Weiss masterminded New York City baseball for more than 30 years

Written by: Craig Muder

George Weiss had already assembled a dynasty in New York City.

On March 14, 1961, he would be asked to do it again.

That day, Weiss was named president of the National League’s yet-to-be-named expansion club in New York.

Soon known as the Mets, the club tapped Weiss after the Yankees – following the 1960 season – took the general manager reins away from the man who had assembled the Yankee dynasties of the 1940s and 1950s.

Weiss would begin building a Mets team that – after seven straight years of losing from their inception in 1962 through 1968 – would shock the baseball world by winning the 1969 World Series.

Born June 23, 1894, in New Haven, Conn., Weiss attended Yale University began running semipro clubs while still in college and eventually took over the New Haven franchise in the Eastern League. He became the general manager of the International League’s Baltimore Orioles during the early days of the Great Depression, helping the franchise regain profitability.

Then in 1932, Weiss was hired by the Yankees to build their farm system. By 1947, he became the club’s vice president and general manager, overseeing a stretch in which the club transitioned from the era of Joe DiMaggio to the one of Mickey Mantle.

From 1948-60, the Yankees won 10 American League pennants and seven World Series titles. During that time, Weiss was named the Sporting News’ Executive of the Year four times.

But following their defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1960 Fall Classic, Yankees owners Dan Topping and Del Webb fired manager Casey Stengel and promoted Weiss to the role of “consultant.”

After moving to the National League, Weiss spent five seasons in charge of the Mets and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1971.

As one of the earliest adopters of the farm system in baseball, Weiss’ teams captured 19 AL pennants and 15 World Series titles during his tenure with the Yankees.

He passed away on Aug 13, 1972.

Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum