Hamilton Joes
Encyclopedia
The Hamilton Joes is a collegiate summer baseball team that competes in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League
(GLSCL), which is one of eight leagues formed under the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball (NACSB). (The NACSB is responsible for other high-profile leagues such as the Cape Cod Baseball League
.) The Club was named after legendary Cincinnati Red's baseball player and broadcaster, Joe Nuxhall. The Club's name is also a tribute to his legacy of giving to the community.
Hamilton, along with nine other teams between Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, use wood-bats, just as in professional baseball. The GLSCL is one of only nine leagues throughout the United States to do so. The use of wood-bats in summer baseball leagues gives top collegiate baseball players the opportunity to hone their skills, and showcase their talents and abilities in front of scouts from professional baseball. However, the players are not paid to play, so as to maintain their NCAA eligibility. All Hamilton Joes games, as the rest of the GLSCL games, are played by NCAA Baseball Rules.
The Joes' roster is made up of players from around the U.S. They play their home games at Foundation Field
in the city of Hamilton, Ohio
.
. The local legend's son, Kim Nuxhall, who founded and is the Executive Director for his father's namesake, the Joe Nuxhall Character Education Fund, agreed to allow the Joes to immortalize his father's memory, and the forename portion of his signature, "Joe", in the team logo.
baseball team. In the summer of 2003 the ballpark served as home field for the Florence Freedom
, an independent minor league professional team in the Frontier League
. The team played in Hamilton while a stadium was being built in Florence, Kentucky.
, Hamilton native Mike Brennan, along with their Manager/Head Coach, Darrel Grissom. Grissom is also the current Head Coach and Director of Baseball Operations for the Miami University-Hamilton Harriers.
In March 2011, Brennan resigned from his positions and named his successor, Joshua Manley, who had been with the organization from its start. Manley served as the organization's assistant general manager in its inaugural season. The following year, in 2010, Manley carried his coaching duties over from the collegiate spring season to the collegiate summer season. Manley took over as Vice President and General Manager of the Hamilton Joes, while Darrel Grissom was promoted to President and remained Director of Baseball Operations.
, for 12 years. Over his decade-long tenure at MUH, Coach Grissom has compiled an outstanding 338-165 record, winning 11 of 12 league championships, and 11 tournament crowns.
Also pulling double coaching duty with the Joes, is Grissom's Assistant Coach/1st Base Coach/Recruiting Coordinator from MUH, Joshua Manley, along with Pitching Coach - Pete Chavarria, and Butch Davis. The newest member of the Hamilton Joes' coaching staff is former Xavier University record-holder and Atlantic 10 standout, Sean West.
Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League
The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League is an collegiate summer baseball league in the Great Lakes region of the United States that is affiliated with the Alliance of Summer College Baseball and comprises teams with collegiate baseball players from around North America. Players are not paid so...
(GLSCL), which is one of eight leagues formed under the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball (NACSB). (The NACSB is responsible for other high-profile leagues such as the Cape Cod Baseball League
Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, in which many college baseball stars play during the summer. Many future Major League Baseball players have started there during their college years; MLB has provided...
.) The Club was named after legendary Cincinnati Red's baseball player and broadcaster, Joe Nuxhall. The Club's name is also a tribute to his legacy of giving to the community.
Hamilton, along with nine other teams between Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, use wood-bats, just as in professional baseball. The GLSCL is one of only nine leagues throughout the United States to do so. The use of wood-bats in summer baseball leagues gives top collegiate baseball players the opportunity to hone their skills, and showcase their talents and abilities in front of scouts from professional baseball. However, the players are not paid to play, so as to maintain their NCAA eligibility. All Hamilton Joes games, as the rest of the GLSCL games, are played by NCAA Baseball Rules.
The Joes' roster is made up of players from around the U.S. They play their home games at Foundation Field
Foundation Field
Foundation Field is a 3,000 seat baseball stadium located in Hamilton, Ohio. The field opened in 2002. It hosted the Florence Freedom in 2003 while Champion Window Field was being constructed and is currently hosting the Hamilton Joes of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. The field is...
in the city of Hamilton, Ohio
Hamilton, Ohio
Hamilton is a city in Butler County, southwestern Ohio, United States. The population was 62,447 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Butler County. The city is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area....
.
Team name and logo
The Hamilton Joes' team name and logo are taken directly from the city of Hamilton's native son, the former Major League Baseball pitcher and broadcaster of the Cincinnati Reds, Joe NuxhallJoe Nuxhall
Joseph Henry Nuxhall was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, mostly for the Cincinnati Reds. Immediately after retiring as a player, he became a radio broadcaster for the Reds from 1967 through 2004, and continued part-time up until his death in 2007...
. The local legend's son, Kim Nuxhall, who founded and is the Executive Director for his father's namesake, the Joe Nuxhall Character Education Fund, agreed to allow the Joes to immortalize his father's memory, and the forename portion of his signature, "Joe", in the team logo.
Foundation Field
Foundation Field was dedicated April 2, 2002. It was a $400,000 legacy gift from the Hamilton Community Foundation during the observance of its 50th anniversary. Foundation Field is the home field of the Miami University HamiltonMiami University Hamilton
-The Campus:A regional campus of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Miami Hamilton was established in 1968 in Hamilton, Ohio. On Miami's regional campuses, students can earn an associate degree and/or complete the following baccalaureate degrees: Bachelor of Science in Nursing , Bachelor of Science...
baseball team. In the summer of 2003 the ballpark served as home field for the Florence Freedom
Florence Freedom
The Florence Freedom are a professional baseball team based in the Northern Kentucky city of Florence, located near the city of Cincinnati. The Freedom are a member of the West Division of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league...
, an independent minor league professional team in the Frontier League
Frontier League
The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either...
. The team played in Hamilton while a stadium was being built in Florence, Kentucky.
Operations and founding
The Hamilton Joes Baseball Club was founded in 2009 as a non-profit organization, by their then President/GMGeneral manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
, Hamilton native Mike Brennan, along with their Manager/Head Coach, Darrel Grissom. Grissom is also the current Head Coach and Director of Baseball Operations for the Miami University-Hamilton Harriers.
In March 2011, Brennan resigned from his positions and named his successor, Joshua Manley, who had been with the organization from its start. Manley served as the organization's assistant general manager in its inaugural season. The following year, in 2010, Manley carried his coaching duties over from the collegiate spring season to the collegiate summer season. Manley took over as Vice President and General Manager of the Hamilton Joes, while Darrel Grissom was promoted to President and remained Director of Baseball Operations.
Coaching staff
The Joes Manager/Head Coach, Darrel Grissom, has coached the Miami University-Hamilton (MUH) Harriers' baseball team, who compete in the Ohio Regional Campus ConferenceOhio Regional Campus Conference
The Ohio Regional Campus Conference is an independent sports organization that serves the State of Ohio's regional campuses. The ORCC has ten members and currently fields eight sports - women's volleyball, women's basketball, men's basketball, women's softball, women's tennis, men's baseball,...
, for 12 years. Over his decade-long tenure at MUH, Coach Grissom has compiled an outstanding 338-165 record, winning 11 of 12 league championships, and 11 tournament crowns.
Also pulling double coaching duty with the Joes, is Grissom's Assistant Coach/1st Base Coach/Recruiting Coordinator from MUH, Joshua Manley, along with Pitching Coach - Pete Chavarria, and Butch Davis. The newest member of the Hamilton Joes' coaching staff is former Xavier University record-holder and Atlantic 10 standout, Sean West.