John Waltz

Waltz' original family name was "Woltz". He was born January 12, 1860, in Hagerstown, Maryland. His parents had been successful farmers in Hagerstown, but by 1880 were forced to relocate to Baltimore. After working for a jewelry dealer, Waltz became a successful furniture salesman in the 1880s. He married Bessie Bell in 1882, and had a son and a daughter by her. He purchased shares in the 19th century American Association, then considered a baseball Major League.
In December 1887 Waltz, and then-Oriole manager Billy Barnie, purchased minority shares of the American Association Baltimore Orioles from owner Harry Von der Horst, and became a team vice-president. In that role, he signed Joseph Dowie and Will Holland to play for the Orioles. By 1891, the rival Major Leagues, the National League and American Association, were at war. Waltz became a major figure in the war, proposing to put a…