HAMILTON, Ohio (Journal-News, February 19, 2008) -- Fans of "Hamilton Joe" will have to wait until 2009 to see if the Ol' Left-hander will be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Dave Niehaus, the Seattle Mariners voice since 1977, was chosen over Joe Nuxhall. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Niehaus will be on Sunday, July 27, in Cooperstown, N.Y.

The Hamilton native and long-time Fairfield resident died Nov. 15 after suffering from a number of health ailments, including lymphoma, pneumonia and a failing heart.

Nuxhall, who had been associated with the Reds for six decades, received more than 67 percent (82,304 of 122,505 votes) of all online voting as one of three fans' choice to be a finalist for the Frick award. Nuxhall's vote total exceeded the old record by nearly 50,000 votes set by fans of Lon Simmons in 2003 to be on the 2004 ballot. This was Nuxhall's third time on the finalist ballot. He was previously a finalist on the 2006 and 2003 lists.

According to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Frick Award is presented annually to a broadcaster for his or her "major contributions to baseball." The award, named after the late broadcaster, National League President, Commissioner, and Hall of Famer, has been presented annually since 1978.

Frick also has been credited with being "a driving force behind the creation of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and he helped foster the relationship between radio and the game of baseball," according to the hall of fame.

Local politicians had campaigned for Nuxhall, including State Sen. Gary Cates, R-West Chester Twp., who led 33 senators to sign a letter in December urging the Hall to elect Nuxhall, and Butler County Commissioner Greg Jollivette, who helped to lead a push for fans to vote "early and often" online.