The Mexico ‘Brick City’ Horseshoe Pitching League hosted their fifth annual Veterans Benefit Tournament Saturday. 

Horseshoe pitching is a sport as old as time with roots dating back to the Grecian olympic games, specifically the discus throw. According to the National Horseshoe Pitching Association (NHPA) those who could not afford a discus began throwing discarded horseshoes at a stake.

The very first horseshoe tournament that was open to the world occurred in 1910 in Bronson, Kansas. Here in Mexico, Missouri however, horseshoe tournaments have much more humble beginnings. 

Army Veteran Charlie Maupin used to work for Parks and Recreation in Mexico. He noticed there were old horseshoe pits already at Fairgrounds Park and proposed the idea of renovating them to park director at the time, Chad Shoemaker. 

“At the time there were just a couple stakes in the ground; not much there.” says Maupin.

After renovations were completed, Maupin’s theory that people would come was correct. Tournaments would bring in 40-50 people of all ages, but mostly young adults.

“We thought, boy, we’ve got it made.” remembers Maupin. 

In 2005, as the sport grew in Mexico, he began looking into the Missouri Horseshoe Pitching Association (MOHPA). The association would allow for sanctioned tournaments meaning pitchers would be able to have their records kept nationally and internationally. 

“We decided as a club to get those pits sanctioned.” says Maupin.

After their pits became sanctioned, Ralph Throckmorton stepped in as president of the Missouri ‘Brick City’ Pitching Association while Maupin became treasurer.

The pitching club wanted to give back to the community and also invite anyone who wanted to come out and participate, the opportunity to do so. As a result, unsanctioned tournaments such as this one were created. Money raised at these tournaments comes from donations, registration fees and a silent auction featuring many items donated by local businesses.

“We decided that if we were going to benefit anybody, it would probably be best that we benefit our veterans.” says Maupin. 

The Mexico ‘Brick City’ Pitching Club offered hotdogs, hamburgers and chips to hungry pitchers and veterans while under the pavilion where a silent auction was held featuring items donated from many local businesses. 

This year was one of the biggest turn outs since the coronavirus pandemic with a whopping 31 pitchers competing. All together, between the auction, entry fees and 50/50 drawing, the ‘Brick City’ pitching league was able to donate $2,200 to the Veterans Home. 

“This would not have been possible without the generosity of many Mexico area donors.” says Maupin.