For Banister, sentiment comes with facing Bucs

Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister says he’s sure to feel a swirl of emotions on Friday, when he looks across the diamond and sees all those familiar faces wearing the black and gold of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“Twenty-nine years of my life,” Banister said. “That’s how long I wore that uniform. I love the organization. I love everything it stands for. There are a lot of ties.”

And there’s that manager he’ll be going against, Clint Hurdle.

Hurdle was hired by the Pirates after the 2010 season, and one of the first big decisions he made was to make Banister — a career Minor League player, coach and manager — his bench coach.

This weekend at Globe Life Park, the Bucs and Rangers will play three games. And these two men who stood side by side for four seasons will be competing against one another for the first time.

“It’s going to be a little bit strange to look over into that dugout,” Banister said. “Look, it’s going to be emotional for me. Probably a little added — I don’t want to say anxiety. Let’s call it energy.”

In taking a chance on someone he did not know well, Hurdle, 58, did two things for Banister, 52.

First, Hurdle put Banister in place to be part of Pittsburgh’s renaissance at the Major League level. When the team made the playoffs in 2013, it was the franchise’s first postseason appearance in 21 years. Second, Hurdle positioned Banister to land his own Major League managing gig.

Hurdle became close to …

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