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FAIRFIELD — There are only a few more days to buy a chance to win Joe Nuxhall's 1989 Lincoln Continental, which will be raffled on June 10 at Hamilton Night at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

The not-often-driven car will be given away on the anniversary of the Reds Hall of Fame pitcher's first major league pitch as a 15-year-old in 1944. Son Kim Nuxhall said his dad would have liked the idea to raffle his car to benefit the Hope Project.

"There's some memories tied to that; a few trips to the ballpark, no doubt, were taken in that, and around town and to a Miami (University) basketball game I'm sure over the winter a few times," said Nuxhall.

The Hope Project benefits the Miracle League, Children's Center at One Way Farm in Fairfield, Butler County Reds Rookie Success League and Joe Nuxhall Scholarship and Character Education funds.

Just like every event that honors the man known as Nuxy, who died in November, it will be a difficult time for the Nuxhalls.

"It's going to be intense, it's going to be emotional since it's the anniversary of his first pitch and it's Hamilton night," Kim Nuxhall said. "Indirectly, I kind of hope a Hamilton or Fairfield person wins the car.

"That would be kind of neat."

Dave Tragesser, owner of Tragesser Ford in Ross Twp., has the Lincoln Continental, a car the Ol' Lefthander bought new from Tragesser.

The proprietor-patron relationship between Tragesser and Nuxhall developed into a friendship in which the two would eat breakfast at the Venice Castle or play a round of golf.

Cyndi Brown, chairwoman of the Hope Project fundraisers, got to know Nuxhall in the few years before he died and said she will shed lots of tears when it's time to raffle the car.

"He epitomized and could have been the poster boy for all the virtues of character," said Brown. "As we all know, none of us are perfect, but I think Joe came pretty close."

Those who attend Hamilton night also may visit the Nuxhall exhibit at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum at the ballpark. "The Ol' Lefthander: A Tribute to Joe Nuxhall" features memorabilia. The most recent item, from a Fairfield restaurant, was just added on Thursday, May 29 — a counter stool from the Ohio 4 Bob Evans eatery on which Nuxhall sat nearly every morning for his oatmeal breakfast.

Buy your chance

People can still buy $20 raffle tickets for a chance to win Nuxhall's 1989 Lincoln Continental at several area locations:

Tragesser Ford, 4055 Hamilton Cleves Road, Ross Twp.

Joe Nuxhall's Golf Center, 101 Joe Nuxhall Way, Fairfield

Skyline, 1190 Hicks Blvd., Fairfield

Red Squirrel, 6601 Dixie Highway, Fairfield

Riverbank Cafe, 102 Main St., Hamilton

Nuxhall Memorial Scholarship Golf Open

When: June 16; lunch begins at 11 a.m.; shotgun start at 1:30 p.m.; dinner/auction immediately following play

Where: Elks Golf Course, 4444 Hamilton-Middletown Road (Ohio 4) in Liberty Twp.

Cost: $300 per person, including lunch, dinner and auction; $50 for dinner and auction only

More info: Call (513) 829-6355 or visit nuxhallopen.org

»Purchase our exclusive Joe Nuxhall tribute DVD

journalnews.com/hope or middletown.com/hope

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5112 or mpitman@coxohio.com.

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