Walter A. Haas, Jr. was a prominent figure in the world of baseball, serving as the owner of the Oakland Athletics for over a decade. Haas was born in San Francisco in 1916 and grew up in the Bay Area. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he played football and baseball.
After college, Haas worked for his family's business, the Levi Strauss & Co. clothing company. He eventually rose to the position of CEO and helped to expand the company's global reach. In addition to his work at Levi Strauss, Haas was also involved in a number of philanthropic endeavors, including the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, which supports a variety of social and environmental causes.
Haas became involved in baseball in the 1970s, when he purchased a minority stake in the Oakland Athletics. He became the team's majority owner in 1980, and under his leadership, the A's experienced a period of success in the 1980s and early 1990s. The team won three American League pennants and one World Series championship during Haas's tenure.
Haas was known for his commitment to building a winning team and for his willingness to invest in the A's. He was also known for his dedication to the community and to promoting diversity in baseball. In 1993, he became the first owner to sign a Japanese player, pitcher Hideki Irabu.
Haas's health began to decline in the mid-1990s, and he stepped down as the A's owner in 1995. He passed away in 1995 at the age of 79.
Haas's legacy in baseball is one of success and innovation. He was a pioneer in promoting diversity in the sport and was committed to building a winning team. His contributions to the A's and to baseball as a whole will be remembered for years to come.
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