Walt Weiss is a former American professional baseball player who played as a shortstop in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 14 seasons. He was born on November 28, 1963, in Tuxedo, New York, and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he played college baseball.
Weiss was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the 1985 MLB draft and made his debut in the major leagues in 1987. He played for the Athletics for four seasons and was a key player in their 1989 World Series championship team. He won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1988 and was named to the All-Star team in 1998.
After his stint with the Athletics, Weiss played for the Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, and Atlanta Braves. He was known for his defensive skills as a shortstop and won the Gold Glove award in 1990 and 1991. He also had a solid batting average throughout his career, hitting .258 with 25 home runs and 386 runs batted in.
Weiss retired from playing baseball in 2000 and became a coach. He served as a special assistant to the Rockies in 2002 and was the head coach of the Regis Jesuit High School baseball team in Aurora, Colorado, from 2003 to 2008. In 2009, he was hired as the manager of the Rockies, where he led the team to a 74-88 record in his first season.
Weiss resigned as the Rockies' manager in 2016 after four seasons with the team. During his tenure, he compiled a record of 283-365 and led the team to a wild-card berth in 2017. He was known for his calm demeanor and his ability to connect with players.
Overall, Weiss had a successful career as a professional baseball player and coach. He was a reliable shortstop with excellent defensive skills and a solid hitter. As a coach, he was respected for his leadership and his ability to develop young players.
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