Rudy Kemmler played with the Browns in 1886
Arrangements have been concluded by which the Akron, Ohio, base ball club will play the St. Louis Brown Stockings a series of games on the 27th, 28th, and 29th of this month.
-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 19, 1881
So the 1881 season was all about the best clubs from large cities without League representation going on the road and playing each other, as the baseball economy recovered to the point that these road trips were profitable. I would and have argued that this led directly to the formation of the American Association. Clubs from St. Louis, Cincinnati, Louisville, and Philadelphia were all playing games against each other in 1881 and, along with Pittsburgh and Baltimore, these cities would all be part of the inaugural AA season in 1882.
And there were also games played against Akron. I have all three box scores from the games the Akrons played in St. Louis in 1881 and I will, of course, be sharing those with you. This Akron club actually had a lot of good ballplayers on it, including Bid McPhee, Tony Mullane, Rudy Kemmler, and Ed Swartword. If you want to learn more about this club and the history of baseball in Akron during this period, I'd recommend you take a look at the piece Alvin Peterjohn wrote on the subject.
And there were also games played against Akron. I have all three box scores from the games the Akrons played in St. Louis in 1881 and I will, of course, be sharing those with you. This Akron club actually had a lot of good ballplayers on it, including Bid McPhee, Tony Mullane, Rudy Kemmler, and Ed Swartword. If you want to learn more about this club and the history of baseball in Akron during this period, I'd recommend you take a look at the piece Alvin Peterjohn wrote on the subject.
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