Joe and Marty Brennaman at the start of their 31 year partnership...
Posted on 11/16/2007 5:39:56 AM PST by GreenLanternCorps
He fought long and hard, but in the end, Joe Nuxhall lost his battle. The Old Lefthander passed away Thursday night, at the age of 79. He had been battling cancer over the past couple of years, but most recently, was hospitalized for pneumonia and breathing problems. He was supposed to go through surgery to have a pacemaker implanted, but that operation was called off. At 10:55 p.m. Thursday, he was pronounced dead at Mercy Hospital in Fairfield.
He was probably the most beloved public figure in Tri-State (Cincinnati area) and possibly all of baseball.
RIP Hamilton Joe... :(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Nuxhall
He's was only two years older than my Dad is, and I think I'm going to cry...
‘He was probably the most beloved public figure in Tri-State (Cincinnati area) and possibly all of baseball. ‘
Indeed, and he was a true Gentleman as well. I was lucky enough to meet him on a couple of occasions over the years. Gracious to the core, always had time for the fans.
Rest in Peace, Joe.
You’ve finally rounded third, and gotten home......
I remember hearing of him as a kid. As I recall, he broke into the majors at an outrageously young age.
Sigh... geez, that was so long ago...
Hamilton is my hometown and legend is the right word for Joe Nuxhall.
I may not be getting the phrase correct, but “we simply won’t see his kind pass through again”.
A very sad day today.
Me too, RIP and BTTT.
Here’s a link to Wikipedia, for Freepers who may not be as familiar with Joe as we Reds fans are:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Nuxhall
A lot of crying on WLW “The Home of the Reds” this morning.
http://www.700wlw.com/main.html
Thanks for the memories, Joe. RIP.
Joe and Marty Brennaman at the start of their 31 year partnership...
He pitched a major league game at age 15. Both my grandfather and my grandfather’s brother played baseball around Hamilton with him. My grandfather’s brother made it to AAA level in the Dodger organzation and he always talked about he couldn’t campare with Nuxhall - he was that good.
For those of you who are not familiar with the “Ole Lefthander”: he was a “regular Joe” who never took himself too seriously and was a joy to listen to when he called a game.
One more ping to myself, the Cincinnati Enquirer has a tribute web page here:
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=nuxhall
I remember Nuxhall. My memory has slipped somewhat but I believe he once pitched a no-hitter for nine innings or maybe more and was not credited with it because he either got beat in extra innings or left the game before it was over. I think he and Bobby Shantz were two of the smallest pitchers in the major leagues.
RIP Joe.
He lived in a subdivision about 2 blocks from me, and we attended the same junior high school, where he was a legend. Listening to him on the radio growing up was such fun. He will be missed. Rest in peace, Joe. Going, going, gone.
RIP, Joe and thanks for the great calls. I listened to his broadcasts on so many nights. Marty and Joe, best tandem ever.
I grew up listening to Joe and Marty call Reds games. It was common for many of us in Cincinnati to mute the television during a Reds game and listen to Joe and Marty call the game over the radio.
It is a very sad day here in Cincinnati and many of the local broadcasters are having a tough time keeping it together.
So am I...
Mike
He lived just a couple of houses down from my best childhood pals in Independence, Mo. during his brief stint with the Kansas City A’s.
At ten years old, that was pretty exciting to be that close to a real Major Leaguer. I still have a circa 1959 baseball card of him somewhere . . .I hope.
Nuxhall’s family asks in lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Joe Nuxhall Hope Project, c/o Fairfield Community Foundation, 5350 Pleasant Avenue, Fairfield OH, 45014.
Joe is one of the last of a type of announcer true baseball fans can love to listen to. I remember as a teenager listening to The Big Red machine on WLW in the 70’s. I remember when I was a student at Ohio State the Reds would do a “winter caravan” where Marty & Joe would visit cities and town throughout Ohio and show a video of the previous reds season and answer questions and sign autographs for the fans. I have joe and Marty’s autographs in my Baseball Encyclopedia. We’ll definately miss Joe Nuxhall.
RIP.
What an unforgettable name. I remember having his baseball card
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