Joe Nuxhall Autographed ball

Dateundated

DescriptionWhite leather baseball with red stitching and black stamps, including "Spalding" and "Official National League." The ball is autographed on one panel in blue ink.

Bio/Historical NoteBaseball autographed by Joe Nuxhall. This is not a game-used ball and was signed after 1944 based on the facsimile National League president signature on the baseball. On June 10, 1944, 15-year-old Nuxhall became the youngest person ever to play Major League Baseball when he pitched in a game for the Cincinnati Reds. Nuxhall threw two-thirds of the ninth inning in an 18-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The game was played during World War II, when it became common for adolescent and older players to fill in for big league players who were fighting overseas.

Object numberB-1973-0028

Artist, Creator, or Manufacturer A.G. Spalding & Bros. (Manufacturer)

Subject Nuxhall, Joe

Attributes

baseballs (ball)

Classificationssports and athletic equipment

Dimensions3 in. diameter

Public Access NotePlease note that not all works are on view at all times - their availability is subject to change per the discretion of the Museum staff. Only a portion of NBHFM's collection is currently online and the information presented here is subject to updates and additions based on research and imaging activities. The images, titles, and descriptions are products of their time. If you have corrections or additional information about this object, please email research@baseballhall.org to help improve our records. This material is made available for private study, scholarship, and research use. Every effort has been made to accurately determine the rights status of images. Please email us if you have further information on the rights status of an image contrary to or in addition to the information in our records. For more information or access to a high resolution reproduction (some fees may apply), contact: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Giamatti Research Center, research@baseballhall.org, 607-547-0330.