by Max Silberman

John Welaj passed away Saturday September 13, 2003.One of the greatest compliments one can pay a man in the world of baseball is to call him a “Baseball Man”.

Johnny Welaj was certainly worthy of that title, devoting a lifetime to baseball in many capacities.

His major league career began as an outfielder with the Washington Senators where he spent the 1939, 1940 and 1941 seasons. In 1943, he became a member of the Philadelphia Athletics.

After his playing days were over, he continued his association with baseball ,scouting for the Texas Rangers in his eighties. When Johnny Welaj appeared at an A’s Society reunion a few years back .no one ever had a better time. He spent most of the evening hours seeing old friends and talking baseball, happy to be remembered and proud that family members were in attendance to see him honored.

Shortly after the reunion, he took ill and made a recovery that was nothing short of a miracle. He went from near death to re-appear in the press box of the Texas Rangers doing what he loved most-being a part of baseball.

Johnny Welaj loved the game of baseball and its fans and they loved him back. His passing leaves 91 living members of the Philadelphia Athletics. There is an empty seat in our dugout that will never be filled and the Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society extends its deepest sympathy to the Welaj family.