Cairo in Allen County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

More Than a Game

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, August 9, 2023

1. More Than a Game Marker

Inscription. Memorial Park hosted the famous Kansas City Monarchs during a barnstorming tour on August 4, 1961. The home team was the Lima Metro League’s Cairo Merchants. Legendary pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige (1906-1982) appeared on the mound for the Monarchs. The first African American to pitch a World Series, Paige was famous for helping the Cleveland Indians win their 1948 championship. After the Cairo exhibition game, he thrilled fans by signing autographs. Although the score of the 1961 game is forgotten, the impact of meeting Paige and other Kansas City players is remembered. During an era of racial tension and national change, a baseball game between an all-Black and all-White team taught many in attendance that they had much in common, including a love of the game.

Erected 2022 by Village of Cairo, Ohio History Connection. (Marker Number 8-2.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Entertainment • Sports. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 4, 1961.

Location. 40° 49.921′ N, 84° 4.98′ W. Marker is in Cairo, Ohio, in Allen County. It is at the intersection of Lincoln

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Highway (U.S. 30) and George Street, on the right when traveling west on Lincoln Highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 202 West Main Street, Cairo OH 45820, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Till Plains.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Founders and Patriots of Allen County, Ohio (approx. 2.7 miles away); The Henry Boose Site (approx. 3.1 miles away); Allen County’s First Settlement (approx. 3.2 miles away); a different marker also named Allen County's First Settlement (approx. 3.2 miles away); Pike Run Cemetery (approx. 4.4 miles away); Lima (approx. 4.6 miles away); Snow Cruiser Crash Site (approx. 4.9 miles away); PFC. Larry E VanMeter (approx. 5 miles away).

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, August 9, 2023

2. More Than a Game Marker

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, August 9, 2023

3. More Than a Game Marker

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, August 9, 2023

4. More Than a Game Marker

the ballfield at Memorial Park

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, August 9, 2023

5. More Than a Game Marker

the park sign, next to the marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2023, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 616 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 9, 2023, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.