| John Waltz | |
|---|---|
| Manager | |
| Born: January 12, 1860 Hagerstown, Maryland |
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| Died: April 29, 1931 (aged 71) Baltimore, Maryland |
|
| Batted: | Threw: |
| MLB debut | |
| April 29, 1892 for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 8, 1892 for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Career statistics | |
| Wins | 2 |
| Losses | 6 |
| Winning percentage | .250 |
| Teams | |
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As Manager |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
John William Waltz (January 12, 1860 - April 29, 1931) was a Major League Baseball manager and executive. He managed the 19th century Baltimore Orioles in 1892.[1] He managed the team for eight games, winning two and losing six.[1] He managed his first game on April 29, 1892 after replacing George Van Haltren.[2][3] He managed his last game on May 8, 1892, after which he was replaced by Ned Hanlon.[2][3]
Waltz' original family name was "Woltz". He was born on January 12, 1860 in Hagerstown, Maryland.[2] His parents had been successful farmers in Hagerstown, but by 1880 were forced to relocate to Baltimore. After working for a jewelry dealer, Waltz became a successful furniture salesman in the 1880s. He married Bessie Bell in 1882, and had a son and a daughter by her. He purchased shares in the 19th century American Association, then considered a baseball Major League.[4]
In December 1887, Waltz and then-Oriole manager Billy Barnie purchased minority shares of the American Association Baltimore Orioles from owner Harry Von der Horst, and became a team vice-president. In that role, he signed Joseph Dowie and Will Holland to play for the Orioles. By 1891, the rival Major Leagues, the National League and American Association, were at war. Waltz became a major figure in the war, proposing to put an American Association team in Chicago to challenge the established National League team in that city. He also publicly stated that the American Association was going to send a delegation to negotiate with the National League at the end of the 1891 season. Ultimately, the leagues agreed to form a single Major League (called the National League) with eight of the former National League teams and four of the former American Association teams (including the Orioles).[4]
Before the 1892 season, the Orioles' first in the National League, manager Billy Barnie quit, citing a personality conflict with Waltz. Barnie's duties were split between outfielder George Van Haltren, who was to manage the team on the field, and Waltz, who was to be in charge of financial and scheduling issues. But after the Orioles lost 10 of their first 11 games under Van Haltren, Waltz took over as the team's manager despite not having any qualifications for the job.[4]
The Orioles lost six of the eight games Waltz managed.[1] But Waltz recognized that the team needed a real "baseball man" to manage the team, and so turned the managerial duties over to Ned Hanlon, and returned to his role as team vice-president.[4] Waltz remained the Orioles' vice-president through at least 1895, while Hanlon managed the team to National League pennants in 1893, 1894 and 1895.[4][5] He died of cancer on April 27, 1931 in Baltimore, Maryland.[2][4]
| Preceded by George Van Haltren |
Baltimore Orioles (NL) Managers 1892 |
Succeeded by Ned Hanlon |