 Waller was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 33rd round of the 1975 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign.He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 4th round of the 1977 January amateur draft, and signed in May.After the 1980 season, St. Louis sent Waller to the Chicago Cubs as the player to be named later in an earlier trade that sent Leon Durham and Ken Reitz for Bruce Sutter.