More On The Possibility of Von Der Ahe Playing Baseball

I have two references in my notes of an incarnation of the Grand Avenue club prior to 1876. The first mentions a club by that name existing in 1872 and the other has the club playing a game in 1875 (and VdA did not play in that game). This is not the Grand Avenue club that was organized in March of 1876 by August Solari, with VdA on the board of directors, that would go on to great success over the next few years. There may be some relationship between the 1875 and 1876 clubs, as Joe Solari was a member of the 1875 team, but I have no real evidence of that.

Based on this information, I guess it's possible that Von der Ahe may have played for the Grand Avenues in the first half of the 1870s. I haven't had much luck in finding anything while searching the newspaper databases but that doesn't mean much and I still need to look through the Tobias material because I'm pretty sure he has box scores for the Grand Avenues from 1875. But I'm much more comfortable thinking about VdA playing on a lower level amateur club than I am with him playing for the 1876/7 Grand Avenues.

For The Benefit Of The Orphans

Next Sunday afternoon the best amateur base ball talent in St. Louis will engage in a grand tournament, at Grand Avenue Park, for the benefit of the orphans.  As the time approaches the excitement among the friends of the clubs increases.  The players themselves occupy every spare moment in practicing and each nine feels confident that it will come out ahead.  Marion Simpson, late pitcher of the Worcester Base Ball Club, Worcester, Mass., is now in the city, and it is rumored, will pitch for the Grand Avenue team.  The Athletics are in fine trim, and the Willows will play a strong nine.  The South St. Louis Grays are said to be working with a will.  The prizes are a beautiful pennant and bat.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 11, 1878

While this gives us a little information about what was going on in St. Louis in the first year of the Interregnum, I'm really posting this because I liked the phrase "for the benefit of the orphans."  I like the fact that it's just "the orphans" and not a specific orphanage or group of orphans.  We're doing it for the orphans-all of them.  Also "For the Benefit of the Orphans" sounds like it could be the title of a Brother Cadfael mystery. 

Von Der Ahe Becomes VP Of The Grand Avenue Club

The Grand Avenue Club held its annual meeting on Wednesday night, at Solari's. There was a large attendance, great enthusiasm prevailed and everything passed off cordially. The following gentlemen were elected officers for the ensuring year: E.G. Leslie, President; C. Von Der Ahe, Vice President; A. Solari, Treasurer; F.W. Brockman, Secretary; J.G. Solari, Corresponding Secretary; J.B. Woestman and B. Loeblein, with the officers, constitute the Board of Directors. W. Scott Parr was selected as Manager. The Treasurer's report was read, and showed the financial standing of the club to be first class, there being a comfortable balance stowed away. During the season of '76 the Grands stood at the head of the best of amateur clubs, playing twenty-three games, of which they won twenty...Mr. Solari, after the meeting, entertained his guests in his usual hospitable manner. From present indications, the Grand Avenue team has a bright future before it.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 11, 1877

The Reds' Last Game

The St. Louis Reds play their last game of the season this afternoon at Compton Avenue Park with the Grand Avenue nine as opponents. Turn out in force and give the plucky Ponies a parting bumper.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 29, 1876

About 500 people witnessed the game of ball played yesterday afternoon at the Red Stocking Park, between the St. Louis Reds and Solari's Grand Avenue team. The weather was delightful for the sport. It was expected that a real good, close and exciting game would be played, because the Grand Avenue lads have been playing a rattling good game this season, but the result proved otherwise. The professionals had no trouble in running off with their amateur opponents, and when the end of the ninth inning arrived, it was discovered that the Ponies had 28 runs to the Grands' 3. Galvin's pitching was too much of a good thing for the amateurs to get in on, and only one base hit was made off him in the entire game, and that one proved to be a three bagger, which was got in after two men were out and two strikes called. McKenna was the boy who did the business. In the first inning, Whalen made a double play all by himself. Morgan had made a base hit, and stolen to second base, when Croft sent a daisy-cutter towards second, which first gave "Lewis" a knock on the head and bounded into Whalen's palms, and as Morgan had started for third a double play was the result. During the game a fly was sent to right center, and Simpson, the right fielder of the Grands got under it, but failed to hold the ball which bounded at least ten feet towards center field, and was caught while "on the wing" by Smith, and this catch "brought down the house." The Grands were without the services of Zim, their regular pitcher, who is off East, and had he been on hand, the Grands think the game would have turned out a little different, but as the Grands failed to do anything in the batting line, it is hard to see just how the game could have gone differently. The Reds were disappointed in the game, as they really thought they had a nine who would make them work hard to get away with. The Reds did some tall batting, and got in on all the three pitchers the Grands put against them.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 30, 1876

This, to the best of my knowledge, is the last game played by the 1873-1876 incarnation of the Red Stockings.

An Amateur League Doubleheader

The Amateur League of St. Louis intends experimenting this afternoon, their season having opened to-day. Two games are to be played for the State championship, at Grand Avenue Park in the afternoon. The Grand Avenues and Haymakers open the ball at 2 o'clock, and when they get through the Atlantics and Flyaways are to tackle each other. One admission ticket entitles the purchaser to view both games. The only question to be decided is whether there is sufficient time to play two games on the same ground in one afternoon. If it will work the system will be continued throughout the season.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 1, 1877


This is actually rather interesting because, according to Peter Morris, doubleheaders were not particularly common during this era:

More than one game was sometimes played on a day in the early days of baseball, but this practice had largely ended before the advent of professional baseball. There were two good reasons for this. First, owners saw no reason to give away twice as much of their product for the regular price. Second, the absence of lights meant that play would have to begin very early to be certain of completing two games.

The Resolutes and Boston did play a planned doubleheader on July 4, 1873, with separate admissions being charged...Twinbills were occasionally staged in the ensuing years, usually out of necessity when a canceled game had to be rescheduled.

Morris goes on to describe how the doubleheader became more common in the late 1880's and the single admission doubleheader gained popularity around the turn of the century.

But what we have here is an experiment with regularly scheduled, single admission doubleheaders in St. Louis in 1877, twenty odd years before such a thing became an accepted practice. It's unknown at this time if the experiment succeeded and the Amateur League continued with the practice but I'm going to keep an eye out for anymore doubleheaders in 1877 and see what I find.

Bill Gleason, the Grand Avenue Club, and Player Compensation

William Gleason, the short-stop, is a native of (St. Louis), 27 years old, and was formerly connected with the Fire Department, where he was considered second to none in point of bravery and dash. In 1872 he left the department to join the Peoria Club, having been previously a member of the Co-operative Grand Avenue Club, in which he had earned a good reputation. Gleason is one of the luckiest batters of the season, having been fortunate in hitting the ball on several occasions just where it counted.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 8, 1885


This is an interesting reference to the Grand Avenue Club. The best evidence I have is that the club was founded in 1876 and Tobias, writing in 1895, stated that the club was founded in 1875. The possibility exists that this is a different club than August Solari's Grand Avenue Club but most likely the Globe just got the date wrong.

If this source is correct, and I have serious reservations about that, then this is rather significant. While I assume that players in St. Louis were being compensated to one degree or another by the late 1860's, there is no source that explicitly states this. If accurate, this would be the first source to identify a club that was compensating its players prior to 1875.

Checking The National Game, Al Spink wrote that Gleason started playing baseball with the Stocks in the 1870's, played with the Reds, and then in 1881 was playing with the independent Brown Stockings. No mention of Peoria or the Grand Avenues.

This source, naming the Grand Avenues as a co-op club in 1872, conflicts with too many other sources to be taken seriously at this time.

Old Joe Blong

Old Joe Blong, at one time one of the best known pitchers in the profession, is now a store-keeper in the employ of the Government. He is stationed in St. Louis.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 18, 1886

The Globe also has references to Blong still playing baseball in St. Louis in 1883 with the St. Louis Amateur Club and the Grand Avenues.

Mr. Von Der Ahe Has Always Taken A Deep Interest In Base Ball

No base ball man in the country is better known than Chris Von der Ahe, the principal owner and manager of the St. Louis Club. Mr. Von der Ahe has always taken a deep interest in sports, and especially in base ball. He first went into the game in 1877, when, with the assistance of J.W. Beckington, he organized the St. Louis Sportsman's Association. He leased the grounds now known as Sportsman's Park in 1876, and spent some $6,500 to have the grand stand and other fixtures erected. Then he got together a club of young local amateurs and called it the Grand Avenue Base Ball Club. They played on the co-operative plan, and all the money taken in at the gate was divided among the players.

-The St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 8, 1885


This bit, the third source I've found that notes Von der Ahe's involvement in baseball prior to 1881, comes from a fantastic article in the Globe about the champion Browns. It covers the reception that the team received when it returned to St. Louis, has a brief history of the club, as well as brief profiles of all the players. Good stuff. I'll definitely be posting more from this article.

The main point, however, is here is another source that has Von der Ahe involved with the Grand Avenue Club in the mid-1870's, several years before Ned Cuthbert walked into Von der Ahe's bar and had to explain to the thick German what the heck all the ruckus across the street was all about and why all his customers kept leaving the bar at a certain time of the day only to return a couple of hours later. We can now say, without a doubt, that the idea that Von der Ahe knew nothing about baseball prior to becoming involved with the Browns is nothing more than myth. The entire Cuthbert story is a myth with no basis in fact.

A Friend In Need

J.B. Woestman, Councilman from the Eleventh Ward, is also accused of bribery. He gave bond for $2,000, with Chris. Vonder Ahe as security.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 1, 1876


Woestman, besides being a crooked politician, was also the president of the Grand Avenue Base Ball Club. Von der Ahe, of course, served on the board of directors of the club.

Woestman was one of several St. Louis alderman to be caught up in a bribery scheme in 1876.

The Organization of the Grand Avenue Club

A large number of gentlemen living on Grand avenue and vicinity, and interested in the National game, assembled at Mr. Solari's residence on Grand avenue, last evening, for the purpose of organizing an amateur club. The meeting was called to order by Mr. W.S. Parr. J.B. Woestman was elected Chairman and F.W. Brockmann Secretary.

On motion of some one present, it was resolved that the club should be known as the Grand Avenue Base Ball Club. On motion, the election of officers was entered into, and resulted as follows: President, J.B. Woestman; Vice-President, John Dunn; Secretary, F.W. Brockmann; Corresponding Secretary, L.C. Waite; Treasurer, August Solari. It was resolved that the officers above named be ordered to act as directors, with two others, which, after a ballot was taken, resulted in favor of W.S. Parr and C. Vonder Ahe.

The election of field captain and the adoption of by-laws and constitution was postponed until next Wednesday evening. The officers state that none but the best amateur players would be engaged, and that honesty would outweigh skill. among the players likely to be secured the following good ones have agreed to play: Harry Little, Bob Walsh, Bowles, McDonald, Whalen, Sullivan, Joe Solari, Parr, Welch and Dunn, with such big guns as Bradley, Miller, Pearce and Cuthbert as substitutes.

The Empires, Stocks, Atlantics and other St. Louis amateur clubs had better be up and doing, as the Grands mean business.

The club will be supported by voluntary contributions and gate receipts. The Grand Avenue Park will be secured for match games and practice. It is the intention of the officers to select their team at once and put them to work, in order to be in good playing trim as soon as possible. From the strong backing and the efficiency of the officers elected, the club ought to make a good record during this coming season. Over twenty-five gentlemen joined the club last evening, and it is expected that the number will be increased to over a hundred within a week.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 2, 1876


This is a second source confirming Chris Von der Ahe's involvement in baseball prior to 1881. While E.H. Tobias puts the organization of the Grand Avenue Club in 1875, he names the same officers, board of directors, and players.

Grand Avenue Vs. Peerless

According to announcement, the (Grand Avenue and Peerless) clubs met at Grand Avenue Park yesterday morning to see "which was which," and Grand Avenue came out first best; and, of course, are exceedingly happy, although they only won the game by a close rub, but that does not make any difference to them, as they wanted revenge on the boys from "Kerry Patch," because they had to lower their flag to those very same lads, it being the only defeat they ever received. The Grands batted terribly, but did some of the tallest muffing ever seen on a ball field. It is thought that the Grand Avenue nine could not do as much muffing again if they tried their level best. Seven base hits in the first inning and six runs, five earned, was what the Grands accomplished, and then they muffed outrageously, and ought to be ashamed of themselves. The Peerless lads played a much better fielding game than the Grands, but they were not as strong in wielding the willow. They did not earn a single run in the game, but they played a splendid up-hill contest. C. Sullivan did the pitching for the Peerless after the first inning, but the avenue boys had no trouble in pasting him all over the field. During the game, little Joe Solari got a terrible bad hit in the left eye from a foul tip, and he had to retire, Dolan going behind the bat, and McDonald taking his place at third. Before Joe got his eye put in mourning he caught well, and had only one error charged to him, it being a wild throw. Bauer at left field took everything that came to him, tow or three of his catches being very brilliant ones. Koring, the left-fielder of the Peerless, made two splendid catches after long runs.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 25, 1875