ALGER, Ohio (WLIO) - Gov. Mike DeWine stopped in Alger Thursday to celebrate the grand opening of Ray Brown Memorial Park.
Negro Leagues star Ray Brown was born in Alger in 1908 and went on to become one of the top pitchers of his era, spending 14 seasons with the Homestead Grays. Brown was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006 and holds the second-highest career winning percentage in professional baseball history.
Despite his accomplishments, many in his hometown were unfamiliar with his story until recently. That changed after Ohio Northern University history professor and Hardin County Historical Museum board member David Strittmatter launched a project over four years ago to bring recognition to brown's legacy.
The effort included students drafting a nomination for the Ohio Historical Marker that was unveiled on Thursday.
"So many people that I've talked to in the course of this project had no idea that Ray Brown was born and raised in Alger, and we're just fortunate that this is happening now," said Srittmatter.
"If you think that you got a Hall of Famer who came from here, came from this small community and dealt with the segregation that existed, it's fitting that we recognize that, and I just wanted to be here as governor to pay tribute to him, and frankly to the community for doing this," DeWine said.
The new park features a memorial, murals, two large archways, a new outfield fence, updated dugouts and a renovated concession stand.
