Bill Weiss
Encyclopedia
Bill Weiss is a baseball
historian and statistician. He has served as the official statistician
for the Pacific Coast League
, and edited a weekly newsletter for the California League
for over thirty years. For over forty years, he created sketchbooks which eventually covered over 200 books about all of the players in several minor league
and Major League
organizations. Those sketches are the only records existent of many minor league organizations' and players' statistics.
Born in Chicago
, Weiss began his association with professional baseball
as the official statistician for the Longhorn League
in 1948 and box office
manager for the Abilene Blue Sox
of the West Texas - New Mexico League.
He moved to San Francisco the following year and began his work as the statistician of the California and Far West League
s. He has been associated with the California League ever since.
In 1950, Weiss began his association with the Pacific Coast League. From 1959 to 1984, he was president of a San Francisco Bay Area
amateur league, the Peninsula Winter League, which helped local players, such as Baseball Hall of Famers Willie Stargell
and Joe Morgan
, to develop their skills. In 1988 he became an executive with Howe Sportsdata. He also wrote a column for Baseball America
for several years. He has been a member of the Society for American Baseball Research
(SABR) since 1971. In 1977, he was named "King of Baseball
" by Minor League Baseball.
In 1998, Weiss and fellow historian Marshall Wright
were chosen to select The National Baseball Association's top 100 minor league teams
.
In 2005, he became the official League Historian and Secretary of the newly formed Golden Baseball League
.
In 2004, he received the Tony Salin Memorial Award, which is awarded annually to a person who dedicates his or her life to baseball history.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
historian and statistician. He has served as the official statistician
Statistician
A statistician is someone who works with theoretical or applied statistics. The profession exists in both the private and public sectors. The core of that work is to measure, interpret, and describe the world and human activity patterns within it...
for the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, and edited a weekly newsletter for the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
for over thirty years. For over forty years, he created sketchbooks which eventually covered over 200 books about all of the players in several minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
and Major League
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
organizations. Those sketches are the only records existent of many minor league organizations' and players' statistics.
Born in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Weiss began his association with professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
as the official statistician for the Longhorn League
Longhorn League
The Longhorn League was the name of a Minor league baseball circuit that operated from through in the Southwestern United States. In , it was renamed the Southwestern League and operated through before changing its name to the Sophomore League....
in 1948 and box office
Box office
A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket....
manager for the Abilene Blue Sox
Abilene Blue Sox
The Abilene Blue Sox were a minor league baseball team that operated in the West Texas-New Mexico League from 1946-1955 and the Big State League from 1956-1957. The Abilene Blue Sox are considered to be in the top 100 Minor League Baseball teams of all-time. They were an affiliate of the Brooklyn...
of the West Texas - New Mexico League.
- That was a summer I’ll never forget, Weiss was once quoted as saying. Blue Sox Stadium is a great name but slightly grandiose for the facility, which had a big sign on the press box on the top of the roof that said; Dangerous for occupancy by more than six persons. The offices of the Longhorn League and the Abilene Blue Sox were on the second floor of an old house, which was also where Howard (Green, the league's and team's president) and his wife lived. I had the spare bedroom, which also served as my office. It was also where the team stored surplus bat and tickets. Since there were twin beds in the room, I got to share the room with stray ballplayers that came and went, usually for their first night in town before they got started. I don’t think I’d trade that experience for anything.
He moved to San Francisco the following year and began his work as the statistician of the California and Far West League
Far West League
The Far West League was a "Class C" league in Minor League Baseball that had eight teams and operated from 1948-1951.-Cities represented:*Eugene, OR – Eugene Larks *Klamath Falls, OR – Klamath Falls Gems...
s. He has been associated with the California League ever since.
In 1950, Weiss began his association with the Pacific Coast League. From 1959 to 1984, he was president of a San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
amateur league, the Peninsula Winter League, which helped local players, such as Baseball Hall of Famers Willie Stargell
Willie Stargell
Wilver Dornell "Willie" Stargell , nicknamed "Pops" in the later years of his career, was a Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
and Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
, to develop their skills. In 1988 he became an executive with Howe Sportsdata. He also wrote a column for Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
for several years. He has been a member of the Society for American Baseball Research
Society for American Baseball Research
The Society for American Baseball Research was established in Cooperstown, New York, in August 1971 by Bob Davids of Washington, D.C. The Society's mission is to foster the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball, while generating interest in the game...
(SABR) since 1971. In 1977, he was named "King of Baseball
King of Baseball
King of Baseball is a ceremonial title awarded by Minor League Baseball to one person each year in recognition of longtime dedication and service to professional baseball.- Background :The title was first awarded in 1951...
" by Minor League Baseball.
In 1998, Weiss and fellow historian Marshall Wright
Marshall Wright
Marshall Wright is a baseball historian. Born in LaGrange IL and raised in North Riverside, Illinois, he resides in Lake Geneva, WI.Wright graduated from the Bill Kinnamon Umpire School in 1980. He has been an employee of Howe Sportsdata since 1994.He has written several books on the history of...
were chosen to select The National Baseball Association's top 100 minor league teams
The National Baseball Association's top 100 minor league teams
In 2001, during the celebration of the centennial of the National Baseball Association, Minor League Baseball commissioned baseball historians Bill Weiss and Marshall Wright to develop a list of the 100 best minor-league baseball teams of all time. This is their list:...
.
In 2005, he became the official League Historian and Secretary of the newly formed Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
.
In 2004, he received the Tony Salin Memorial Award, which is awarded annually to a person who dedicates his or her life to baseball history.