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Joe Nuxhall: The Ol’ Left-Hander – A Cincinnati Icon

As I mentioned in my previous blog about Gil Hodges, I grew up in Terre Haute, Indiana. My friends from Terre Haute were fans of the Cubs, White Sox, Cardinals, or Reds. My team was the Cincinnati Reds and Pete Rose was my guy.

I was born in 1968. Most of my memories of the Reds are from games at Riverfront Stadium, and I saw lots of them. The 1990 wire-to-wire, World Series Champion season was probably the best. Opening days are always special, but there is nothing like post-season baseball on a cool fall day in Cincinnati.

Like most people in Reds Country, I treasure the memories I have of listening to Marty Brenneman and Joe Nuxhall on the Big One, 700 WLW. Marty and Joe were broadcast partners with the Reds for 31 years! The people of Cincinnati love them both so much. Marty was polished and is a Hall of Fame Ford C. Frick Award winner. Not many, if at all, were better than Marty Brenneman. Joe was the hometown guy, the “Ol’ Left-Hander” from nearby Hamilton, Ohio (Hamilton is about 20 minutes north of downtown Cincinnati). Joe had a folksy-style that was uniquely his. Marty called it like he saw it. Joe always pulled for his team. They were great friends on and off the field and a perfect pair in the booth.

I have started working on a project about Joe Nuxhall that I hope to present one day at the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture. As part of my research, I recently spent a little time with Chris Eckes of the Reds Hall of Fame Museum and Kim Nuxhall (one of Joe’s sons). Both seemed like great guys and were very nice to me.

This blog is to share a few pictures and stories of my time in Cincinnati learning about Joe Nuxhall.

It is important to remember Joe Nuxhall because Joe is a cultural symbol of community in Cincinnati. The people of Cincinnati have found ways to sprinkle little reminders of him around to help them feel safe. Joe’s legacy reminds us to be humble and care for each other.

Joe grew up in the North End neighborhood of Hamilton and was first scouted by the Reds in 1943 as a 14-year-old. Rosters were depleted during this time of World War II but the Reds still believed in Joe’s talent as a ball player and signed him to a contract. I took the following four pictures at North End Ball Park on September 13, 2025.

After starting the 1945 season in spring training, Joe decided he wanted to return to Hamilton and finish high school. At Hamilton High School, Joe was a star athlete. His favorite sport was basketball. Joe was all-state in basketball and football while at Hamilton High School.

After high school, Joe returned to the Reds. It would take him about 7 years to make it back to the big-league roster. There were highs and lows in Joe’s playing career. The early and mid-1950s were good years for Joe. He won 17 games for the Reds in 1955 and was a two-time all-star (1955 and 1956). The latter part of the decade was not so good. Joe was booed at home games. Fed up, he requested a trade and was dealt to the Kansas City A’s. It was during his couple of years away from Cincinnati that Joe learned a few things. The first thing he learned was how emotions negatively impacted his performance on the mound. The second thing he learned was a good curveball. Joe returned to the Reds and finished his playing career in 1966. When he retired, he was first all-time in strike-outs and appearances for the Reds. Joe was elected to the Reds Hall of Fame on July 4, 1968.

Joe officially retired during spring training in 1967 and immediately joined Claude Sullivan and Jim McIntyre in the radio booth for the Reds. After later working with Al Michaels for three years, Joe was joined by Marty Brenneman in the radio booth at the beginning of the 1974 season. The magic that Marty and Joe had was special. Marty respected the player Joe was and understood what Joe meant to the people of Cincinnati. There are lots of calls and tv commercials and pictures to help tell the story about Joe and Marty’s time while working with the Reds. I can still watch and listen to that stuff all day.

The next three pictures are from the Marty and Joe Broadcast Exhibit in the Reds Hall of Fame. Joe and Marty’s last microphones are on display in the Exhibit. The fourth picture is one I like of Marty and Joe having a good time at Riverfront Stadium. Those guys really had fun.

If you have are in Cincinnati, the Reds HOF Museum is a must-see!!

Joe would have been remembered for his time on the field, but it is what he did after his playing career was over that means the most to the people of Cincinnati.

Joe was always around. He hated to turn down an invitation to support anything. Little League games. Speaking at banquets. Joe was very approachable and very humble. The people of Cincinnati relate to his genuineness and appreciate the love he showed for his hometown.

Perhaps the most impactful thing that Joe did was form the Joe Nuxhall Foundation. The Joe Nuxhall Foundation funds the Joe Nuxhall Memorial Scholarships, Joe Nuxhall Character Education Fund, and the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Scholarships are presented to high school seniors in Butler County each year. Next year, in 2026, the Joe Nuxhall Memorial Scholarships will cross over the $1 million mark for total awards.

Character development was very important to Joe. The Joe Nuxhall Character Education Fund was established to underwrite character development and projects for children.

The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields are in Fairfield, Ohio. Kim Nuxhall runs the Miracle Fields. It was a dream of Joe’s to see children and adults with disabilities playing the game he loved so much. There are two diamonds with electronic scoreboards and lights. Kids and adults join teams and play in leagues. The day I was there, I watched the Giants play the Angels. The kids had a great time. I saw a kid do the moonwalk as he walked to home plate to bat, and I watched a young girl using a walker get two hits as the announcer told everyone it was her birthday.

When I visited the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields (on August 30, 2025), Kim Nuxhall told me about a new major project he’s very excited about (www.nuxhallmiracleleague.org/hope). Kim told me they are currently planning and fundraising to construct a new “Joe Nuxhall Hope Center” on the Miracle League Fields property. If I remember right, the cost will be about $12 million. The new Hope Center will be a 31,000 sq. ft., inclusive, indoor recreation center. With the addition of the new Hope Center, the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields will be the world’s most inclusive, comprehensive campus for athletes and individuals with exceptionalities.

Joe is remembered inside and outside of Great American Ball Park. The street address for Great American Ball Park was changed to 100 Joe Nuxhall Way. Streets in Cincinnati, Farfield, and Hamilton are named after Joe. Player awards are named after Joe. A summer collegiate league team is named after Joe. College baseball teams in Cincinnati play in the Joe Nuxhall Classic.

Conclusion

“Rounding Third and Headed for Home”. Joe used that phrase as his sign-off each night following his post-game wrap up on the radio. He’d conclude each show by saying “This is the ol’ left-hander, rounding third and headed for home”. That phrase became associated with Joe Nuxhall. I think it has sort of a poetic meaning particularly because of the word “HOME.” The people of Cincinnati associated Joe Nuxhall with “HOME.” Home is a safe place where you can relax and be with family. “Hamilton Joe” represented “HOME” to the people of Cincinnati.

Joe Nuxhall was like a special tree or park or garden that a community treasures and celebrates around. Even 18 years after his death, the people of Cincinnati hold memories of Joe close to their hearts.

Marty Brenneman is quoted as saying that Joe is the most popular figure in the history of the Cincinnati Reds. That’s high praise considering that six of the nine bronze statues on Crosley Terrace outside Great American Ball Park are members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame…. and Joe Nuxhall isn’t one of them!

During our tour of the Reds HOF Museum, Chris Eckes commented that the people of Cincinnati grab hold of their hometown heroes with both hands and don’t ever let go.

The people of Cincinnati are holding tightly to the memory of Joe Nuxhall. Thank you Joe.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the pictures and reading my blog about Joe Nuxhall. Maybe I’ll finish the project and get to present it one day at Cooperstown?!?!

Additional Comments

Marty Brenneman’s statue at Great American Ball Park was unveiled on September 6, 2025. A very large crowd came out to thank and celebrate Marty that day. I took these pictures from “way in the back”. Congrats Marty. You, too, are in a league by yourself.

My Visit to Gil Hodges’ Hometown of Petersburg, Indiana (and a side trip to Princeton, Indiana)

I am really excited to share the story of my day trip on January 3, 2025 to visit Gil Hodges’ hometown of Petersburg, Indiana.

Let me first explain for those that might not know. Gil Hodges was born in Princeton, Indiana but Petersburg was his hometown.

Petersburg is in southwest Indiana, about a 30-minute drive east of U.S. 41, in Pike County. I live in Terre Haute. Terre Haute is north of Petersburg on the central west edge of Indiana (at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Interstate 70). Princeton is about thirty minutes southwest of Peterson (at the intersection of U.S. 41 and S.R. 64).

I visited Petersburg and Princeton on this trip. It took me only about an hour and thirty minutes to drive from Terre Haute to Petersburg; a very easy drive, mostly on good state roads and national highways.

I visited sites in Petersburg and was fortunate to spend a little time with a man who knew Gil and the Hodges family. I’ll tell you more about that man later. While in Petersburg, I visited:

Pike County Courthouse to see the bronze bust of Gil Hodges in the rotunda,
Mural of Gil Hodges that is across the street from the Courthouse,
Bridge that is named for Gil Hodges, and
Boyhood home of Gil Hodges.

I’ll tell you a little bit about each and share pictures and videos that I took that day.

In Princeton, I visited the ballpark that is named for Gil Hodges. I’ll show you pictures and a video that I took there, too.

Gil Hodges Bronze Bust in the Pike County Courthouse

The bust is on the main level of the courthouse. It was created by sculptor Don Ingle and dedicated on June 14, 1997. Randy Harris, Mayor of Petersburg at the time, led a two-year fundraising project and was instrumental in getting the bust made and placed at the courthouse.

One thing to remember if you visit, be sure to go when the courthouse is open (weekdays) if you want to be able to get inside to see the bust!

Gil Hodges Mural

The Gil Hodges mural is across the street from the courthouse. You can’t miss it! It’s fantastic to see and very well done. The 52’ X 16’ mural was first completed and dedicated in 2009. Again, then-Mayor Randy Harris had a hand in this project. In 2022, following Gil’s induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the mural was updated to include the HOF logo and a plaque commemorating Gil’s enshrinement. For some reason, these features were missing on the day that I visited. The mural was created by artist and Petersburg High School graduate Randall Heddon. Heddon also created the picture of Gil in his Mets uniform that hangs on the wall next to the bronze bust in the courthouse.

Gil Hodges Bridge

The Gil Hodges Bridge is on State Road 57 as it crosses the East Fork of the White River, on the north edge of Pike County. The bridge is only about a 10-minute drive from downtown Petersburg. This picture below provides a view of the sign on the south side of the bridge (looking in a northerly direction).

A road sign on a highway

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Gil Hodges Boyhood Home

I learned from visiting with people in Petersburg that the boyhood home of Gil Hodges is located at 1401 E. Main Street. The home is only a few blocks east of the courthouse (at the SE corner of Main and 14^th Streets). I learned that when Gil’s mother passed away, the house was sold. The same family that purchased the house from the Hodges family seemingly still owns the property.

A house on a hill

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A front view of a house

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A house with a garage

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Gil Hodges Ball Park (Princeton, Indiana)

Gil Hodges Ball Park is centrally located in Princeton adjacent to Lafayette Park. The street address is 700 N. Lafayette Park Drive. The ball park looks to be in awesome condition.

If you’re looking for a place to eat or get a milkshake, I highly recommend Dick Clark’s Family Restaurant at 702 N. Prince Street in Princeton.

A sign board with text on it

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A fenced in area with no pets

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A baseball field with a net

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A sign with a baseball field and a baseball field

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A sign with text on it

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Wrap Up

Gil Hodges was born on April 4, 1924. As of the day of my trip, he would have been 100 years old. I am a really big fan of the New York baseball teams and players from the era in which Gil Hodges played. I love reading and learning about the Boys of Summer, Willie Mays and the New York Giants, and of course Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford and some of those Yankees teams. What a great era for baseball. While I didn’t get to see these players and teams in person, I have been fortunate to make friends with people who did.

I’ve learned so much from being part of the New York Giants Preservation Society. I encourage you to check them out if you don’t already follow them. One more thing about the Brooklyn Dodgers…..I was lucky to shake Carl Erskine’s hand on an airplane once. He boarded a flight in Denver (to Indianapolis) after I had already taken my seat. As he passed by my seat, He could tell by the expression on my face that I recognized him. He reached out, smiled, and shook my hand. Neither of us said anything, but we both knew. What a thrill for me. Erskine…. another baseball hero of mine from Indiana. Anderson, Indiana (hometown of Carl Erskine) is likely the next place I’m heading for a day trip!

I almost forgot to tell you about the man I met from Petersburg. His name is Randy Harris. Randy is a former Mayor of Petersburg. He currently sells real estate and has an office on Main Street (just a couple blocks west of the courthouse). For a time, Randy owned and operated a restaurant called Randy’s Americana Café. I called and introduced myself to Randy. Not knowing about his personal connections to Gil and the Hodges family, I called and told him I was coming to town to visit sites and wanted to make sure this café was going to be open. Mr. Haris explained that he had sold the restaurant but told me I was welcome to stop by his real estate office when I was in town. I could not have imagined getting so lucky. Randy told me stories about growing up in Evansville and Petersburg, and about Gil and his family. Randy knows all about the bust and mural. I encourage any of you that visit Petersburg to see Gil Hodges sites to call Randy Harris. He’s a great guy with great stories.

It is very nice to see that Gil’s legacy is celebrated in Petersburg and Princeton. Gil passed away at 47 years-old from a heart attack. During his very short life, he seemingly had a significant impact on the people he knew.

Clem Labine is quoted as saying “Not getting booed at Ebbets Field was an amazing thing. Those fans knew their baseball, and Gil was the only player I can remember whom the fans never, I mean never, booed.”

Pee Wee Reese is quoted as saying “If you had a son, it would be a great thing to have him grow up to be like Gil Hodges.”

Arthur Dailey of the New York Times is quoted as saying “He (Hodges) was such a noble character in so many respects that I believe Gil to have been one of the finest men I met in sports or out of it.”

Gil’s plaque at the courthouse concludes “Gil was a man of integrity, dignity, community, family and God. He never forgot where he came from, and we will never forget him.”

Thanks Gil for being a great ballplayer. Thanks for giving us great baseball memories and for being such a good teammate and person.

This is my first blog. Thanks for reading.

So happy I made this trip!

Greg Phegley

Links to the videos I made during my trip are below.

Bust: https://youtu.be/GH7mGH-27qU?si=4vs4CykoepNcJIEC

Mural: https://youtu.be/c3JXg_l16Oo?si=P7S20L1z-4Injx26

Bridge: https://youtu.be/kBhtzC0DppE?si=GWvgA2Mwur40o3dS

Boyhood home: https://youtu.be/IxSRuAhHhwg?si=nO_FercJ0wvTauWC

Gil Hodges Ballpark: https://youtu.be/6rJzwVT_hXA?si=NBqptU1lP4JOe9QR