Who Is Earl Weaver? Age, Biography and Wiki
Earl Weaver, born on August 14, 1930, was an iconic American baseball manager known for his time with the Baltimore Orioles. Weaver passed away in 2013; however, his impact on the game continues to be celebrated. As of 2025, he would have been 95 years old. A master strategist and motivator, he is remembered for his innovative approach to the game, including the use of statistical analysis long before it became mainstream.
| Occupation | Baseball Manager |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 14, 1930 |
| Age | 82 Years |
| Birth Place | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 19 January, 2013 |
| Died Place | Aboard Celebrity Silhouette, Caribbean Sea |
Popularity
Earl Weaver's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While precise measurements of Earl Weaver's height and weight during his playing days aren't widely documented, he was generally regarded as a sturdy figure in sports circles. At about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing around 190 pounds during his managerial career, his physicality complemented his fiery personality on the field.
The St. Louis Cardinals signed the 17-year-old Weaver in 1948 as a second baseman. Playing for the Class-D West Frankfurt Cardinals in 1948, he had a .268 batting average, with 92 bases on balls and 96 runs scored and only 24 strikeouts. He was named an all-star.
Playing Class-C ball in 1949, his average improved to .282, with an on-base percentage of .382, 75 bases on balls, 101 runs batted in (RBI), 80 runs scored and 17 stolen bases. In 1950, he hit .276 playing Class-B baseball for the Winston-Salem Cardinals of the Carolina League; though he had been hitting around .300 before a thumb injury.
In 1951, he hit .279 with the Single-A Omaha Cardinals, and was again an all-star. He was a flashy fielder and hard base runner, and the fans loved him for competing all out when he played; though he did not hit with power, lacked speed, and had a mediocre throwing arm.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Earl Weaver was married to his wife, Maria Weaver, for many years until his passing. Together, they had a strong family presence, with Weaver often prioritizing his family's well-being amidst his demanding career. There have been no public records of any romantic relationships following his marriage, as Earl was known for his dedication to his family and the sport.
Louis, Missouri. He was the son of Earl Milton Weaver, a dry cleaner who cleaned the uniforms of the St. Louis Cardinals and Browns (who would later become the Baltimore Orioles), and Ethel Genevieve Wakefield.
Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer, who pitched under Weaver for 14 seasons in the major leagues, wrote that his manager was "brought up in St. Louis on the bad side of a street where even the good side isn't too good." The Weavers lived in a crowded section of St. Louis, within a mile of Sportsman's Park, home to the Cardinals and Browns.
As a child Weaver saw the players on the great St. Louis Cardinals teams up close, when he accompanied his father into the team's clubhouse, or made pickups and deliveries of their uniforms.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing, Earl Weaver's estimated net worth was around $10 million. His salary as a manager was competitive for the era, and his earnings were bolstered through various endorsements and appearances, showcasing his enduring legacy in baseball. Although he is no longer with us, his contributions to the sport ensure that his influence remains strong in baseball circles.
Career, Business and Investments
Earl Weaver's career spanned several decades, with his most significant impact during the 1960s through the early 1980s. He led the Baltimore Orioles to four American League pennants and a World Series championship in 1970. Known for his tactical genius, Weaver was also an early adopter of data analytics in baseball—advancing the way managers make on-field decisions.
Following his retirement as a manager, he remained involved in the baseball community as a broadcaster and an ambassador for the game, often participating in charity events and speaking engagements. His business acumen also led him to invest in baseball-related ventures, further enhancing his legacy and influence even after his managerial career.
Weaver started his minor league managerial career in 1956 with the unaffiliated Knoxville Smokies in the South Atlantic League. He joined the Orioles in 1957 as manager of their Fitzgerald, Georgia, club in the Georgia–Florida League.
The Orioles moved him up to their franchise in Dublin, Georgia, in 1958, and to their Aberdeen, South Dakota, club in 1959. In 1960, he managed the Fox Cities Foxes in Wisconsin in the Class-B Three-I League. He advanced to the AA Elmira Pioneers in 1962 and to the AAA Rochester Red Wings in 1966.
As a minor league manager, he compiled a record of 841 wins and 697 defeats (.547) with three championships or first place finishes in 11½ seasons.
Social Network
Earl Weaver was not known for having an active presence on social media, as he belonged to an era before digital platforms took over. However, his legacy continues to foster discussions on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, with fans sharing memories and celebrating his contributions to the game of baseball. Various fan pages and forums exist to discuss his strategies, philosophies, and the profound impact he had on both players and fans alike.
Weaver made extensive use of statistics to create matchups which were more favorable either for his batter or his pitcher. He had various notebooks with all sorts of splits and head-to-head numbers for his batters and against his pitchers and would assemble his lineups according to the matchups he had.
For example, despite the fact Gold Glove Award shortstop Mark Belanger was a weak hitter, in 19 plate appearances he hit .625 with a .684 on-base percentage and .625 slugging percentage against Jim Kern and would be slotted high in the lineup when facing him.
Similarly, Boog Powell, the 1970 American League MVP, hit a meager .178/.211/.278 against Mickey Lolich over 96 plate appearances and would be substituted, possibly with a hitter like Chico Salmon, who hit a much more acceptable .300/.349/.400 against the same pitcher.
Palmer said, "Earl scribbled stats, piles and piles of figures and percentages on everybody and everything. All those sheets with all those numbers made him a better manager."
Education
Earl Weaver attended the University of Maryland, where he played baseball and developed a passion for the sport that would define his life. Although details about his formal education are limited, Weaver’s intelligence and understanding of the game were often highlighted by colleagues and players throughout his career.
Two of Weaver's minor league managers influenced his own future as a manager: George Kissell at Winston-Salem and Andy Cohen in Denver.
Kissell had worked with Branch Rickey in building the Cardinals farm system and developed the Cardinals way of playing baseball; and Cohen, who taught Weaver about the psychology of handling players, had played under hall of fame manager John McGraw. Weaver considered Kissell and Orioles manager Paul Richards as his greatest managerial influences.
In addition to Weaver, Kissell was a teacher to hall of fame managers Sparky Anderson, Joe Torre, and Tony La Russa.
