With Al Spink, Von der Ahe formed the St. Louis Browns club for the 1881 American Association season. Under Manager Comiskey, the Browns won four straight league titles from 1885 to 1888. Von der Ahe was also a shrewd promoter who arranged a series with the National League Champion Chicago White Stockings following the 1885 season. This was the second official World Series.

Von der Ahe´s interference with the team on the field was common place. After replacing Comiskey as manager, he used a series of rotating player-managers while running the club himself behind the scenes. Under his continued leadership, St. Louis did not do well in the 1890s, due mostly to the poor management by Von der Ahe. The club was sold after the 1898 season to G. Gruner, who then sold it to Frank and Stanley Robison.

After his baseball days were over, Von der Ahe eventually wound up running a small saloon in St. Louis. He passed away in 1913 at the age of 61. He is buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery.