John Ake
Encyclopedia
John Leckie Ake was an American
Major League Baseball
player who played mainly as a third baseman
for the 1884 Baltimore Orioles
of the American Association
(AA). Before and after his Major league career, he played for many professional minor league baseball
teams from 1881 until his death in 1887. Described as a good and popular player, he died when the boat he was travelling in capsized, and not knowing how to swim, he drowned.
, having played for a local non-professional team the year before. He played for this professional club through the 1883 season, before signing a "Major League" contract with the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association.
In the short time he was with the Orioles, he played in 13 games, playing mostly at third base, but also played three games in the outfield
, and one game at shortstop
. He batted
.192 in 52 at bat
s, collected ten hits
, one triple
, and scored one run
.
When Baltimore released him mid-season, he finished the year playing for a team in Fort Smith, Ohio. The following season, he played for a team in Youngstown, Ohio
, followed by a team Meriden, Connecticut
for the 1886 season. Later in 1886, he transferred to the Boston Blues when they bought out the Meriden team. After the season, he signed with a St. Louis, Missouri
team, which was later moved to Indianapolis
. He secured his release from the club shortly thereafter so he could sign with the Duluth, Minnesota
club.
near La Crosse, Wisconsin
with teammates Bill Barnes
and Billy Earle
, when it was capsized by a passing by steamboat
. Barnes and Earle quickly swam to shore, but Ake, who did not know how to swim, hoisted himself on the overturned boat. Barnes and Earle looked on as Ake decided to jump from the boat and attempt to swim ashore, but after a couple strokes, shouted for help and went under, drowning. Barnes later recalled the way Earle looked at Ake the entire time. Earle, sometimes described as a "wierdo", "creepy", and as having an "evil eye
", had an expression that Barnes never forgot. His body was never recovered from the river.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player who played mainly as a third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
for the 1884 Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
of the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
(AA). Before and after his Major league career, he played for many professional minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
teams from 1881 until his death in 1887. Described as a good and popular player, he died when the boat he was travelling in capsized, and not knowing how to swim, he drowned.
Career
He began his professional baseball career in 1882 when he joined a club located in his hometown of Altoona, PennsylvaniaAltoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
, having played for a local non-professional team the year before. He played for this professional club through the 1883 season, before signing a "Major League" contract with the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association.
In the short time he was with the Orioles, he played in 13 games, playing mostly at third base, but also played three games in the outfield
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, and one game at shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
. He batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.192 in 52 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s, collected ten hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, one triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and scored one run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
.
When Baltimore released him mid-season, he finished the year playing for a team in Fort Smith, Ohio. The following season, he played for a team in Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, followed by a team Meriden, Connecticut
Meriden, Connecticut
Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.-History:...
for the 1886 season. Later in 1886, he transferred to the Boston Blues when they bought out the Meriden team. After the season, he signed with a St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
team, which was later moved to Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. He secured his release from the club shortly thereafter so he could sign with the Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
club.
Death
He playing for the Duluth club when he was riding in a boat on the Mississippi RiverMississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
near La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
with teammates Bill Barnes
Bill Barnes
William H. Barnes was a baseball player, playing as a center fielder in the 19th century. He played for the St. Paul Saints of the Union Association, a replacement team which began play near the end of the 1884 season. He was a native of Indianapolis, Indiana.In 8 games as the Saints' starting...
and Billy Earle
Billy Earle
William Moffat "Billy" Earle , nicknamed "The Little Globetrotter", was an American Major League Baseball player who mainly played as a catcher for five teams from 1889 to 1894....
, when it was capsized by a passing by steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
. Barnes and Earle quickly swam to shore, but Ake, who did not know how to swim, hoisted himself on the overturned boat. Barnes and Earle looked on as Ake decided to jump from the boat and attempt to swim ashore, but after a couple strokes, shouted for help and went under, drowning. Barnes later recalled the way Earle looked at Ake the entire time. Earle, sometimes described as a "wierdo", "creepy", and as having an "evil eye
Evil eye
The evil eye is a look that is believed by many cultures to be able to cause injury or bad luck for the person at whom it is directed for reasons of envy or dislike...
", had an expression that Barnes never forgot. His body was never recovered from the river.