John Ake

John Ake kicked-off his professional baseball career in 1882 playing for a club in his hometown of Altoona, Pennsylvania, after which he signed a major league contract with the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association.

With the Orioles, Ake played in 13 games, batting .192 in 52 at bats with ten hits, a single triple and a single run.

In 1886, Ake moved to the Boston Blues and later signed with a St. Louis, Missouri team and again with the Duluth, Minnesota club.

Ake suffered a tragic death when he was riding a boat on the Mississippi River. The boat was capsized by a steamboat and Ake, who didn’t know how to swim, screamed for help but ultimately drowned and his body was never found.