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Ol' lefthander Joe Nuxhall to drop first puck at Mighty Ducks home opener

October 13, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Cincinnati RailRaiders News Release


CINCINNATI, Ohio – Joe Nuxhall, who celebrated his 53rd season with the Cincinnati Reds, his 60th in the organization and 38th in the broadcast booth in 2004, will drop the ceremonial first puck when the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks play their home opener Saturday, October 23 against Rochester at 7:35 p.m. at Cincinnati Gardens.

Nuxhall began his broadcasting career with the Reds in 1967 and teamed with Marty Brennaman for their 31st season together on the Reds Radio Network this past season. In December 2003, Nuxhall was placed on the ballot for the Ford C. Frick award, given annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame to a broadcaster "for major contributions to the game of baseball." Brennaman, Red Barber (WSAI, 1934-38) and Russ Hodges (WFBE, 1932) are the only Reds announcers ever to receive the Hall of Fame's prestigious broadcasting award.

On June 10 of this past season, Nuxhall celebrated the 60th anniversary of his Major League debut. At age 15 that day in 1944, he became the youngest player of the modern era to appear in a Major League game, a record that still stands.

The Reds Hall of Fame lefthander pitched in the Major Leagues for 16 years (1944, 1952-66), including all or parts of 15 seasons with the Reds, and compiled a 135-117 record and 3.90 ERA in 526 appearances (287 starts) with Cincinnati, Kansas City and Los Angeles. On August 11, 1959 against the Milwaukee Braves, he became the first Reds pitcher to strike out four batters in an inning, tying a Major League record, and still ranks among the organization's all-time leaders with 484 games (third), 2,169 innings pitched (fifth) and 1,289 strikeouts (third).

Nuxhall and his wife, Donzetta, live in Fairfield.

Tickets for the Mighty Ducks home opener and all 2004-05 regular-season home games can be purchased at the Cincinnati Gardens Box Office. Tickets can also be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets; by phone by calling Ticketmaster at (513) 562-4949; or online at _www.ticketmaster.com_ (http://www.ticketmaster.com/) .

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