Jerry Akers
Encyclopedia
Albert Earl "Jerry" Akers (November 1, 1887 – May 15, 1979) was a professional baseball
player whose career spanned seven season, including a part of one in Major League Baseball
with the Washington Senators
(1912). Akers was a pitcher
. During his time in the majors, Akers compiled a record of 1–1 with a 4.87 earned run average
(ERA) and 11 strikeout
s in five games, one start
. Akers also played in the minor leagues
with the Class-D Jacksonville Jacks/Lunatics/Braves (1906–1907, 1909), the Class-D Kearney Kapitalists
(1910), the Class-B Dubuque Dubs (1910), the Class-D Canton Highlanders (1912), the Double-A Montreal Royals
(1912), the Double-A Rochester Hustlers (1912) and the Class-B Peoria Distillers
(1914). Although statistics for Akers in the minor leagues are incomplete, what is recorded is a record of 70–73 in 166 games. Akers batted and threw right-handed.
in 1906 with the Class-D Jacksonville Jacks, who represented Jacksonville, Illinois
. The Jacks were a member of the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League
that season. That season, Akers compiled a record of 10–9 in 20 games, 19 starts
. In 1907, the Jacksonville team changed their name to the "Lunatics" and joined the Iowa League of Professional Baseball Clubs. With Jacksonville that season, Akers went 15–15 in an unknown amount of games. After an absence from the professional circuit in 1908, Akers re-joined the Jacksonville club, now renamed the "Braves". Jacksonville also switched leagues again, joining the Central Association
. In 31 games that season, Akers went 10–12.
During the 1910 season, Akers played for two teams. First, with the Class-D Kearney Kapitalists
of the Nebraska State League
. His pitching statistics were not kept during his time with the Kearney team. The second team Akers played for in 1910 was the Class-B Dubuque Dubs of the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League
. With the Dubuque club, Akers went 5–4 in 10 games. In 1911, Akers continued playing for Dubuque, who were re-named the "Hustlers". In 39 games, Akers went 19–12. His 19 wins
tied him for seventh overall in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League.
In the 1911 Rule 5 draft
, Akers was selected by the Washington Senators
. Akers started the season at the Class-D level with the Canton Highlanders, who represented Canton, Illinois
. During his stint with the Highlanders, Akers went 5–4 in 15 games. Akers was then called-up to the Senators and Akers made his debut in Major League Baseball
on May 4, 1912. With the Senators that season, Akers went 1–1 with a 4.87 earned run average
and 11 strikeout
s in five games, one start. He last appearance in the majors was on May 25, 1912. Also on that day, Akers was traded to the Double-A Montreal Royals
along with pitcher Charlie Becker
and outfielder
Bill Cunningham in exchange for first baseman
Chick Gandil
.
Akers went on to pitch for the Double-A Montreal Royals and the Double-A Rochester Hustlers in 1912. Combined between both International League
(IL) teams, he went 6–17 in 20 games. Along pitchers Ed Lafitte
and Marty McHale
, Akers was third in the IL in losses. Akers did not pitch in professional baseball in 1913, but did return for the 1914 season, his last in his professional playing career. He joined the Class-D Peoria Distillers
that season, who represented Peoria, Illinois
. Akers pitched 21 games that season.
. After his retirement from professional baseball
, Akers resided in Town 'n' Country, Florida
, a suburb of Tampa
. He was married to Hazel Schuneman from November 12, 1931 until her death on March 29, 1958. Akers died on May 15, 1979 in Bay Pines, Florida
. He was buried at Garden Of Memories Cemetery in Tampa.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player whose career spanned seven season, including a part of one in 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...
with the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1912). Akers was a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. During his time in the majors, Akers compiled a record of 1–1 with a 4.87 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(ERA) and 11 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in five games, one start
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
. Akers also played in the minor leagues
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...
with the Class-D Jacksonville Jacks/Lunatics/Braves (1906–1907, 1909), the Class-D Kearney Kapitalists
Kearney Kapitalists
The Kearney Kapitalists were a Nebraska State League team based in Kearney, Nebraska, USA that played from 1910 to 1914. Major league baseball players that played for them include Jerry Akers, Win Noyes, Harry Berte, Rolla Mapel, Joe Lotz, Gus Bono and Dutch Wetzel. They were managed by Berte from...
(1910), the Class-B Dubuque Dubs (1910), the Class-D Canton Highlanders (1912), the Double-A Montreal Royals
Montreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897–1917 and from 1928–60 as a member of the International League and its progenitor, the original Eastern League...
(1912), the Double-A Rochester Hustlers (1912) and the Class-B Peoria Distillers
Peoria Distillers
The Peoria Distillers were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off from 1894 to 1917. They played in the Western Association from 1894 to 1896; the Central League in 1900, 1904 and 1917; the Western League from 1902 to 1903; and the Three-I League from 1905 to 1917.-League...
(1914). Although statistics for Akers in the minor leagues are incomplete, what is recorded is a record of 70–73 in 166 games. Akers batted and threw right-handed.
Professional career
Akers started his professional baseballProfessional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
in 1906 with the Class-D Jacksonville Jacks, who represented Jacksonville, Illinois
Jacksonville, Illinois
Jacksonville is a city in Morgan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,940 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morgan County....
. The Jacks were a member of the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League
Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League
The Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League was a Class D minor league baseball circuit that went through six different lives. The first KITTY League played from 1903 through 1906. The next one ran from 1910 through 1914. The third try played a single season . The circuit was revived in 1922 and lasted...
that season. That season, Akers compiled a record of 10–9 in 20 games, 19 starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
. In 1907, the Jacksonville team changed their name to the "Lunatics" and joined the Iowa League of Professional Baseball Clubs. With Jacksonville that season, Akers went 15–15 in an unknown amount of games. After an absence from the professional circuit in 1908, Akers re-joined the Jacksonville club, now renamed the "Braves". Jacksonville also switched leagues again, joining the Central Association
Central Association
The Central Association was an American minor league baseball league. It began operations in 1908, and ran continuously through 1917.-1908:The teams from Burlington, Iowa, Jacksonville, Illinois, Keokuk, Iowa, Oskaloosa, Iowa, Ottumwa, Iowa, Quincy, Illinois, and Waterloo, Iowa joined after having...
. In 31 games that season, Akers went 10–12.
During the 1910 season, Akers played for two teams. First, with the Class-D Kearney Kapitalists
Kearney Kapitalists
The Kearney Kapitalists were a Nebraska State League team based in Kearney, Nebraska, USA that played from 1910 to 1914. Major league baseball players that played for them include Jerry Akers, Win Noyes, Harry Berte, Rolla Mapel, Joe Lotz, Gus Bono and Dutch Wetzel. They were managed by Berte from...
of the Nebraska State League
Nebraska State League
The Nebraska State League was an American professional baseball league with five incarnations. At least, the name was adopted five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959....
. His pitching statistics were not kept during his time with the Kearney team. The second team Akers played for in 1910 was the Class-B Dubuque Dubs of the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League
Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League
The Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League was a minor league baseball organization that operated for the better part of 60 years, mostly in those three states. It was popularly known as the Three-I League and also sometimes jokingly as the Three-Eye League....
. With the Dubuque club, Akers went 5–4 in 10 games. In 1911, Akers continued playing for Dubuque, who were re-named the "Hustlers". In 39 games, Akers went 19–12. His 19 wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
tied him for seventh overall in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League.
In the 1911 Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
, Akers was selected by the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. Akers started the season at the Class-D level with the Canton Highlanders, who represented Canton, Illinois
Canton, Illinois
Canton is the largest city in Fulton County, Illinois in the United States. The population was 18,288 as of the 2000 Census. The Canton Micropolitan Statistical Area covers all of Fulton County; it is in turn part of the wider Peoria-Canton, IL Combined Statistical Area .-Geography:Canton is...
. During his stint with the Highlanders, Akers went 5–4 in 15 games. Akers was then called-up to the Senators and Akers made his debut in 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...
on May 4, 1912. With the Senators that season, Akers went 1–1 with a 4.87 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and 11 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in five games, one start. He last appearance in the majors was on May 25, 1912. Also on that day, Akers was traded to the Double-A Montreal Royals
Montreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897–1917 and from 1928–60 as a member of the International League and its progenitor, the original Eastern League...
along with pitcher Charlie Becker
Charlie Becker
Karl "Charlie" Becker was a German-American actor. He was 3'9" in height, and is probably best known for appearing as the Mayor of Munchkinland in The Wizard of Oz ....
and outfielder
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...
Bill Cunningham in exchange for first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Chick Gandil
Chick Gandil
Charles Arnold "Chick" Gandil was a professional baseball player. He played for the Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago White Sox of the American League. He is best known as the ringleader of the players involved in the 1919 Black Sox scandal...
.
Akers went on to pitch for the Double-A Montreal Royals and the Double-A Rochester Hustlers in 1912. Combined between both International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
(IL) teams, he went 6–17 in 20 games. Along pitchers Ed Lafitte
Ed Lafitte
Edward Francis Lafitte was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Tip-Tops , and Buffalo Blues . Born in New Orleans, Louisiana at his family's home located at 319 Bourbon Street, he batted and threw right-handed.Lafitte pitched for the Georgia Tech...
and Marty McHale
Marty McHale
Martin Joseph McHale was an American professional baseball pitcher who played for six seasons for the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians in Major League Baseball-Biography:...
, Akers was third in the IL in losses. Akers did not pitch in professional baseball in 1913, but did return for the 1914 season, his last in his professional playing career. He joined the Class-D Peoria Distillers
Peoria Distillers
The Peoria Distillers were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off from 1894 to 1917. They played in the Western Association from 1894 to 1896; the Central League in 1900, 1904 and 1917; the Western League from 1902 to 1903; and the Three-I League from 1905 to 1917.-League...
that season, who represented Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
. Akers pitched 21 games that season.
Later life
Akers served in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. After his retirement from professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
, Akers resided in Town 'n' Country, Florida
Town 'n' Country, Florida
Town 'n' Country is a census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The population was 78,442 at the 2010 census.Within Town 'n' Country are located Bay Crest Park, Countryway, Rocky Creek, Sweetwater Creek.-History:...
, a suburb of Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
. He was married to Hazel Schuneman from November 12, 1931 until her death on March 29, 1958. Akers died on May 15, 1979 in Bay Pines, Florida
Bay Pines, Florida
Bay Pines is a census-designated place in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,065 at the 2000 census. The community is home to Bay Pines Veterans Hospital and Bay Pines National Cemetery.-Geography:...
. He was buried at Garden Of Memories Cemetery in Tampa.