Post by Fuck Mike Brown on Nov 16, 2007 21:01:19 GMT -5
Joe Nuxhall has passed away at the age of 79. As a former Reds player pitching at the age of fifteen and a Reds broadcaster for many years, Nuxhall touched the hearts of many people throughout his life. The comments and emotion all taken in today are a prime example of that. For me, I don't really know him personally. But, hearing all these great things about him, listening to him on the radio, and hearing about what he's done make his passing incredibly sad to me. Nuxhall passed away last night from. HE was battling cancer and was admitted to the hospital last week with pneumonia and trouble breathing. I found this out this afternoon after not being near a television all day. The amount of sadness that I felt was very surprising to me. It felt like a huge chunk of the Reds organization died last night. Even though Nuxhall and I never met or knew each other, Nuxhall seemed like a distant uncle who was my role model. The commitment he showed throughout his life, the battling he did, and all of the times he got ill but never once complained and even still did his job make him a man to be cherished. So when I got home and logged on to C. Trent's Reds blog, hoping to find a free agent signing, I saw the words Joes Funeral Arrangement. Instantly my heart dropped into my chest and stayed there for hours. I've never felt this way about someone not in my family or a close friend.
Joe Nuxhall, Reds legend, died last night at 10:55 p.m.
It is with great sadness that I write this. Nuxie was as a good as they come. Humble, caring and always a joy to be around. He'll be greatly missed. Prayers and thoughts to his family.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
The last time I talked to Nuxhall in any kind of depth was when word got out that his cancer was back. He was, of course, upbeat.
"I hope I can lick this," he said. "With all the publicity it's getting, maybe others who have it will be encouraged. Maybe people will feel they can beat it, too."
Nux didn't beat it. But others should still be encouraged by how he fought the brave fight, how he never let it get him down. When we had that conversation -- it was Sept. 27 -- Nuxie answered the questions about his the disease, and then quickly changed the subject back to baseball. We chatted a while. Before I left, I asked if he was going to do a book signing he had scheduled in a couple of days.
He said he was.
"I'm not going to sit around and feel sorry for myself," he said.
Of course, he wasn't. Nuxie was of those guys who knew what a great life he had, and he was very thankful for it. I'm thankful that I got to know the man.
frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/redsinsider/2007/11/nuxie-dies.asp#comments
First, I thought that we should read up on Nuxhall's life to be able to show him the proper respect that he deserves.
Joe Nuxhall
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• T
his article is about a person who has recently died.
Some information, such as the circumstances of the person's death and surrounding events, may change rapidly as more facts become known. In the event that this article is disruptively edited following the death of the subject, please request administrator intervention here.
Joe Nuxhall
Pitcher
Born: July 30, 1928(1928-07-30)
Died: November 15, 2007 (aged 79)
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
June 10, 1944
for the Cincinnati Reds
Final game
October 2, 1966
for the Cincinnati Reds
Career statistics
Win-Loss record 135-117
ERA 3.90
Strikeouts 1372
Teams
* Cincinnati Reds (1944, 1952-1960, 1962-1966)
* Kansas City Athletics (1961)
* Los Angeles Angels (1962)
Career highlights and awards
* All-Star (NL): 1955-56
* Led NL in Shutouts in 1955 with 5
Joseph Henry Nuxhall (July 30, 1928 – November 15, 2007) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He compiled a career ERA of 3.90 and a record of 135-117 during his 16-season career. Long known as "The Ol' Lefthander," Nuxhall is most often remembered for having been the youngest player ever to appear in a major league game during the modern era, pitching 2/3 of an inning for the Cincinnati Reds on June 10, 1944, at the age of 15 years, 10 months, and 11 days. After retiring as a player, he became a broadcaster for the Reds. Nuxhall died on November 15, 2007 after a long bout with cancer.
Contents
[hide]
* 1 Wartime roster
* 2 Teenage debut
* 3 Minor Leagues
* 4 Return to "The Show"
* 5 Second career
* 6 His book and character education fund
* 7 Medical incidents
* 8 References
* 9 See also
* 10 External links
[edit] Wartime roster
During World War II, many regular baseball players were unavailable while serving in the military. Meanwhile, Nuxhall was the biggest member of the ninth grade class in nearby Hamilton, Ohio at 6' 2" and 190 pounds -- a left-hander with a hard fastball, but not much control. He had already been playing in a semipro league with his father for a few years. Scouts looking to fill out the Reds' depleted roster were following Nuxhall's father in 1943, but were informed that the elder Nuxhall wasn't interested in signing a professional contract because of his five children. They became interested in the son, who was only 14 at the time. After waiting until the following year's basketball season was over, Nuxhall signed a major league contract with the Reds on February 18, 1944. General Manager Warren Giles intended to wait until school was over in June to add him to the team, but more of his players were inducted into the service in the spring. With permission from his high school principal, Nuxhall was in uniform with the team on Opening Day.
[edit] Teenage debut
On June 10, the Reds were playing the first place St. Louis Cardinals at Crosley Field and trailing 13-0 in the ninth inning when Manager Bill McKechnie called on Nuxhall to enter the game. He started well, retiring two of the first three batters he faced. But he was unable to get the third out of the inning, and ended up allowing five walks, two hits, one wild pitch and five runs before being relieved. He spent the rest of the 1944 season in the minor leagues. But unlike Jake Eisenhart, who also made his debut for the Reds on June 10 and got the last out, Nuxhall would return to pitch in the majors.
[edit] Minor Leagues
Following his appearance with the Reds, he was assigned to the Birmingham Barons in the Southern League, but pitched only a third of an inning there (he struck out his first batter, then allowed a hit, five walks, a hit batter and five runs). Nuxhall attended spring training with the Reds in 1945, but decided to remain home until he finished high school the following year. He regained his amateur status and played football, basketball and baseball for Hamilton High School as a senior in 1946, earning all-state honors in football and basketball. Over the next five years, Nuxhall played in the minor leagues with Syracuse, Lima, Muncie, Columbia, Charleston, and Tulsa before returning to the Reds in 1952.
[edit] Return to "The Show"
Statue of Joe Nuxhall at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati
Statue of Joe Nuxhall at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati
Nuxhall spent almost 15 of his 16 major league seasons with Cincinnati, where he was a two-time National League All-Star and led the league in shutouts in 1955. He also played for the Kansas City Athletics and Los Angeles Angels in the American League.
[edit] Second career
Nuxhall retired from the Reds in April, 1967 and immediately began his second career as a Reds broadcaster. Although he never received formal training, he was well loved by Reds fans. His main home run call was "Get up! Get up! Get outta here!"
His trademark radio signoff phrase -- "This is the Ol' Lefthander, rounding third and heading for home" -- is displayed on the outside of the Reds' stadium, Great American Ball Park, which opened in 2003. A likeness of Nuxhall (see photo) is one of four statues -- along with others depicting Ernie Lombardi, Ted Kluszewski, and Frank Robinson -- that decorate the main entrance of the stadium. He was elected to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1968, and officially retired from the Reds on October 3, 2004, 60 years after his pitching debut, though he still made guest appearances on some game broadcasts.
On June 10, 2007, the Cincinnati Reds honored Nuxhall, Marty Brennaman, and Waite Hoyt with replica microphones that hang on the wall near the radio booth.
[edit] His book and character education fund
In September 2004 Orange Frazer Press released Joe: Rounding Third & Heading for Home (ISBN 1-882203-37-2), a 287-page book about Nuxhall written by Greg Hoard. The book covers Nuxhall's entire career, including his childhood years, getting signed by the Cincinnati Reds, playing for the club and eventually working his way to the broadcast booth. Nuxhall worked closely with Hoard on the book, and a portion of the proceeds benefits the Joe Nuxhall Character Education Fund, which was established in 2003 to underwrite character development programs and projects for children. Bob Evans Restaurants and Skyline Chili are signature sponsors of the program.
[edit] Medical incidents
Battling double pneumonia in May 2006, Nuxhall, a heavy smoker, was admitted to a local Cincinnati hospital. By June, Nuxhall's wife had informed the Cincinnati Enquirer that he was battling throat cancer; specifically, lymphoma in his throat. He was released from hospital on June 5, 2006.
An MRI revealed that the lymphoma had recurred, and Nuxhall spent five days in the hospital in February 2007. He was discharged on February 20, 2007 but later underwent chemotherapy for tumors in his left leg. In October 2007, he was hospitalized for a day after having difficulty breathing.
On November 12, 2007 the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Nuxhall was a patient at Mercy Hospital Fairfield and undergoing treatment for pneumonia, a low pulse, and a low white blood count. Nuxhall died at 10:55 pm on November 15, 2007 at Mercy Hospital Fairfield, aged 79.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Nuxhall
Nuxhall was more than just a sports player to the Cincinnati community. He was a symbol of Cincinnati. He used his position of power to give to the community and help others, kept on fighting deadly illnesses with never complaining, and always did what he said he would do. The next articles are from Reds players, writers, talk show hosts, and many other people. These all show how Nuxhall was so loved.
This first story from talk show host Lance McCallister in particular showcases Nuxhall's personality:
I am so sad today
My heart sank this morning when I heard the news on Nuxie. I lost a piece of my childhood today. I grew up in Cincinnati, with my transistor radio under my pillow, falling asleep to Marty and Joe as they called games.
There was something comforting about turning on the car radio or the radio around the house and hearing their voices. Despite the score or the Reds record, or even the day I'd had, things seemed right with Marty and Joe on the radio.
Both my grandfathers passed away when I was very young...I have few memories of either. Joe always seemed like a grandfather. He was warm and friendly and comforting. I'll admit it was a little intimidating the first time I really met him. He went from a voice on the radio when I was a kid to someone I was around on a professional level. But he put me at ease. You always felt good around Joe...because he made you feel good. It was such a kick for me to walk into the radio booth and for Joe to say hello to me. Even as an adult I was in heaven standing and watching Marty and Joe broadcast a game. I was so excited for my son Casey to meet Joe. While there was a huge gap in their age, they both had a fighting spirit to battle thru their medical issues. Joe would always ask how Casey was doing.
Whether I was 6-years old or 40-years old, I got goosebumps listening to a game when Marty would say, "here's a high drive......" and Joe would jump in from the background with...."get out of here...get our of here". I would smile when Joe would mispronounce a players name, or describe a liner up the gap as one to hit to "left, right centerfield". You could feel him rooting for his team thru the radio. I would smile at his extended pause between pitches and sometimes you wondered if he'd even dosed off. The beauty in his broadcast style was the fact he wasn't polished..he wasn't perfect.
Joe was genuine. There was nothing fake. He was all real. He was never down. And he was always true to his word. I'll never forget last year when I did a remote broadcast with Dave Lapham from The Montgomery Inn. Joe agreed to join us on-site for an hour and talk Reds baseball and talk about an event he had coming up for his foundation. The day of the show, his son Kim emailed and said that Joe had to go to the doctor for tests and was going to have another round of chemo. I told Kim to tell Joe that I understood and he could join us another time. Kim said, "Dad said he'd be there....and he will be there. I'll never forget the image of Joe walking into Montgomery Inn that afternoon. He hobbled in, with help from Kim, not looking good at all. He sat down with Dave and myself, put on the headphones and without skipping a beat, said, "Hey guys....how we doing!?". He sat with us for the hour, talked baseball, signed autographs for listeners and made everyone feel like the most important person in the place.
I'll never forget being around Joe at Baseball Heaven. He got on me when he saw me lipping after huring my hamstring. We played his team in the championship game. As I came to bat in the last inning and he stood up in the dugout and yelled for a shift. I'm a lefty and had pulled everything that day. I lined one the other way off the glove of the third baseman. We later won the game when my dad scored on a bang bang play at the plate. After the game he came over and shook my hand, shaking his head, with a big smile on his face. I felt 10 feet tall.
A Reds game was never really over til you heard Joe wrap up the Star of the Game by saying, "This is the old lefthander rounding third and heading for home....so long everbody"
Joe's headed for heaven. And I will miss him.
www.1530homer.com/pages/lancesBlog.html
Here are some quotes by Reds player, current and former, and Nuxhall's son.
Kim Nuxhall, Joe’s son
“On behalf of the entire Nuxhall family we wish to express our deepest gratitude for the tremendous outpouring of prayers, well wishes, cards and messages during this very difficult time. Dad felt that he truly had three extended families during his career....The great City of Hamilton, Ohio where he grew up.....Fairfield, Ohio where he raised his children...and Cincinnati, Ohio where he was able to play and broadcast the great game of baseball with the Cincinnati Reds. We will be eternally grateful to the Cincinnati Reds organization and the fans who provided us with experiences and memories of a lifetime. Dad truly loved you all.”
Ken Griffey Jr., Reds player
“This is a sad day for everyone in the Reds organization. I’m in shock. I’ve known Joe my entire life. He did so many great things for so many people. You never heard anyone ever say a bad word about him. We’re all going to miss him.”
Matt Belisle, Reds player
“I loved talking to Nuxy about the game back when he played. He had a true love of the game. He was a genuine character and Cincinnati icon who used his publicity to help area kids. Joe was one of the rare people whom you heard nothing but good things about.”
Ted Power, former Reds player and currently the pitching coach at Louisville
“Leslie and I were deeply saddened to get the news of Joe’s passing this morning. Just thinking about it now brings tears. Our hearts go out to all the people who were fortunate enough to have gotten to know Joe in one way or another because we know how sad they are. The industry of professional baseball has lost someone that only comes along once in a lifetime. To the people of Cincinnati we send our sincere condolences and the message to rejoice in the memories Joe gave to each and every one of us. Joe will be sorely missed, but we are sure he would want us to remember him, console each other, then continue to live our lives to the fullest, just the way he did in such an unselfish manner.”
frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/spring/2007/11/nuxhall-passes-away.asp#comments
Marty Brennaman is on a cruise. He was in the middle of the Pacific when he got word of the Joe Nuxhall's death. Brennaman knew how sick Nuxhall was, but he wasn't expecting it.
"I went to bed early. I woke about three o'clock in the morning, and I had a text from Rob Butcher from 12:55 (a.m.) that said "911." It never crossed my mind that Joe had died."
Brennaman was grateful that he got one more day with Nuxhall, shortly before departing on a cruise.
"We played together in a golf match that some had bid on in charity auction. He played at Kenwood Country Club. It was apparent that he was weak and not feeling well. I think he only swung the club about five times. I said, 'Joe, what do you go home.' He said, 'No, it's a beautiful day. I'm tired of laying around.' So he rode along the whole round. He laughed and joked. I feel blessed that I had a chance to spend that time together."
frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/redsinsider/2007/11/marty-on-joe.asp#comments
Dave "Yid" Armbruster, his long-time engineer, summed up perfectly how Joe Nuxhall made guys our age feel:
"He's like the best uncle you ever had. I thought of him like that. I thought of him as almost a father figure later. He was the cool uncle, who would talk to you the way most grownups wouldn't talk to you. That was my impression."
Bob Castellini, John Allen, Tom and Dick Williams, Tom Browning and Chuck Harmon were at the press gathering the Reds held to talk about Nuxie. So was the guy probably as close to Nuxie as anyone in the organization, clubhouse man Bernie Stowe.
"He grew on me like my big brother," Stowe said. "The game would be over. We'd be on the road and he'd say, 'let's go get a beer and a sandwich.' Everybody said how cheap he was. I guess he liked the little guy because he took care of me.
Stowe said through all his recent tough times Nuxie remained upbeat and was at peace.
"He'd say, 'We all got to die. They can't save me forever,'" Stowe said. "What a man."
frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/redsinsider/2007/11/talking-about-nuxie.asp#comments
Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati writer and show host.:
He was the only person I've ever known about whom a bad word was never spoken. If you can live your entire life and have that be your epitaph, you've led quite a life. We've lost someone essential to who we are around here, someone who represented what we like to think is our finest nature. We're friendly, if guarded if we don't know you. We're approachable. If you need us, we're there.
Mostly, we're regular. We're incapable of pretense. Who you see is who you get and once we love you, we don't leave. Joe never left. He never will, of course.
On the radio, where most of us knew him, Joe was summer. He sounded like baseball: Lolling, drowsy, taking his own sweet time. Balls went to right-left-center. Latin names could be mangled. Calls on close plays could take days and really, so what? You didn't listen to Joe for perfection. Or, maybe you did. Perfection assumes different forms.
The best ambassador we've ever known has passed. He'll be missed.
frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/daugherty/2007/11/joe-nuxhall.asp#comments
Why Nuxhall is so special:
CINCINNATI -- Why is the death of Joe Nuxhall such a huge loss for the Reds?
When you consider that he had a 63-year association with the team as a pitcher or broadcaster, Nuxhall's legacy spanned multiple generations. With his passing from complications of lymphoma on Thursday, he left countless friends behind.
If you were a Reds player, a team employee or a media member, you likely crossed paths with him often and spent time talking. If you were a fan, you spent years of your life listening to him call games.
"This is a sad day for everyone in the Reds organization," Reds right fielder Ken Griffey Jr. said in a statement. Griffey grew up with the team while father Ken Sr. was a member of the Big Red Machine.
"I'm in shock," Griffey continued. "I've known Joe my entire life. He did so many great things for so many people. You never heard anyone ever say a bad word about him. We're all going to miss him."
When news of Nuxhall's death at the age of 79 was made public Friday morning, there were tears and long faces among those who gathered at Great American Ball Park. But the memories were all joyful.
"He meant so much to me," said Tom Browning, who pitched for the Reds from 1984-94. "I met him my first day here in the big leagues and we hit it off well. We played a lot of golf together, went on a lot of caravans together. I spent a lot of time with him. It's going to be tough not having him to run into anymore."
"You don't replace him," said Chris Welsh, a former Reds pitcher and currently a television broadcaster for the club. "Look how long it took for him to grow into what he was. It's like losing the biggest oak tree in your yard that's been there a century longer than any other tree. Now, all of a sudden, you have this barren spot. You fill it with memories of his voice."
After he played from 1944 and 1952-66, Nuxhall was a Reds radio voice from 1967-2004 -- including 31 years with Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman. Nuxhall worked some games in retirement the past three seasons. Overall, he played or called games in 59 Major League ballparks, and certainly had plenty of anecdotes or insight to share with fans.
"Marty and Joe became part of every Reds fans' summer nights as their banter filled the gaps between pitches and plays," Reds owner and CEO Bob Castellini said. "Joe's voice resonates with everyone. He was part of our childhoods and our adulthoods before there was air conditioning and cable TV, when families would sit out on the porch to stay cool and Joe would be on the radio."
Although he was an icon in Cincinnati and among Reds fans nationwide, Nuxhall never acted like an exalted public figure. Preferring to be a regular everyman, there was no big ego to encounter or any sort of intimidation.
Joe Nuxhall
• Longtime Reds voice Nuxhall passes
• Nuxhall leaves behind many friends
• People's reflections on Nuxhall
• Nuxhall holds distinct record
• Brennaman reflects on Nuxhall
• Comment on Nuxhall on tribute blog
• Joe Nuxhall tribute
• Reds press conference
• George Grande on Nuxhall
"Nuxie just made you feel at ease, no matter what he was doing," Browning said. "It's just hard to fathom that he's not here. He was just a good man. He taught me how to hold myself up and how to deal with things. I thank him for allowing me to be a part of his life. He was awesome. I'm going to miss him. I love the man to death. He had a whole lot to do with my career, certainly with how I dealt with adversity and success as well."
"What you see is what you get. You always knew where you stood," Reds chief operating officer John Allen said. "You knew he was speaking from the heart. One of his secrets to success was he could deal with anybody. It didn't matter who you were, what you were or what you did, he got along with everybody. He's really going to be missed."
Few knew Nuxhall longer than longtime clubhouse manager Bernie Stowe. Their friendship went back about 60 years.
"You never got tired of hearing Joe. He was unbelievable," Stowe said. "On the road, the game would be over and he'd say, 'C'mon, let's get a couple of beers and a sandwich.' Sometimes, the couple of beers turned into a handful of beers. Joe liked his beer and I liked my beer and the Burger Beer liked us for drinking so much."
Whether or not he was calling games the past few years, Nuxhall was always a presence in the Reds' clubhouse. Even when his health began failing, it didn't take long for him to bounce back and head over to the ballpark. This past February when he was released from a hospital after being diagnosed with another case of lymphoma, he drove straight to the team's Spring Training complex so he could be around everybody.
Current Reds players are expressed their condolences over the loss of Nuxhall.
"Joe was a special person to have around," starting pitcher Aaron Harang said. "He loved baseball and all of the people around it. He was a special part of the Cincinnati Reds' legacy and will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
"I loved talking to Nuxy about the game back when he played," starter Matt Belisle said. "He had a true love of the game. He was a genuine character and Cincinnati icon who used his publicity to help area kids. Joe was one of the rare people whom you heard nothing but good things about."
cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071116&content_id=2301793&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin
Joe Nuxhall, Reds legend, died last night at 10:55 p.m.
It is with great sadness that I write this. Nuxie was as a good as they come. Humble, caring and always a joy to be around. He'll be greatly missed. Prayers and thoughts to his family.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
The last time I talked to Nuxhall in any kind of depth was when word got out that his cancer was back. He was, of course, upbeat.
"I hope I can lick this," he said. "With all the publicity it's getting, maybe others who have it will be encouraged. Maybe people will feel they can beat it, too."
Nux didn't beat it. But others should still be encouraged by how he fought the brave fight, how he never let it get him down. When we had that conversation -- it was Sept. 27 -- Nuxie answered the questions about his the disease, and then quickly changed the subject back to baseball. We chatted a while. Before I left, I asked if he was going to do a book signing he had scheduled in a couple of days.
He said he was.
"I'm not going to sit around and feel sorry for myself," he said.
Of course, he wasn't. Nuxie was of those guys who knew what a great life he had, and he was very thankful for it. I'm thankful that I got to know the man.
frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/redsinsider/2007/11/nuxie-dies.asp#comments
First, I thought that we should read up on Nuxhall's life to be able to show him the proper respect that he deserves.
Joe Nuxhall
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• T
his article is about a person who has recently died.
Some information, such as the circumstances of the person's death and surrounding events, may change rapidly as more facts become known. In the event that this article is disruptively edited following the death of the subject, please request administrator intervention here.
Joe Nuxhall
Pitcher
Born: July 30, 1928(1928-07-30)
Died: November 15, 2007 (aged 79)
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
June 10, 1944
for the Cincinnati Reds
Final game
October 2, 1966
for the Cincinnati Reds
Career statistics
Win-Loss record 135-117
ERA 3.90
Strikeouts 1372
Teams
* Cincinnati Reds (1944, 1952-1960, 1962-1966)
* Kansas City Athletics (1961)
* Los Angeles Angels (1962)
Career highlights and awards
* All-Star (NL): 1955-56
* Led NL in Shutouts in 1955 with 5
Joseph Henry Nuxhall (July 30, 1928 – November 15, 2007) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He compiled a career ERA of 3.90 and a record of 135-117 during his 16-season career. Long known as "The Ol' Lefthander," Nuxhall is most often remembered for having been the youngest player ever to appear in a major league game during the modern era, pitching 2/3 of an inning for the Cincinnati Reds on June 10, 1944, at the age of 15 years, 10 months, and 11 days. After retiring as a player, he became a broadcaster for the Reds. Nuxhall died on November 15, 2007 after a long bout with cancer.
Contents
[hide]
* 1 Wartime roster
* 2 Teenage debut
* 3 Minor Leagues
* 4 Return to "The Show"
* 5 Second career
* 6 His book and character education fund
* 7 Medical incidents
* 8 References
* 9 See also
* 10 External links
[edit] Wartime roster
During World War II, many regular baseball players were unavailable while serving in the military. Meanwhile, Nuxhall was the biggest member of the ninth grade class in nearby Hamilton, Ohio at 6' 2" and 190 pounds -- a left-hander with a hard fastball, but not much control. He had already been playing in a semipro league with his father for a few years. Scouts looking to fill out the Reds' depleted roster were following Nuxhall's father in 1943, but were informed that the elder Nuxhall wasn't interested in signing a professional contract because of his five children. They became interested in the son, who was only 14 at the time. After waiting until the following year's basketball season was over, Nuxhall signed a major league contract with the Reds on February 18, 1944. General Manager Warren Giles intended to wait until school was over in June to add him to the team, but more of his players were inducted into the service in the spring. With permission from his high school principal, Nuxhall was in uniform with the team on Opening Day.
[edit] Teenage debut
On June 10, the Reds were playing the first place St. Louis Cardinals at Crosley Field and trailing 13-0 in the ninth inning when Manager Bill McKechnie called on Nuxhall to enter the game. He started well, retiring two of the first three batters he faced. But he was unable to get the third out of the inning, and ended up allowing five walks, two hits, one wild pitch and five runs before being relieved. He spent the rest of the 1944 season in the minor leagues. But unlike Jake Eisenhart, who also made his debut for the Reds on June 10 and got the last out, Nuxhall would return to pitch in the majors.
[edit] Minor Leagues
Following his appearance with the Reds, he was assigned to the Birmingham Barons in the Southern League, but pitched only a third of an inning there (he struck out his first batter, then allowed a hit, five walks, a hit batter and five runs). Nuxhall attended spring training with the Reds in 1945, but decided to remain home until he finished high school the following year. He regained his amateur status and played football, basketball and baseball for Hamilton High School as a senior in 1946, earning all-state honors in football and basketball. Over the next five years, Nuxhall played in the minor leagues with Syracuse, Lima, Muncie, Columbia, Charleston, and Tulsa before returning to the Reds in 1952.
[edit] Return to "The Show"
Statue of Joe Nuxhall at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati
Statue of Joe Nuxhall at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati
Nuxhall spent almost 15 of his 16 major league seasons with Cincinnati, where he was a two-time National League All-Star and led the league in shutouts in 1955. He also played for the Kansas City Athletics and Los Angeles Angels in the American League.
[edit] Second career
Nuxhall retired from the Reds in April, 1967 and immediately began his second career as a Reds broadcaster. Although he never received formal training, he was well loved by Reds fans. His main home run call was "Get up! Get up! Get outta here!"
His trademark radio signoff phrase -- "This is the Ol' Lefthander, rounding third and heading for home" -- is displayed on the outside of the Reds' stadium, Great American Ball Park, which opened in 2003. A likeness of Nuxhall (see photo) is one of four statues -- along with others depicting Ernie Lombardi, Ted Kluszewski, and Frank Robinson -- that decorate the main entrance of the stadium. He was elected to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1968, and officially retired from the Reds on October 3, 2004, 60 years after his pitching debut, though he still made guest appearances on some game broadcasts.
On June 10, 2007, the Cincinnati Reds honored Nuxhall, Marty Brennaman, and Waite Hoyt with replica microphones that hang on the wall near the radio booth.
[edit] His book and character education fund
In September 2004 Orange Frazer Press released Joe: Rounding Third & Heading for Home (ISBN 1-882203-37-2), a 287-page book about Nuxhall written by Greg Hoard. The book covers Nuxhall's entire career, including his childhood years, getting signed by the Cincinnati Reds, playing for the club and eventually working his way to the broadcast booth. Nuxhall worked closely with Hoard on the book, and a portion of the proceeds benefits the Joe Nuxhall Character Education Fund, which was established in 2003 to underwrite character development programs and projects for children. Bob Evans Restaurants and Skyline Chili are signature sponsors of the program.
[edit] Medical incidents
Battling double pneumonia in May 2006, Nuxhall, a heavy smoker, was admitted to a local Cincinnati hospital. By June, Nuxhall's wife had informed the Cincinnati Enquirer that he was battling throat cancer; specifically, lymphoma in his throat. He was released from hospital on June 5, 2006.
An MRI revealed that the lymphoma had recurred, and Nuxhall spent five days in the hospital in February 2007. He was discharged on February 20, 2007 but later underwent chemotherapy for tumors in his left leg. In October 2007, he was hospitalized for a day after having difficulty breathing.
On November 12, 2007 the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Nuxhall was a patient at Mercy Hospital Fairfield and undergoing treatment for pneumonia, a low pulse, and a low white blood count. Nuxhall died at 10:55 pm on November 15, 2007 at Mercy Hospital Fairfield, aged 79.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Nuxhall
Nuxhall was more than just a sports player to the Cincinnati community. He was a symbol of Cincinnati. He used his position of power to give to the community and help others, kept on fighting deadly illnesses with never complaining, and always did what he said he would do. The next articles are from Reds players, writers, talk show hosts, and many other people. These all show how Nuxhall was so loved.
This first story from talk show host Lance McCallister in particular showcases Nuxhall's personality:
I am so sad today
My heart sank this morning when I heard the news on Nuxie. I lost a piece of my childhood today. I grew up in Cincinnati, with my transistor radio under my pillow, falling asleep to Marty and Joe as they called games.
There was something comforting about turning on the car radio or the radio around the house and hearing their voices. Despite the score or the Reds record, or even the day I'd had, things seemed right with Marty and Joe on the radio.
Both my grandfathers passed away when I was very young...I have few memories of either. Joe always seemed like a grandfather. He was warm and friendly and comforting. I'll admit it was a little intimidating the first time I really met him. He went from a voice on the radio when I was a kid to someone I was around on a professional level. But he put me at ease. You always felt good around Joe...because he made you feel good. It was such a kick for me to walk into the radio booth and for Joe to say hello to me. Even as an adult I was in heaven standing and watching Marty and Joe broadcast a game. I was so excited for my son Casey to meet Joe. While there was a huge gap in their age, they both had a fighting spirit to battle thru their medical issues. Joe would always ask how Casey was doing.
Whether I was 6-years old or 40-years old, I got goosebumps listening to a game when Marty would say, "here's a high drive......" and Joe would jump in from the background with...."get out of here...get our of here". I would smile when Joe would mispronounce a players name, or describe a liner up the gap as one to hit to "left, right centerfield". You could feel him rooting for his team thru the radio. I would smile at his extended pause between pitches and sometimes you wondered if he'd even dosed off. The beauty in his broadcast style was the fact he wasn't polished..he wasn't perfect.
Joe was genuine. There was nothing fake. He was all real. He was never down. And he was always true to his word. I'll never forget last year when I did a remote broadcast with Dave Lapham from The Montgomery Inn. Joe agreed to join us on-site for an hour and talk Reds baseball and talk about an event he had coming up for his foundation. The day of the show, his son Kim emailed and said that Joe had to go to the doctor for tests and was going to have another round of chemo. I told Kim to tell Joe that I understood and he could join us another time. Kim said, "Dad said he'd be there....and he will be there. I'll never forget the image of Joe walking into Montgomery Inn that afternoon. He hobbled in, with help from Kim, not looking good at all. He sat down with Dave and myself, put on the headphones and without skipping a beat, said, "Hey guys....how we doing!?". He sat with us for the hour, talked baseball, signed autographs for listeners and made everyone feel like the most important person in the place.
I'll never forget being around Joe at Baseball Heaven. He got on me when he saw me lipping after huring my hamstring. We played his team in the championship game. As I came to bat in the last inning and he stood up in the dugout and yelled for a shift. I'm a lefty and had pulled everything that day. I lined one the other way off the glove of the third baseman. We later won the game when my dad scored on a bang bang play at the plate. After the game he came over and shook my hand, shaking his head, with a big smile on his face. I felt 10 feet tall.
A Reds game was never really over til you heard Joe wrap up the Star of the Game by saying, "This is the old lefthander rounding third and heading for home....so long everbody"
Joe's headed for heaven. And I will miss him.
www.1530homer.com/pages/lancesBlog.html
Here are some quotes by Reds player, current and former, and Nuxhall's son.
Kim Nuxhall, Joe’s son
“On behalf of the entire Nuxhall family we wish to express our deepest gratitude for the tremendous outpouring of prayers, well wishes, cards and messages during this very difficult time. Dad felt that he truly had three extended families during his career....The great City of Hamilton, Ohio where he grew up.....Fairfield, Ohio where he raised his children...and Cincinnati, Ohio where he was able to play and broadcast the great game of baseball with the Cincinnati Reds. We will be eternally grateful to the Cincinnati Reds organization and the fans who provided us with experiences and memories of a lifetime. Dad truly loved you all.”
Ken Griffey Jr., Reds player
“This is a sad day for everyone in the Reds organization. I’m in shock. I’ve known Joe my entire life. He did so many great things for so many people. You never heard anyone ever say a bad word about him. We’re all going to miss him.”
Matt Belisle, Reds player
“I loved talking to Nuxy about the game back when he played. He had a true love of the game. He was a genuine character and Cincinnati icon who used his publicity to help area kids. Joe was one of the rare people whom you heard nothing but good things about.”
Ted Power, former Reds player and currently the pitching coach at Louisville
“Leslie and I were deeply saddened to get the news of Joe’s passing this morning. Just thinking about it now brings tears. Our hearts go out to all the people who were fortunate enough to have gotten to know Joe in one way or another because we know how sad they are. The industry of professional baseball has lost someone that only comes along once in a lifetime. To the people of Cincinnati we send our sincere condolences and the message to rejoice in the memories Joe gave to each and every one of us. Joe will be sorely missed, but we are sure he would want us to remember him, console each other, then continue to live our lives to the fullest, just the way he did in such an unselfish manner.”
frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/spring/2007/11/nuxhall-passes-away.asp#comments
Marty Brennaman is on a cruise. He was in the middle of the Pacific when he got word of the Joe Nuxhall's death. Brennaman knew how sick Nuxhall was, but he wasn't expecting it.
"I went to bed early. I woke about three o'clock in the morning, and I had a text from Rob Butcher from 12:55 (a.m.) that said "911." It never crossed my mind that Joe had died."
Brennaman was grateful that he got one more day with Nuxhall, shortly before departing on a cruise.
"We played together in a golf match that some had bid on in charity auction. He played at Kenwood Country Club. It was apparent that he was weak and not feeling well. I think he only swung the club about five times. I said, 'Joe, what do you go home.' He said, 'No, it's a beautiful day. I'm tired of laying around.' So he rode along the whole round. He laughed and joked. I feel blessed that I had a chance to spend that time together."
frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/redsinsider/2007/11/marty-on-joe.asp#comments
Dave "Yid" Armbruster, his long-time engineer, summed up perfectly how Joe Nuxhall made guys our age feel:
"He's like the best uncle you ever had. I thought of him like that. I thought of him as almost a father figure later. He was the cool uncle, who would talk to you the way most grownups wouldn't talk to you. That was my impression."
Bob Castellini, John Allen, Tom and Dick Williams, Tom Browning and Chuck Harmon were at the press gathering the Reds held to talk about Nuxie. So was the guy probably as close to Nuxie as anyone in the organization, clubhouse man Bernie Stowe.
"He grew on me like my big brother," Stowe said. "The game would be over. We'd be on the road and he'd say, 'let's go get a beer and a sandwich.' Everybody said how cheap he was. I guess he liked the little guy because he took care of me.
Stowe said through all his recent tough times Nuxie remained upbeat and was at peace.
"He'd say, 'We all got to die. They can't save me forever,'" Stowe said. "What a man."
frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/redsinsider/2007/11/talking-about-nuxie.asp#comments
Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati writer and show host.:
He was the only person I've ever known about whom a bad word was never spoken. If you can live your entire life and have that be your epitaph, you've led quite a life. We've lost someone essential to who we are around here, someone who represented what we like to think is our finest nature. We're friendly, if guarded if we don't know you. We're approachable. If you need us, we're there.
Mostly, we're regular. We're incapable of pretense. Who you see is who you get and once we love you, we don't leave. Joe never left. He never will, of course.
On the radio, where most of us knew him, Joe was summer. He sounded like baseball: Lolling, drowsy, taking his own sweet time. Balls went to right-left-center. Latin names could be mangled. Calls on close plays could take days and really, so what? You didn't listen to Joe for perfection. Or, maybe you did. Perfection assumes different forms.
The best ambassador we've ever known has passed. He'll be missed.
frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/daugherty/2007/11/joe-nuxhall.asp#comments
Why Nuxhall is so special:
CINCINNATI -- Why is the death of Joe Nuxhall such a huge loss for the Reds?
When you consider that he had a 63-year association with the team as a pitcher or broadcaster, Nuxhall's legacy spanned multiple generations. With his passing from complications of lymphoma on Thursday, he left countless friends behind.
If you were a Reds player, a team employee or a media member, you likely crossed paths with him often and spent time talking. If you were a fan, you spent years of your life listening to him call games.
"This is a sad day for everyone in the Reds organization," Reds right fielder Ken Griffey Jr. said in a statement. Griffey grew up with the team while father Ken Sr. was a member of the Big Red Machine.
"I'm in shock," Griffey continued. "I've known Joe my entire life. He did so many great things for so many people. You never heard anyone ever say a bad word about him. We're all going to miss him."
When news of Nuxhall's death at the age of 79 was made public Friday morning, there were tears and long faces among those who gathered at Great American Ball Park. But the memories were all joyful.
"He meant so much to me," said Tom Browning, who pitched for the Reds from 1984-94. "I met him my first day here in the big leagues and we hit it off well. We played a lot of golf together, went on a lot of caravans together. I spent a lot of time with him. It's going to be tough not having him to run into anymore."
"You don't replace him," said Chris Welsh, a former Reds pitcher and currently a television broadcaster for the club. "Look how long it took for him to grow into what he was. It's like losing the biggest oak tree in your yard that's been there a century longer than any other tree. Now, all of a sudden, you have this barren spot. You fill it with memories of his voice."
After he played from 1944 and 1952-66, Nuxhall was a Reds radio voice from 1967-2004 -- including 31 years with Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman. Nuxhall worked some games in retirement the past three seasons. Overall, he played or called games in 59 Major League ballparks, and certainly had plenty of anecdotes or insight to share with fans.
"Marty and Joe became part of every Reds fans' summer nights as their banter filled the gaps between pitches and plays," Reds owner and CEO Bob Castellini said. "Joe's voice resonates with everyone. He was part of our childhoods and our adulthoods before there was air conditioning and cable TV, when families would sit out on the porch to stay cool and Joe would be on the radio."
Although he was an icon in Cincinnati and among Reds fans nationwide, Nuxhall never acted like an exalted public figure. Preferring to be a regular everyman, there was no big ego to encounter or any sort of intimidation.
Joe Nuxhall
• Longtime Reds voice Nuxhall passes
• Nuxhall leaves behind many friends
• People's reflections on Nuxhall
• Nuxhall holds distinct record
• Brennaman reflects on Nuxhall
• Comment on Nuxhall on tribute blog
• Joe Nuxhall tribute
• Reds press conference
• George Grande on Nuxhall
"Nuxie just made you feel at ease, no matter what he was doing," Browning said. "It's just hard to fathom that he's not here. He was just a good man. He taught me how to hold myself up and how to deal with things. I thank him for allowing me to be a part of his life. He was awesome. I'm going to miss him. I love the man to death. He had a whole lot to do with my career, certainly with how I dealt with adversity and success as well."
"What you see is what you get. You always knew where you stood," Reds chief operating officer John Allen said. "You knew he was speaking from the heart. One of his secrets to success was he could deal with anybody. It didn't matter who you were, what you were or what you did, he got along with everybody. He's really going to be missed."
Few knew Nuxhall longer than longtime clubhouse manager Bernie Stowe. Their friendship went back about 60 years.
"You never got tired of hearing Joe. He was unbelievable," Stowe said. "On the road, the game would be over and he'd say, 'C'mon, let's get a couple of beers and a sandwich.' Sometimes, the couple of beers turned into a handful of beers. Joe liked his beer and I liked my beer and the Burger Beer liked us for drinking so much."
Whether or not he was calling games the past few years, Nuxhall was always a presence in the Reds' clubhouse. Even when his health began failing, it didn't take long for him to bounce back and head over to the ballpark. This past February when he was released from a hospital after being diagnosed with another case of lymphoma, he drove straight to the team's Spring Training complex so he could be around everybody.
Current Reds players are expressed their condolences over the loss of Nuxhall.
"Joe was a special person to have around," starting pitcher Aaron Harang said. "He loved baseball and all of the people around it. He was a special part of the Cincinnati Reds' legacy and will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
"I loved talking to Nuxy about the game back when he played," starter Matt Belisle said. "He had a true love of the game. He was a genuine character and Cincinnati icon who used his publicity to help area kids. Joe was one of the rare people whom you heard nothing but good things about."
cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071116&content_id=2301793&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin
