Baseball Notebook | Cincinnati legend Nuxhall dies at 79
CINCINNATI - Joe Nuxhall, the youngest major-leaguer at age 15 and later a beloved broadcaster as “the ol’ left-hander” in Cincinnati, died Thursday night. He was 79.
Nuxhall died while hospitalized for treatment of pneumonia, Reds officials said. He reportedly was awaiting surgery to insert a pacemaker, and had been slowed by a recurrence of cancer since September.
Brought up by Cincinnati to pitch during World War II - recently out of junior-high classes, he unraveled at the sight of Stan Musial in the on-deck circle - Nuxhall worked more than six decades for the Reds. He continued to pitch batting practice into the 1980s and was a member of the team’s Hall of Fame.
While he won 135 major-league games, it was on the radio where he eventually became best known. On a franchise filled with Hall of Fame players and big personalities, Nuxhall might have been the most popular person.
“This is a sad day for everyone in the Reds organization,” Cincinnati outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., an ex-Mariner, said in a statement. “He did so many great things for so many people. You never heard anyone ever say a bad word about him. We’re all going to miss him.”
Bob Castellini, Reds chief executive officer, said, “Joe exemplified everything baseball’s all about, from the mound to the broadcast booth.”
Notes
• The Yankees are waiting for Mariano Rivera. The 37-year closer hasn’t accepted a $45 million, three-year offer from New York, and team officials say Rivera’s agent, Fernando Cuza, wants general manager Brian Cashman to offer a fourth season. The Yankees also are working to put third baseman Alex Rodriguez’s $275 million, 10-year contract on paper.
Team president Randy Levine and chief operating officer Lonn Trost are discussing with the commissioner’s office how to craft a provision that would allow A-Rod to share revenue the team would take in if he surpasses Barry Bonds’ career home-run record.
• The Braves made an offer to Tom Glavine, 41, moving to lock up a deal that will allow the left-hander to finish his career in Atlanta. He was 13-8 for the New York Mets this year and has 303 career wins.
• San Francisco re-signed right-handed reliever Tyler Walker, 31, to a one-year contract.
• Cesar Izturis’ $5.85 million option was declined by the Pittsburgh Pirates, who will pay the 27-year-old infielder a $300,000 buyout.
• Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez, 29, had his third operation in two months, a procedure to remove damaged tissue from his left shoulder.
• Atlanta traded reliever Oscar Villarreal, 25, to Houston for outfielder Josh Anderson, 25.
• MLB.com reported Kenny Rogers, 43, a free agent who pitched for Detroit the last two seasons, fired agent Scott Boras and is representing himself.
• The Boston Red Sox are adding more than 800 new seats to the third level above home plate at Fenway Park.