|
CINCINNATI - Joe Nuxhall carefully held the bobblehead doll and scrawled his name across the raised right leg, then handed it back to the delighted fan in the front row.
Once again, the "Old Left-hander" had the spotlight to himself.
The Cincinnati Reds gave away Nuxhall bobbleheads on Wednesday, commemorating his historic debut 50 years ago. Nuxhall, who grew up in nearby Hamilton, holds the distinction as the youngest player to appear in the majors.
He was only 15 years old when he pitched in relief for the Reds in 1944, when teams had trouble filling their rosters because players were fighting in World War II.
|
Subscribe to
Bobble Headlines
Get the latest Bobble Head
news delivered right to
your inbox!
|
The bobblehead depicts Nuxhall in a 1944 Reds uniform, his leg raised as he delivers a pitch. The Reds had a Nuxhall/Marty Brennaman bobblehead giveaway last season, but this was the first time he got his own doll.
"All these things that have gone on the last couple of years, there's no way I could have dreamed of them," Nuxhall said.
Nuxhall, 75, is in his 31st season broadcasting Reds games with Brennaman. He will work roughly half of the games, then retire after the season.
Nuxhall gets emotional at the thought of leaving the game. He patiently signed bobbleheads next to the Reds dugout before the game, talking to each fan.
"We'll miss you, buddy," one fan said.
Nuxhall handed back the signed bobblehead and said, "Well, thank you," his voice tinged with emotion.
By Joe Kay, Associated
Press
|
BOBBLEHEADS
HOMEPAGE
|
