JULY 19TH AUCTION
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/20/2013
Chris Von der Ahe emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1867, and settled in St. Louis, Missouri. Starting out as a clerk in a grocery store, he succeeded quickly in buying the grocery store and establishing a saloon in the back. Although Von der Ahe had no special interest in sports, he did notice that fans liked to drop by after a ball game and have a beer. This gave the entrepreneurial Von der Ahe a ride through early American baseball, and Von der Ahe sponsored an American Association baseball team called the St. Louis Browns, the head of a lineage that includes the present-day St. Louis Cardinals. The American Association only lasted for 10 years, but through this period Von der Ahe's Browns captured the pennant four years in a row. In fact, Von der Ahe has his own Old Judge baseball card, part of the Goodwin’s Champions series. Von der Ahe was a personality type owner in the mold of Bill Veeck and Charles Finley, so it is no surprise he created a medal with his name on it. The front face of this gold medal features “VON DER AHE MEDAL” in black enameled lettering, accompanied by elaborate hand filigree work and engraving of a baseball scene at Sportsman's Park of the 1880's. Of particular note is the fact that the cross-legged stool shown in the engraving matches those in an 1884 photograph of the Browns from the collection of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame. The reverse is engraved with the name “John Harding” and the stamped hallmark for the Mermod & Jaccard Jewelry Company, considered the “Tiffany of the Midwest” during the late 19th and early 20th century. This company designed the medals for the 1904 Olympics. This is a tremendous piece which dates back to the earliest day of the current St. Louis Cardinals franchise.