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 an American Association team in Chicago to challenge the established National League team in that city. He also publicly stated that the American Association would send a delegation to negotiate with the National League at the end of the 1891 season. Ultimately, the leagues agreed to form a single Major League (called the National League) with eight of the former National League teams and four of the former American Association teams (including the Orioles).
Before the 1892 season, the Orioles' first in the National League, manager Billy Barnie quit, citing a personality conflict with Waltz. Barnie's duties were split between outfielder George Van Haltren, who was to manage the team on the field, and Waltz, who oversaw financial and scheduling issues. But after the Orioles lost 10 of their first 11 games under Van Haltren, Waltz assumed duties as the team manager despite having no qualifications.

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