Honoring the Ol’ Lefthander
This past Saturday, the Reds honored the Ol’ Lefthander on the 62nd anniversary of his Major League debut as a 15-year-old. It’s still mind-boggling that someone so young faced the likes of Stan Musial and his Cardinal team that would go on to win the World Series that season.
The Reds declared it "Joe Nuxhall Day" at Great American Ball Park. CEO Bob Castellini joined Marty as they gave Joe yet another well-deserved tribute. Because of rain, they had the event in the lobby of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, which, by the way, you need to check out if you haven’t been. (As a side note, Dale Petroskey, the President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Coooperstown, will be here this week to get his first look at what the Reds have done with baseball’s best team hall of fame.)
Joe has a great sense of timing. A week earlier he was in the hospital, but on this night he was the star. After the pregame ceremony (which was shown live in the ballpark on the videoboard), Joe did a lap (in a golf cart) around the field to the adoration of the crowd. He then set up shop in the Reds Community Fund booth behind home plate, where he signed almost 300 copies of his book "Joe: Rounding Third and Heading for Home." I enjoyed reading it myself last year. He was so busy signing, the line didn’t end until the seventh inning!
I had my trusty digital camera there Saturday…
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The Bad Boy Blog 
Steve – thanks for the pics of this event. It is nice to put pics with the story I heard on the radio about this event.
Great blog, as always!
– George, Dayton
Have you voted for the all stars yet? You get 25 online votes. Hopefully, all Cincinnati Reds fans will vote for Sean Casey. The game is in Pittsburgh, Seans home town.
I usually vote a straight Reds ticket, but this year I’m making an exception.
Cool Event!
Read this post and invite everyone to join this will be a fun way to see who everyone would have on their team if they could draft a team.
http://mlblogger.mlblogs.com/my_weblog/2006/06/fantasy_mlb_dra.html
Chad
Steve…hello from the home town of the Reds upcoming opponents this weekend…you may have heard of them,right?They only won the World series last year…which gave the Cub fans here a severe case of agita(Italian for “hoo,boy”)
Anyway,to the point of my post…A long,long time ago,I had the distinct pleasure of meeting and sitting and watching a young professional at work…I had a friend of mine who was the radio engineer for the visiting teams in Chicago…Marty may remember him,his name was Ralph Buehlman…anyway,I was in college and had the opportunity to sit in the press box(the old one)at Clark and Addison and watch the people I really admire,the broadcasters,at work…Marty was just starting with the ball club at the time,but from listening to him call a game,I knew he was going to have a long,prosperous career…and I have been right ever since…You have a rare privelege,Steve…the major leagues is the eventual goal for every broadcaster,no matter how many innings he may work…as Ernie Harwell once said,”…There’s only one problem with this job I have…someday I may have to work for a living…”
I wish you and Marty nothing but smooth broadcasts the rest of the way in’06…
Except this weekend…I gotta hope that the WS do well at the GABP…I have my priorities…
P.S.: Ask your HOF partner is he has any pictures from back in ’74 when he started with the team…I’m sure that Armbruster will help you up off the floor of the booth(just kidding)
I think it is terrific that the Reds front office celebrated with the fans in their honoring of Joe Nuxhall. However, if I may use a metaphore, as Marty Brennaman would say, the Reds came one out short of winning that day! The ultimate final out would have been the Reds honoring Joe with his number being retired! We all owe it to him and our kids and grandkids. Joe’s number needs to be put up with the other great player’s numbers. No other Red has been a greater Red advocate as Joe. I want to point to those retired numbered players and tell my grandson what they did for baseball and the Reds! I want to tell him all about Joe Nuxhall and his retired #41 posted in the GABP. That would be the “walk-off winning run”!!!
Thanks,
Barry of Evendale
I think it is terrific that the Reds front office celebrated with the fans in their honoring of Joe Nuxhall. However, if I may use a metaphore, as Marty Brennaman would say, the Reds came one out short of winning that day! The ultimate final out would have been the Reds honoring Joe with his number being retired! We all owe it to him and our kids and grandkids. Joe’s number needs to be put up with the others. No other Red has been a greater Red advocate as Joe. I want to point to those retired numbered players and tell my grandson what they did for baseball and the Reds! I want to tell him all about Joe Nuxhall and his retired #41 posted in the GABP. That would be the “walk-off winning run”!!!
Thanks,
Barry of Evendale
Steve…one other question that perhaps you could answer…It’s unusual,but here goes…
Could you find out if Marty still uses the same brand of scorebook that he did when he first joined the team? I think that that was the same book that was for sale at the (loong ago)580 Gift Shop,when I was in town for a job interview in the early ’80’s…If it is the same book,and if it is for sale at the Reds gift shop,could you possibly answer in your next post? Thank you very much…
Tom Quaid,Chicago
thanks for recording this event, steve. as a reds fan up in the great white north, i don’t get to hear much about the club at all. the ol’ lefthander has a special place in my heart, my families hearts, and the heart of every reds fan up here who have either seen him pitch or listened to his broadcasts. do me a favour, will ya? tell mr. krivsky to upgrade the bullpen. when he does that, i think we could make a serious push for the playoffs. thanks, steve.
ridervillan
What a great day to honor Joe. I was at the game and unfortunately did not know about the day until almost at the stadium.
I bought Joe’s book and had him autograph it. While doing so, I mentioned that my brother Charlie extended his greetings to him. Joe’s eyes lit up like a kid at Christmas. My brother was playing ball at Wilson in Hamilton when Joe was called up to be with the Reds. After all these years he remember my brother and called to his son Kim and said “Hey Kim, this is Charlie Schenk’s brother!” Joe made my day!
I also went to high school with Phil, have a Reds Logo card Joe signed for me when I was 16 (1966) and has always been one of my favorites.
In honor of Joe a friend presented me a Bible in 1970 and inscribed in by putting Hamiltonjoe instead of my name. I now use that in my postings to pay tribute to Joe Nuxhall and the hometown that we shall.
I agree with the post recommending the retirement of Joe’s number!
God Bless the old left hander and may it be many many years before he rounds third and heads for home for the final time!