More than 500 big league players served in the US military during World War II. Such stars as Ted Williams and Bob Feller left the game along with many others.

With rosters depleted, baseball worked to fill the void. In 1944 the Cincinnati Reds turned to 15-year old Joe Nuxhall. On June 10, 1944, the left-hander took the mound against the Cardinals. The youngest player ever to appear in a big league game faced nine batters, allowed five to score, and retired just two.

Nuxhall toiled in the minors until returning to the Reds in 1952. He pitched until 1966 and retired at age 38. Along the way Nuxhall made two All Star games, and won 135 big league contests.

In the collection is this 3×5 index card signed by the youngest player to appear in a big league game. The Reds All Star writes, “6-10-44 M.L.B. youngest player Joe Nuxhall”.

The 1956 Reds didn’t just win games—they slugged their way into the record books. They led National League teams in home runs, RBIs, runs scored, slugging, OPS, and total bases. Cincinnati ranked second in hits, batting average, and on-base percentage.

Eight Reds players finished with at least 10 home runs. The lineup featured four of the NL’s top ten home run hitters: Frank Robinson (38), Wally Post (36), Ted Kluszewski (35), and Gus Bell (29). Robinson’s total tied Wally Berger’s rookie home run record.

The Cincinnati power barrage neared historic levels. In the second-to-last game of the year, Smoky Burgess blasted their 221st home run. That shot tied the Major League record for home runs by one team in a single season.

Joe Nuxhall was a beneficiary of the Red hot offense. Nuxhall surged from May 22nd through June 24th. During the run he tallied five victories with four complete games, one shutout and and a save. His efforts landed him on the All Star team for the second straight seasson.

Displayed here is a sheet autographed by 26 members of that legendary squad including Joe Nuxhall.

Joe Nuxhall began his career in professional baseball as a 15-year old high school student. He spent the rest of his life in the game.

Nuxhall enjoyed a 22-year playing career before retiring at age 38 in 1966. The following season he entered the Reds broadcast booth.

Nuxhall quickly became a fan favorite. Reds fans of many generations know his trademark sign off phrase, “This is the old left-hander, rounding third and heading for home”.

The phrase is displayed outside of Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park. A statue of Nuxhall stands near the entrance to the stadium. Nuxhall was elected to the Reds Hall of Fame in 1968 and continued broadcasting the team’s games until his death in 2007.

In the collection is this Topps baseball card from 1964 autographed by the Cincinnati legend.

For the majority of Joe Nuxhall’s announcing career he shared the Reds broadcast booth with Marty Brennaman. The pair worked together from 1974-2004. Marty and Joe became the soundtrack or summer for generations of Cincinnati baseball fans.

The 2000 Ford C. Frick Award winner, Brennaman was the Ohio Sportscaster of the Year 12 times. He’s a member of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, the National Radio Hall of Fame, and the Reds team Hall of Fame. 

Nuxhall is also in the team’s Hall of Fame. In fact, the old left hander is featured in one of eight statues near the entrance to the Reds’ Great American Ball Park. The others are Ernie Lombardi, Ted Kluszewski, Frank Robinson, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, and Pete Rose.

Shown here is the Cincinnati Reds-Letter, an official publication of the team. Dated February, 1974, it announces the hiring of Brennaman by the Reds. Just below the headline story is an article about Nuxhall returning for his 8th season in the booth. Both men have signed the newsletter near the pair’s picture.