Joe Nuxhall – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Joe Nuxhall made a real impact on baseball during his 16-season career, which stretched from 1944 to 1966. Fans remember the left-handed pitcher not just for his time on the mound, but also for a record that’s still hard to believe—even at the very start of his pro journey.

Nuxhall owns the youngest player title in Major League Baseball history, pitching for the Cincinnati Reds on June 10, 1944, at just 15 years and 316 days old. That debut happened smack in the middle of World War II, when teams had to get creative due to player shortages. The Reds turned to the Hamilton, Ohio native, who was still a high schooler at the time.

He didn’t have the easiest first outing and spent years sharpening his skills in the minors. By 1952, Nuxhall came back to the majors as a much more polished pitcher. His career took off through the ‘50s and early ‘60s, earning him two All-Star nods. He became a steady force in the Reds’ rotation. After retiring in 1966, he jumped right into a new chapter as the team’s beloved radio voice.

Joe Nuxhall’s Historic MLB Debut and Early Career

On June 10, 1944, Joe Nuxhall made history. He became the youngest player ever to appear in a Major League Baseball game at just 15.

He debuted with the Cincinnati Reds during World War II, when teams desperately needed young talent.

Youngest Player in Major League Baseball History

Joseph Henry Nuxhall set the record as the youngest player to ever take the field in a Major League Baseball game. He was 15 years, 10 months, and 11 days old when he pitched for the Cincinnati Reds.

This record has stood strong for over 80 years. For a long time, people thought a 14-year-old named Fred Chapman pitched in 1887. But in 2009, the Society for American Baseball Research found out that player was actually Frank Chapman, who was 25.

Born July 30, 1928, in Hamilton, Ohio, Nuxhall was a big kid for his age. He stood 6’2″ and weighed 190 pounds, which made him tower over his classmates.

He threw a hard fastball but had trouble with control. Nuxhall had already been playing semi-pro ball with his dad for a few years before MLB scouts noticed him.

1944 Debut with the Cincinnati Reds

On June 10, 1944, the Cincinnati Reds trailed the St. Louis Cardinals 13-0 in the ninth inning. Manager Bill McKechnie called in teenage Nuxhall for mop-up duty.

Nuxhall started off by getting George Fallon out on a grounder. Things went south quickly, though, and he couldn’t finish the inning. He walked five, gave up two hits, threw a wild pitch, and allowed five runs.

He later admitted just how overwhelming it felt: “I was pitching against seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders, kids 13 and 14 years old… All of a sudden, I look up and there’s Stan Musial and the likes. It was a very scary situation.”

Nuxhall signed his big league contract on February 18, 1944, for $175 a month and a $500 bonus. His high school principal even gave him special permission to join the team.

Wartime Baseball and Early Challenges

World War II set the stage for Nuxhall’s historic debut. With so many players off serving, teams scrambled to fill their rosters.

Scouts actually came to watch Nuxhall’s dad, Orville, who played semi-pro ball. When Orville turned down the offer because of his five kids, scouts shifted their focus to 14-year-old Joe.

After his MLB debut, Nuxhall went to the Birmingham Barons in the Southern League. He struggled there too, pitching just a third of an inning. He struck out the first batter, but then allowed a hit, five walks, hit a batter, and gave up five runs.

He spent the rest of 1944 in the minors. In 1945, he went to Reds spring training but chose to finish high school instead. He got his amateur status back and played football, basketball, and baseball at Hamilton High, even earning all-state honors in football and basketball.

Prime Playing Years and Team Contributions

Nuxhall’s career lasted three decades across several teams, but his best years were with the Cincinnati Reds from 1952 to 1960. He also played for the Kansas City Athletics and Los Angeles Angels, showing he could adapt as a veteran pitcher.

Return to the Cincinnati Reds

Nuxhall came back to the Cincinnati Reds in 1952 at age 23, eight years after that wild debut as a teenager. He quickly became a reliable pitcher in the National League.

His breakout season hit in 1955. He went 17-12 with a 3.47 ERA over 257 innings. He led the league with five shutouts and made his first All-Star team. That year, he ranked seventh in ERA and third in wins among NL pitchers.

He earned another All-Star nod in 1956, going 13-11 with a 3.72 ERA over 200⅔ innings. Nuxhall struck out 120 and walked 87, showing better command of his fastball.

Between 1954 and 1959, Nuxhall averaged over 12 wins per season for the Reds. He became a workhorse starter, regularly throwing more than 170 innings each year. Those years marked his best stats, and he built a reputation as a dependable lefty.

Role with Kansas City Athletics

The Cincinnati Reds traded Nuxhall to the Kansas City Athletics on January 25, 1961, for John Briggs and John Tsitouris. That was a big change for the veteran.

In his only season with Kansas City, Nuxhall struggled to find his rhythm. He went 5-8 with a 5.34 ERA over 37 games and 128 innings. That high ERA showed how tough it was for him to adjust to the American League.

Even so, Nuxhall flashed some hitting skill with the Athletics. He batted .292 in 65 at-bats, knocking 19 hits, including two homers and 13 RBIs. Not bad for a pitcher.

The Athletics released him on December 4, 1961, ending his short time there. It was a tough season, but he handled it like a pro.

Stint with Los Angeles Angels

Nuxhall signed with the Baltimore Orioles for 1962, but the Los Angeles Angels bought his contract on April 9, just a day before the season started. That last-minute move left things a bit up in the air for him.

His time with the Angels didn’t go well. He pitched in five games and posted a 10.13 ERA across 5⅓ innings. He gave up seven hits, six runs, and five walks, striking out just two.

The Angels let him go on May 15, 1962, after less than six weeks. That was probably the lowest point of his Major League Baseball career.

After that, Nuxhall signed with the Cincinnati Reds again in mid-June. He bounced back right away, going 5-0 with a 2.45 ERA in twelve games. That comeback showed just how much he belonged in Cincinnati.

Major Achievements and Milestones

Nuxhall’s achievements mostly came from his long, steady career in Major League Baseball. He finished with a 135-117 record and a 3.90 ERA over 16 seasons, racking up 1,372 strikeouts.

He made the All-Star team in 1955 and 1956, marking his best years. In the 1955 All-Star Game, he pitched 3⅓ scoreless innings and struck out five.

The Cincinnati Reds put Nuxhall in their Hall of Fame, honoring what he did as both a player and broadcaster. He held the team record for games pitched (484) from 1965 to 1975.

But the record everyone remembers? He’s still the youngest player in MLB history. At 15 years, 316 days old, he took the mound on June 10, 1944, and no one’s come close since.

Pitching Records and Statistical Legacy

Over 16 seasons, Nuxhall put up a 135-117 record with a 3.90 ERA and 1,372 strikeouts in 555 games. He pitched in 484 games for Cincinnati, a franchise record for a decade. His five shutouts in 1955 led the National League.

Games Pitched and Franchise Records

Nuxhall pitched in 484 games for the Reds, holding the franchise record from 1965 to 1975. Another pitcher eventually passed him, but he still holds the lefty record for games pitched in Cincinnati.

His career spanned 555 games total, mostly with the Reds. He logged 2,302 innings over his career.

Nuxhall’s durability made him a huge asset for the Reds. He pitched at least 29 games in eight different seasons. In 1956, he hit his peak with 44 games.

All-Star Selections and League Leading Stats

Nuxhall earned All-Star selections in 1955 and 1956. In the 1955 All-Star Game, he worked 3⅓ innings, allowed just two hits, no runs, and struck out five.

In 1955, he finished among National League leaders in several categories:

• 3rd in wins (17)
• 2nd in innings pitched (257)
• 7th in ERA (3.47)
• 7th in WHIP (1.237)

In 1956, he ranked 4th in strikeouts per nine innings (5.382) and 10th in total strikeouts (120). Those two years really stood out as his best.

Notable Performances: Shutouts, Runs Allowed

Nuxhall’s five shutouts in 1955 led the National League and were a personal best. That happened during his breakout 17-12 season with a 3.47 ERA.

He allowed 998 earned runs in his career, finishing with a 3.90 ERA. His best single-season ERA was 2.45 in 12 games after he rejoined Cincinnati in 1962.

He really improved his control after that rough teenage debut. In 1944, he gave up five runs in just ⅔ of an inning. By 1955, he was leading the league in shutouts and had become a reliable starter.

Final Season and Retirement in 1966

Nuxhall wrapped up his career after the 1966 season at age 38. He decided to retire right before Opening Day 1967 to open a roster spot for rookie Gary Nolan and move into broadcasting.

Last Seasons with the Reds

Nuxhall came back to Cincinnati in June 1962 after his short stay with the Angels. He went 5-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 12 games that year, proving he still had something left.

In 1963, he put up his best late-career numbers. Nuxhall finished 15-8 with a career-low 2.61 ERA. Not bad for a 35-year-old.

His final seasons saw his performance dip. In 1964, he went 12-5 with a 3.89 ERA in 35 games and struck out 85 in 166⅔ innings.

By 1965 and 1966, his role shrank, and he pitched less. His last MLB appearance came on October 2, 1966, for the Reds.

Transition Out of Active Playing

Nuxhall officially retired just before the 1967 season started. The Reds made the move to give Gary Nolan, a promising young pitcher, a spot on the roster.

He retired at 38 after 16 seasons in the majors. Nuxhall ended with a 135-117 record and a 3.90 ERA. He spent 15 of his 16 big league years with Cincinnati.

He wasted no time switching gears. In 1967, Nuxhall started his radio broadcasting career with the Reds and kept at it through 2004.

That move let him stay close to the game he loved. Fans really connected with his down-to-earth style and deep baseball knowledge, and he became a broadcast favorite for almost forty years.

Broadcasting and Post-Playing Career

Joe Nuxhall jumped from the pitcher’s mound straight into the broadcast booth in 1967. He kicked off a 40-year run as the voice of Cincinnati Reds baseball, and honestly, it just felt right.

He teamed up with Marty Brennaman, and together, they became one of baseball’s most beloved announcing duos. Fans stuck with them until Joe’s retirement in 2004.

Entering the Broadcast Booth

Nuxhall hung up his glove in April 1967 and right away started broadcasting for the Cincinnati Reds. He didn’t have formal experience behind the mic, but that didn’t slow him down at all.

The Reds organization gave him his first shot in radio. Even before that, Nuxhall had dabbled in calling basketball games for Miami University in the 1960s.

The timing just worked out for everyone. Nuxhall wanted to stay near his Hamilton, Ohio home instead of chasing coaching jobs that meant constant travel. Broadcasting let him stay close to baseball and Cincinnati, which he loved.

Fans quickly took to Nuxhall in the booth. His easygoing style and deep knowledge of the game clicked with Reds fans who’d watched him grow from a 15-year-old rookie to a seasoned pro.

Legacy as Reds Announcer

The Reds paired Nuxhall with play-by-play announcer Marty Brennaman in 1974, and suddenly, “Marty and Joe” became a Cincinnati baseball staple. Their partnership lasted 28 seasons and pretty much defined Cincinnati baseball.

Brennaman and Nuxhall didn’t just talk baseball. They’d chat about their golf rounds, swap gardening tips, and share personal stories, all while covering some of the biggest moments in franchise history.

Nuxhall’s style was just so approachable. He kept things conversational and broke down the game in a way that made sense to everyone, whether you were a die-hard or just tuning in.

He stepped back from full-time broadcasting after the 2004 season, which marked 60 years since his historic MLB debut. Even after that, he stuck around part-time until he passed away in 2007, wrapping up four decades behind the mic.

The Reds inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 1968 to honor his broadcasting legacy. His catchphrase, “Rounding third and heading home,” still echoes in Cincinnati baseball culture.

Legacy, Honors, and Impact on Baseball

Joe Nuxhall made a lasting impact on baseball. He broke records as the youngest player in Major League Baseball history and spent six decades with the Cincinnati Reds. His influence stretched far beyond the field—he got involved in the community, excelled in broadcasting, and started youth programs that still matter today.

Cincinnati Reds Records and Hall of Fame

Joseph Henry Nuxhall made history as the youngest player ever in a Major League Baseball game. He debuted as a left-handed pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds during a time when baseball was changing fast.

Major Honors and Recognition:

• Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame inductee
• Two-time All-Star (1955, 1956)
• 60 years of service to the Reds organization as player and broadcaster
• Statue erected at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati

From 1967 through 2004, Nuxhall’s broadcasting career became legendary among Reds fans. His sign-off—“This is the old left-hander, rounding third and heading for home”—just stuck with people.

The Reds made sure to honor him as both a player and a broadcaster. You’ll find his statue at Great American Ball Park, complete with his iconic radio farewell. It’s a permanent reminder of his unique place in team history.

Community Involvement and Memorials

Nuxhall really cared about the Cincinnati community. He joined in charity events and helped run youth programs, always trying to bring baseball to younger generations.

In 2003, he started the Joe Nuxhall Character Education Fund. This group supports character-building projects and programs for kids, keeping his focus on youth development alive even after his playing and broadcasting days.

He supported amateur baseball all over Southwest Ohio, too. College teams still honor him with tournaments that celebrate what he did for local baseball.

That statue at Great American Ball Park? It’s more than just a memorial. Fans keep coming by to see it, and it stands as a symbol of Nuxhall’s deep connection to Cincinnati and the Reds.

Influence on Future Generations

Nuxhall’s legacy sticks around thanks to ongoing educational and baseball programs that really carry his influence. His character education fund still shapes young people’s growth, focusing on the values he showed throughout his career.

The Joe Nuxhall tournament brings together Southwest Ohio college programs and shows his lasting impact on amateur baseball. These competitions celebrate his support for players at every level of the game.

He shaped how a whole generation of sports announcers approach their jobs. Nuxhall teamed up with broadcaster Marty Brennaman, and together, they set a standard for baseball commentary teams all across Major League Baseball.

Young players still hear about his historic debut and the path he made from teenage prospect to respected veteran. His story inspires players who start out young, and it proves that patience and dedication really matter in professional baseball.