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Athletics Opening Day countdown: Walt Weiss is best No. 7 in A’s history

With 7 days left until Athletics Opening Day, Walt Weiss earns No. 7 as the A’s Rookie of the Year shortstop and a key piece of the 1989 World Series team.

File photo: January 1, 1990, Unknown location, USA, Athletics shortstop Walt Weiss in action against Cleveland Indians catcher Joel Skinner. Mandatory Credit: VJ Lovero-USA TODAY NETWORK
File photo: January 1, 1990, Unknown location, USA, Athletics shortstop Walt Weiss in action against Cleveland Indians catcher Joel Skinner. Mandatory Credit: VJ Lovero-USA TODAY NETWORK

7 days remain until Athletics Opening Day at the Toronto Blue Jays on March 27, 2026. With Las Vegas on the horizon, this daily countdown tracks the best A’s players by jersey number.

Today, March 20, 2026, the number is 7.

Walt Weiss, No. 7

Walt Weiss is the best Athletics player to wear No. 7 because he owned the position that matters most for this franchise’s late-’80s identity: shortstop. He won AL Rookie of the Year in 1988, anchored the infield during a run of three straight pennants, and was the everyday shortstop when the A’s won the 1989 World Series.

Weiss fits the series rule perfectly: meaningful years, meaningful role, and a number that feels “his” in Oakland.

Why Weiss gets No. 7

Weiss gets No. 7 because he pairs peak significance with Oakland permanence. He spent six seasons with the A’s (1987-1992) and posted 7.4 WAR in that span, the biggest A’s impact among the main No. 7 candidates.

Even when his bat was light, his value held because he played shortstop every day, handled the pressure of a contender, and gave the club stability up the middle during one of the defining eras in team history.

Career start and background

Weiss was born Nov. 28, 1963, in Tuxedo, New York, and played college baseball at North Carolina. The A’s drafted him in the first round (11th overall) in 1985, and he debuted in 1987.

His signature season came right away: in 1988, he won Rookie of the Year and immediately became part of the A’s core.

Other notable No. 7s

  • Bobby Crosby
  • Rick Monday
  • Scott Brosius
  • Jeremy Giambi

Career check

No. 7 goes to Walt Weiss. Rookie of the Year, championship shortstop, and a foundational piece of the 1989 World Series team.

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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.

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