So long, Joe
17 Nov 2007
Joe Nuxhall,the long-time Cincinnati Reds radio broadcaster, died late Thursday night at the age of 79. Though he started broadcasting years before I was even born, I remember quite fondly listening to Marty Brennaman and Joe call the games on the radio growing up in Cincinnati. One of the greatest tandems of all time, Marty and Joe are icons in the baseball world, having called games for over thirty years. Of course I never met him personally, but everything I’ve read about Joe speaks of how beloved he was by those that knew him, and the thousands who knew only his voice. And that’s precisely why he and Marty were such a great duo–when you listened to them call a game, it was like watching a baseball game with your family. Joe excelled in telling the stories behind the games. You never felt like baseball was a game of celebrities being paid ridiculous sums of money. Joe made the game intimate, personal. Along with Marty, the two built a working friendship that became a personal friendship, and in the later years of their career–the ones I knew so well–it was just two good buddies sharing the love of a game together with all those who cared to listen in.
What I loved about Joe (and Marty) is the personality he had. There’s very little character in the big-time broadcasters who bring us most of the sports we see. And, yes, maybe the men who broadcast now are far superior in their craft, always articulate and nearly perfect in their delivery of the game. But few mastered the art of broadcasting better than the Ol’ Lefthander. His passing reminds me why there will always be a place in my heart for listening to the game on radio, no matter how good it may look in high def. Seeing the game is one thing. Experiencing the game is another. Marty and Joe brought the experience. I loved it when Dad would turn the radio on, and we’d just sit and listen to the games. That was baseball at it’s finest.
Emblazoned on the outside facade of Great American Ballpark is Joe’s signature signoff, “rounding third and heading for home.” Not Anymore, Joe. You made it home. Reds win.
Nov 21, 2007 @ 19:59:29
Yeah, I’m gonna miss hearing Joe talk baseball. I’ve heard him for many years even before he teamed with Marty Brennaman. Many people don’t remember that Joe was the color commentator when Al Michaels was doing the play-by-play for the Reds. He used to do play-by-play as well during the middle innings of the game while Al Michaels would take a little break. Another long forgotten fact about Joe is that he was the youngest player to play in Major league baseball. He started playing at age 15 years and 10 months if memory serves me correctly. I believe that that distinction is still his.
I don’t know whether or not you remember this but one day while we were attending a Reds game we got the opportunity to run the bases at games end. We entered the field thru center field, walked across the artificial turf in the outfield around the infield and down the third base line to home plate. When it was our turn we took the 360 foot lap around the base path touching each sack as if we belonged in the big leagues ourselves. When our lap was over and we exited the field up the stairs on the first base side by the Reds dugout, there right beside us getting ready for his post game show was the “ole lefthander” himself, Mr Joe Nuxhall. So for at least one day in your life you shared the same field with Joe.
I heard him when I was a kid too. On my first radio ever. It was an old AM radio (no FM) and many nights I would turn off the radio and drift off to sleep (well after my real bedtime by the way) as soon as I heard Joe Nuxhall say those words, “This is the old lefthander … rounding third… and heading for home. Good night everyone.”
Good memories.
Love ya,
Dad.
May 30, 2009 @ 09:28:54
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Many Thanks,
Josh