Birthplace of Cy Young listed for sale in southern Tuscarawas County

A piece of major league baseball history is now for sale along a country road in southern Tuscarawas County.

An original log cabin built in 1835, the birthplace of baseball legend Denton True “Cy” Young, is part of the property. The cabin has since been expanded into a larger residence and retreat that includes a pond, scenic views, a ceramic art studio and a lodge on about 36 acres.

The property is owned by Tom Radca, a nationally known ceramic artist who has lived there for about 50 years.

When Radca and his late wife, Terry, told people where they lived, they would hear “Oh, you mean Cy’s place” or “Do you know that you’re living in the birthplace of Cy Young?”

“I did a chain of command title search, and this is the birthplace of Cy Young,” Radca said. “A lot of people knew that this was Cy Young's birthplace, it was just common knowledge. He’s buried in the cemetery two and a half miles down the road in the town of Peoli."

In Radca’s quest to sell the property to someone who loves baseball or might keep it open to the public, he wrote to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. They did call.

“I said don't you think it would be cool to pass out the Cy Young Award at the birthplace of Cy Young,” Radca said. “There was this pause on the other end of the phone, and he goes, if you give it to us. Donate that log cabin to Cooperstown."

It is something Radca wishes he could do, but only a big lottery win would make it happen.

The Radca family enjoyed living in the home on Grove Road in Perry Township.

"That first winter that we were out here, we didn't see the ground for seven weeks because of the snow. It was just beautiful out here. And we got toboggans and sleds and cross country skis, and it was just a wonderful family time,” Radca said. “It's a paradise out here any time of year."

The property is a state registered tree farm. It’s been a joy watching the trees grow and Radca is pleased with the fact he can now walk into a forest.

“When we first moved here, we joined the tree farm program,” Radca said. “We planted 18,000 trees here. The first six years we were here, we planted 3,000 trees a year, red oak, white oak, tulip poplar and ash.”

Earlier, Radca developed a passion for the ceramic arts to the point that he made it a career. After high school, he wasn’t sure of what he wanted to do so he joined the Air Force and served for four years. He was serving in Kansas when he was introduced to ceramics.

"I went to a potter's house to buy a wedding gift for a friend, and I saw him making a pot while I was in his studio, and I said, ‘Boy, that looks interesting. I think I would like to do that,’” Radca said.

He then went back to the McConnell Air Force Base hobby shop.

“I tried to make a pot on a potter's wheel without instruction, and that didn't work. That was a disaster, but I was still interested in it,” Radca said.

He kept working on developing his skills and eventually moved back to Columbus to a home near The Ohio State University.

“I was potting part-time in my basement and making cups and mugs and bowls and dinnerware and teapots and pitchers and you name it. If you used it in the kitchen, I made it,” Radca said.

After a while, Radca found himself bored with the smaller pieces.

“I thought I don't think I want to be a potter anymore. I want to make big things in clay, big vessels and big plates,” Radca said.

He found highly skilled mentors that saw his potential. They taught him the techniques he needed to know.

"I'm very fortunate indeed to have this much passion for my work to be doing it for 50 years and still look forward to waking up in the morning, getting my cup of coffee and heading to the studio,” Radca said.

The lodge is something Radca takes pride in. He determined it wouldn’t have a television. He likes finding comments left in the log including “we thought we would miss the TV, but we ended up having good family conversations” and “the absence of TV facilitated lots of bonding." The lodge is listed on Airbnb and Vrbo.

With the passage of time, plans change.

“(About a year ago) I hit a deer and totaled my car, messed up my back. I'm a little wobbly now,” Radca said. “At the age of 75, I don't need 7,000 square feet of studio space anymore."

Radca plans to move to Delaware County, continue his work and spend more time with his daughter and grandson.

The property will always hold a special place in his heart.

“Believe me, I wish I didn’t have to go,” Radca said. “I love this place. I'm really hoping that the next person that is the proprietor of this farm will have as much love for it as my family and I have.”