Chris Von Der Ahe is doing a great deal of mischief if he pays, as alleged, all the fines imposed by umpires on the kicking members of his team. This action nullifies the rules entirely.
-New York Clipper, June 18, 1887
You always hear the stories about how Von der Ahe would loss his temper and fine one of his players (and I'm looking at you, Arlie Latham) after a poor play or tough defeat. And, yes, Latham was absolutely one of the responsible parties in the spread of these stories that helped to form the historical image of Von der Ahe. And, yes, Von der Ahe did have a temper and would impose a silly fine for something like dropping a fly ball in a close loss. But what you don't hear about is how, after he calmed down or after Comiskey talked to him, Von der Ahe would often rescind the fine. You also never hear about how Von der Ahe would pay the fines that league imposed upon his players.
Von der Ahe was a complicated man with many different sides to him. Like I mentioned, he had a temper. He could be difficult to work with. But he was also extremely generous and kind-hearted. He was a flawed man but, I believe, a good man. He was like a lot of us, who struggle to hear the better angels of our nature.
Von der Ahe was a complicated man with many different sides to him. Like I mentioned, he had a temper. He could be difficult to work with. But he was also extremely generous and kind-hearted. He was a flawed man but, I believe, a good man. He was like a lot of us, who struggle to hear the better angels of our nature.
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