Nuxie dies

Joe Nuxhall, Reds legend, died last night at 10:55 p.m.

It is with great sadness that I write this. Nuxie was as a good as they come. Humble, caring and always a joy to be around. He'll be greatly missed. Prayers and thoughts to his family.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

The last time I talked to Nuxhall in any kind of depth was when word got out that his cancer was back. He was, of course, upbeat.

"I hope I can lick this," he said. "With all the publicity it's getting, maybe others who have it will be encouraged. Maybe people will feel they can beat it, too."

Nux didn't beat it. But others should still be encouraged by how he fought the brave fight, how he never let it get him down. When we had that conversation -- it was Sept. 27 -- Nuxie answered the questions about his the disease, and then quickly changed the subject back to baseball. We chatted a while. Before I left, I asked if he was going to do a book signing he had scheduled in a couple of days.

He said he was.

"I'm not going to sit around and feel sorry for myself," he said.

Of course, he wasn't. Nuxie was of those guys who knew what a great life he had, and he was very thankful for it. I'm thankful that I got to know the man.

From his family:

“On behalf of the entire Nuxhall family we wish to express our deepest gratitude for the tremendous outpouring of prayers, well wishes, cards and messages during this very difficult time. Dad felt that he truly had three extended families during his career....The great City of Hamilton, Ohio where he grew up.....Fairfield, Ohio where he raised his children and Cincinnati, Ohio where he was able to play and broadcast the great game of baseball with the Cincinnati Reds. We will be eternally grateful to the Cincinnati Reds organization and the fans who provided us with experiences and memories of a lifetime. Dad truly loved you all."

Respectfully, Kim Nuxhall