“Baseball’s unique possession, the real source of our strength, is the fan’s memory of the times his daddy took him to the game to see the greatest players of his youth. When he takes his own son to the game, as his father once took him, there is a spanning of generations that is warm, rich and lovely.” — Bill Veeck, baseball general manager and owner, and a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame
The 2026 Braves’ first-year manager, a 62-year-old native of Tuxedo, N.Y., Walter William Weiss, came to Atlanta with a plethora of Major League baseball experience. It is apparent as we’ve seen his steady, unflappable style of guiding a big-league ball club.
Weiss joined the majors at age 23 as a shortstop with the Oakland Athletics in 1987, and when the 1988 season rolled in, he was the starting shortstop. In his 14 seasons, he played with Oakland, the Florida Marlins, the Colorado Rockies, and finished with Atlanta his last three years from 1998 to 2000. He batted a lifetime .258 in 1,495 games. He was the American League Rookie of The Year in 1988. He was on the Athletics’ 1989 World Champions under Hall of Fame Manager Tony LaRussa. Under Tony, there is no doubt Weiss observed the traits of a very successful winning leader.
Having gained game experience managing the Rockies from 2013-2016, Walt landed a coaching job with the Braves from 2018-2025 and was mentored by Brian Snitker. He was in the right place as a coach when Atlanta won the 2021 World Series against Houston. Former Atlanta player during the Hank Aaron years, Dusty Baker was the Astros manager.
Weiss deserves a loud round of applause as this year’s “America’s Team,” the Braves, are currently in first place with a .580 winning percentage, and as I write this, three games ahead of the Phillies. Amazingly, with many player injuries, the Atlantans have dominated first place most of this season. Why is this amazing? Consider the following roadblocks. Superstar right fielder, the flashy Ronald Acuna Jr., has been out injured for days and days. He is sorely missed and is a major cog in the Braves’ winning apparatus. Currently, he is on assignment with the Gwinnett Stripers, the Braves’ AAA farm club.