Backman named Diamondbacks' skipper
PHOENIX, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Former major league infielder Wally Backman was hired Monday as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Backman, 45, signed a two-year contract.
"We all feel very fortunate to have had a managerial candidate like Wally already in our organization," General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "Wally possesses the qualities that we believe will help return our organization to the success we have experienced in the past."
The 45-year-old Backman replaces Al Pedrique, who had been interim manager since Bob Brenly was fired in July.
Backman, a member of the New York Mets World Series championship team in 1986, has been a minor league manager the past eight years. He was at Class A Lancaster in the Arizona system this year.
The Diamondbacks had their worst season in 2004, ending with a record of 51-111.
Medical examiner: Drugs killed Caminiti
NEW YORK, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The death of former baseball star Ken Caminiti was caused by a drug overdose, a spokeswoman for the New York City Medical Examiner's Office said Monday.
Caminiti died Oct. 10 at the age of 41.
His death was caused by "acute intoxication due to the combined effects of cocaine and opiates," said the spokeswoman, Grace Brugess.
Brugess said Caminiti had cardiac hypertrophy, an enlarged heart, and that was a contributing factor in his death, which was ruled accidental.
Caminiti was an all-star player who admitted shortly before his death that he had tested positive for cocaine.
In a 2002 report in Sports Illustrated, Caminiti said he used steroids during his 15-year career. He also said that at least half of the players in the major leagues used performance-enhancing drugs.
Purpura replaces Hunsicker as Astros GM
HOUSTON, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Tim Purpura became general manager of the Houston Astros Monday, replacing Gerry Hunsicker, who resigned.
Purpura had been the team's assistant GM and director of player development. He has been with the Astros for 11 years.
"It's been a dream, it's been a goal for a long time," Purpura said."
Hunsicker, who will remain with the team as an adviser, became GM in 1996. The Astros reached the playoffs five times during that period. They lost four times in the division series and this season fell to the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series.
"It's been an incredible nine years and I'll take back with me a lifetime of memories," Hunsicker said.
Hunsicker previously was traveling secretary, minor league pitching coach, scout and assistant to the GM.
Singh strengthens hold on No. 1 ranking
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Vijay Singh has gradually increased his lead atop the Official Word Golf Ranking since he took the top spot from Tiger Woods in September.
The latest computerized ranking was released Monday. Each player is ranked over a two-year period in a system that awards points per tournament, depending on how the player finishes.
Singh has won nine tournaments, finished in the top five 14 times and collected more than $10 million in earnings this season.
His victory Sunday at the Chrysler Championship in Florida boosted his score on the rankings list to 14.14, up from 13.58 the previous week. Ernie Els continues in the No. 2 spot with 12.21 points and Woods, who had previously been No. 1 for more than five straight years, is third at 11.31.
The rest of the top 10, in order, are: Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen, Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia and Stewart Cink.
