 Weintraub did not play major league baseball from 1939 through 1943, spending those years in the minor leagues.After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the 34-year-old Weintraub reported for examination by the draft board, but was declared unfit for military service.In November 1943 he was obtained by the New York Giants from the St. Louis Browns in the Rule 5 draft.