Chris von der Ahe

Biography

Chris von der Ahe (1851–1913) was a German-American entrepreneur and sports pioneer who owned the St. Louis Brown Stockings, a Major League Baseball team that became the foundation of the St. Louis Cardinals franchise. His ownership and promotional innovations helped establish professional baseball as a major American sport.

Von der Ahe was known for his business acumen and his commitment to making baseball accessible and entertaining to the public. Though his tenure was marked by both successes and controversies, his contributions to the development of professional baseball and the St. Louis sports legacy remain significant.