The Summer of Beer and Whiskey Tells The Alcoholic Story Of America’s Pastime

Christian Friedrich (or Frederick) Wilhelm von der Ahe was a German-American entrepreneur. Unless you’re from St. Louis, or a huge baseball buff, you’ve probably never heard of him. He was one of the guys responsible for the American Association and the owner of the St. Louis Brown Stockings, the team that later became the Cardinals. Here’s the thing about him–he founded the franchise to sell more beer. In The Summer of Beer and Whiskey: How Brewers, Barkeeps, Rowdies, Immigrants, and a Wild Pennant Fight Made Baseball America’s Game, Pulitzer Price finalist Edward Achorn recreates the entire resurrection story that made baseball America’s pastime.