Joe Nuxhall, Reds Broadcaster And Baseball's Youngest Player, Dies

CINCINNATI (AP) - The Cincinnati Reds say former pitcher and Reds broadcaster Joe Nuxhall has died. He was 79 and died overnight from cancer.

Nuxhall was also the youngest player in major league history.

On Reds radio broadcasts, Nuxhall was known and beloved as the
"old left-hander."

Back in 1944, he was just shy of his 16th birthday when he appeared in relief for a team depleted of players by the war. Nuxhall recalled the fear he felt when, just weeks after pitching to seventh and eighth graders, he suddenly realized he was pitching to Stan Musial. He got two outs before completely losing his composure as he faced the St. Louis Cardinals' legend.

Nuxhall spent several years in the minors before returning to the Big Leagues and playing 15 years for the Reds.

Nuxhall retired from his full-time job in the radio booth after the 2004 season on the 60th anniversary of his historic pitching
debut.

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