FAIRFIELD, OH (August 21, 2024)—Fans often talk of the rivalry between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh; but this weekend, the Terrible Towels that will waive in South Hills, PA will be waived in a gesture of welcome and hospitality for the athletes with special needs visiting from Cincinnati’s Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields.
On Friday August 23, 40 all-stars, their families, and a crew of volunteers and supporters from The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields will travel to Pittsburgh, PA for the 2024 Miracle Series. As part of the program, athletes with disabilities and special needs will play in baseball games at the Miracle League of the South Hills—a facility founded and led by former Cincinnati Reds first baseman and Reds Hall of Famer Sean Casey.
“This trip is more than life-changing for our athletes and their families,” says Kim Nuxhall, President and Board Chairman of The Nuxhall Foundation. “It is the reminder desperately needed by our world right now that anything is possible. Our all-stars will have a ton of fun, and they’ll walk away from this trip with a lifetime of memories. I am as excited as our players are!”
This trip is one that is years in the making, and reciprocates a visit from Casey and his athletes to the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields in 2022. That trip marked the first time that the JNMLF ever hosted an outside team to play at their facility, and the first time that the Miracle League of the South Hills ever traveled to play games on the road.
This is the second time that athletes from The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields will hit the road to play in games that promote inclusivity in baseball. In 2023, 24 JNMLF all-stars traveled to Pigeon Forge, TN for the Miracle Series held at The Cal Ripken Experience.
The Miracle League of the South Hills has a special “Pack the Park” event planned to help welcome the all-stars from the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields in grand fashion. As the teams from the JNMLF step off the team buses, a raucous crowd of supporters will greet them and show their love. Aside from the games, this “border battle” at the Miracle League of the South Hills will also feature free community fun, including food trucks, celebrity guest announcers, balloon artists, face painting, airbrush tattoos, mechanical bull rides, and more.
“We have been so touched by the time, effort, energy, and love that Sean Casey, Tim Gebhart, Lisa Carlisle, and the entire community in South Hills have poured into making this a memorable experience for our crew,” says Nuxhall Foundation Executive Director Tyler Bradshaw. “This is next-level hospitality that our families will never forget.”
Reds On the Road
After the games at the Miracle League of the South Hills, the communities from The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields and the Miracle League of the South Hills will have a chance to experience more baseball on the big stage. Thanks to a schedule aligned by the stars, the two groups will take in a baseball game at PNC Park between the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“My Dad absolutely loved visiting different ballparks across America throughout his playing and broadcasting career,” says Nuxhall. “Now, our athletes will get to experience that same joy—and if they’re lucky, they’ll get to eat a Primanti Brothers sandwich loaded down with french fries while they’re doing it!”
Thanks to the simultaneous road trip for the Reds, Bally Sports broadcaster John Sadak will serve as a guest announcer for one of the Saturday games held at the Miracle League of the South Hills. Additional games will be announced by Pirates broadcasters and local Pittsburgh media celebrities.
JNMLF all-stars from Cincinnati will also have the opportunity to spend time with their new friends from Pittsburgh at social events, including a welcome practice with “The Mayor” Sean Casey and a pool party.
“This is the road trip our families have always dreamt of but thought might never have been possible,” says Nuxhall. “It’s an unbelievable joy to watch it all play out.”
Powered by Ameritas
Continuing their tradition of amazing generosity, Ameritas returns as the presenting sponsor for the the 2024 Miracle Series trip to Pittsburgh for the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields. Ameritas provides insurance and financial products and services to individuals, families and businesses, while living out their corporate values through this sponsorship.
“We are thankful that Ameritas continues to believe in our mission of inclusion and character, and that they fill our tanks to ensure our wildest dreams are achievable,” says Bradshaw. “They are incredible partners in the work we do.”
In addition to Ameritas, a number of private donations and gifts from community organizations are powering this year’s trip, including a grant from The Shining Light Foundation to provide chartered transportation for participants while in Pittsburgh, and a gift from The Fairfield Fraternal Order of Eagles to cover a portion of the hotel cost for every participating athlete.
“I often say that every bee is important to the hive,” says Nuxhall. “And when it comes to the Miracle Series and our dreams to take our athletes on the road, we’ve got a hive that’s busting at the seams with caring and generous difference-makers.”
Dressed by the Best from Headlines Sports
For the second year in a row, Headlines Sports has gone above and beyond to provide custom uniform sets to every single participating athlete, as well as gear for every volunteer making the trip.
Athletes received their custom uniforms at a joy-filled uniform reveal held at the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields earlier this week, where they were surprised to open jerseys and hats with a bold, energetic “NUXY” emblazoned across the front. The jerseys pay tribute to the Cincinnati-Pittsburgh connection that makes this trip special, channeling elements of both major league franchises in a way that honors the special relationship between The Ole Lefthander and Sean Casey.
Headlines Sportswear president Ben Cosgrove was on hand at the uniform reveal to express his excitement and his organization’s commitment to The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields.
“We want to make this an annual thing,” said Cosgrove. “We want you all to know that we’re rooting for you and that we love being a part of your journey.”
“I am just blown away by the uniforms that the team at Headlines crafted for all of our athletes,” says Nuxhall. “Even more than that, though, I’m in awe of their unparalleled generosity. I know the feeling of getting to wear a jersey with your name on the back and what that means to you as a player—it’s a feeling I’ll never forget. The fact that our athletes with exceptionalities get that same feeling…it’s just overwhelming.”
Headlines team members Valerie Hudepohl and Darren Walters led the efforts to design these custom uniform sets.
“Without their commitment to our cause,” says Bradshaw, “this trip doesn’t happen.”
A World of Good
At the uniform reveal, Kim Nuxhall perfectly summed up the power of a trip like the Miracle Series, and why it’s more than just a baseball game.
“Right now, there’s so much division in our world and so many things that we could argue over. I wish the world would look at this. I wish the world would look at what’s going to happen this weekend and see all the good in it. This is the kind of experience that changes hearts, minds, and lives forever. We need more of this.”
2024 Miracle Series Schedule
Saturday, August 24, 2024
· 9am: Team Shuttle Arrival at Miracle League of the South Hills
· 9:30am: Opening Ceremonies
· 10am-2pm: Games at the Miracle League of the South Hills
Sunday, August 25, 2024
· 1:35pm: Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Game at PNC Park
The Nuxhall Foundation is the legacy foundation for former Major League Baseball pitcher and longtime Cincinnati Reds broadcaster, the late Joe Nuxhall. The Nuxhall Foundation carries forward three important legacy projects. A central project of The Nuxhall Foundation is The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields—an entirely accessible baseball and recreational facility where every player with every challenge gets every chance to play. Historically, nearly 300 athletes with physical and developmental disabilities aged 4 to 80 participate in programs at the Miracle League Fields. The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Scholarship (in conjunction with the Fairfield Community Foundation) provides nearly $30,000 per year in scholarship money to student athletes at all 14 Butler County high schools. Very soon, the Joe Nuxhall Memorial Scholarship will cross the million-dollar mark in scholarship money awarded. The Joe Nuxhall Character Education Fund pitches good character to young leaders throughout Greater Cincinnati by delivering and supporting programs that stress the importance of integrity, humility, respect, and kindness. In 2024, The Nuxhall Foundation will launch a $12 million capital campaign to construct The Hope Center, a year-round recreational facility for athletes with special needs that will help to create the world's most comprehensive athletic campus for individuals with disabilities.
For more information, visit http://www.nuxhallmiracleleague.org.
About Ameritas: Presenting Sponsor of The JNMLF Miracle Series
Ameritas is a marketing name for Ameritas Mutual Holding Company and its affiliated subsidiary companies, including Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York. Founded in 1887, Ameritas offers a wide range of insurance and financial products and services to individuals, families and businesses. These products and services include life insurance; annuities; individual disability income insurance; group dental, vision and hearing care insurance; retirement plans; investments; asset management; and public finance. Securities offered through affiliate Ameritas Investment Company LLC, member FINRA/SIPC and investment advisory services offered through Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC. For more information, visit ameritas.com.
For all media inquiries or to schedule an appearance, please contact:
Tyler Bradshaw
(513) 839-6164
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