- published: 03 Dec 2014
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Walter William Weiss (born November 28, 1963 in Tuxedo, New York) is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball.
Weiss was a member of the 1998 National League All-Star Team. He also won the 1988 Rookie of the Year award.
Initially drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 10th round of the 1982 amateur draft, Weiss decided to put his professional baseball career on hold and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In June 1985, Weiss was the 12th overall pick in the 1985 draft.
At the age of 23, Walt made his first major league appearance for the Oakland Athletics in September 1987. The club was impressed enough with the young shortstop's talent that they traded starter Alfredo Griffin that December, ensuring Weiss would assume a starting job in the 1988 season. Weiss' 1988 season did not seem very impressive offensively as he batted .250 with three home runs, 39 RBIs and 44 runs scored, but the budding shortstop's defensive wizardry helped lead the A's to their first American League pennant since 1974. The 1988 World Series was a rematch of the 1974 matchup, with the Los Angeles Dodgers winning the National League pennant. Weiss made a costly error in Game Four of the matchup that allowed the Dodgers to win the Series in five games. Following the season Weiss was awarded the American League Rookie of the Year Award, becoming the third consecutive Oakland player to win the award, following José Canseco and Mark McGwire. He was also selected for the 1988 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster.
Old ways,
it sure is hard
to change 'em
Come what may
It's hard to teach
a dinosaur a new trick
Lately I've been finding out
I'm set in my ways
Old ways,
can be your ball
and chain.
Oh, I'm gonna stop that grass
And give up all this drinking
Really gonna make my life last
Clean up my whole way of living
Up until the party last night
I was a different man
But old ways
got their way again.
The economy was getting so bad
I had to lay myself off
Well, working was a habit I had
So I kept showin' up anyway
Then one day
things turned around
I got my back pay
Old ways
comin' through again.