalled on May 16 when John Rocker was optioned. He earned his first big league win on August 1 at Kansas City with four scoreless innings of relief. He had a 9-outing stretch from July 22 to August 21 in which he pitched to a 1.42 ERA over 19 innings, lowering his ERA from 6.06 to a season-low 3.60.


Houston Astros

In December 2003, his hometown team, the Houston Astros, acquired Backe from the Devil Rays for Geoff Blum. In 2004, Backe shuffled between Triple-A and the majors, pitching out of the bullpen when he was with the Astros. On August 21, Backe was called up for his first major league start, where he ended up limiting the Chicago Cubs to four hits and no runs over seven innings. After that start, Backe became a permanent member of the Astros rotation, going 4-2 over the final two months of the season.

Entering their final regular-season game against the Colorado Rockies on October 3, the Astros needed a win to clinch a playoff spot. Although Roger Clemens was scheduled as the starting pitcher for that game, he was sidelined by a stomach virus, forcing manager Phil Garner to press Backe into starting duty the morning of the game. Backe performed well on his short notice, surrendering only 2 runs oner 5 innings as the Astros beat the Rockies 5-3 and edged out the San Francisco Giants for the team's first playoff berth since 2001. Backe's star continued to rise during the 2004 playoffs.

After earning a win in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, Backe gained national attention with an eight-inning, one-hit performance against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series. Going toe-to-toe with Cardinals starter and Houston native Woody Williams, Backe carried a perfect game into the 5th inning and a no-hitter into the 6th inning, surrendering only a bloop single to St. Louis second baseman Tony Womack. Backe's pitching performance set the stage for Jeff Kent's walk-off home run in the ninth inning, giving the Astros a 3-2 series advantage headed back to St. Louis, however the Astros lost both subsequent games and the series.

Backe started the 2005 season in the Astros starting rotation, going 10-8 with a 4.76 ERA in his first full season as a starter. Backe performed well in the Astros second-consecutive postseason appearance, including a five-hit, seven-strikeout performance in Game 4 of the 2005 World Series.

In the 2006 season, Backe was the Astros No. 4 starter. But after two starts he went onto the disabled list for three months. He returned in late July, but on August 19 he sprained a ligament in his right elbow was placed on the disabled list again. This injury required Tommy John surgery, which was successfully performed on September 7, 2006. Although Backe's recovery time was slated at 12-18 months, he rehabbed aggressively and made his return on September 4. In his return, he gave up 4 runs (3 earned) in 5.2 innings, taking the loss, but won his last 4 starts of the season for an ERA of 3.77.

During the 2008 season, Backe was totally healthy and made 31 starts for the Astros, although it turned out to be a disappointing year for him, as he went just 9-14 with a 6.05 ERA. He led the majors in home runs allowed, with 36.

Backe was designated for assignment on June 26, 2009. Backe had an ERA of over 10 for the Astros in 2009, including 7 relief appearances and one start. The young Felipe Paulino replaced him on the roster as he was recovering from an injury. On June 29, 2009 Backe was released by the Houston Astros.

On October 5, 2008, Backe was arrested, along with 9 others, after being involved in a fight at a wedding. He was charged with interfering with a police officer and resisting arrest.

On October 18, 2008, it was reported that Backe's attorney filed a complaint with the FBI, claiming that Backe's and the other arrested citizens' civil rights had been violated by the officers.