Northern Kentucky's Joe Z, a prominent figure in sports broadcasting, recognized for his work at Great American Ball Park
Joe Zerhusen: The Familiar Voice of the Cincinnati Reds
Joe Zerhusen, the friendly and familiar voice of the Cincinnati Reds, has been announcing for the team at Great American Ball Park for over two decades. His journey in broadcasting began unexpectedly during his high school years, with a chance encounter at a gas station and a communications class that introduced him to the world of radio.
Born and raised in Park Hills, Zerhusen's local roots run deep. His early experiences hiking through Northern Kentucky and familiar landmarks like Crosley Field sparked a connection to the Cincinnati Reds, setting the stage for his eventual role. After attending Covington Catholic High School, Zerhusen's first job in broadcasting was at WLQA-FM, where he converted vinyl records to carts.
Throughout his career, Zerhusen has worked with notable figures in the industry such as Nick Clooney and Bob Braun. His broadcasting career also includes calling games for a big-time UC basketball program, with Bob Huggins in Conference USA, alongside coaches like Rick Pitino and John Calipari. His work even extended to Busch/NASCAR races at Kentucky Speedway.
A significant milestone in Zerhusen's career came in 2017 when he was diagnosed with cancer. After undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments, he missed 23 games during the season. Despite the setback, he returned to his booth and was saluted by Joey Votto, a moment he considers his greatest in his career.
Zerhusen's broadcasting style is unique. He doesn't consider himself an "announcer," but rather a broadcaster who talks baseball to the fans in the stands. His wood-paneled office and studio at the back of the Bourbon Club, a popular spot at the ballpark, reflect this approachable style.
In addition to his work as the Reds' PA announcer, Zerhusen still does production work on commercials for the team's advertisers. He can be reached at [email protected] and followed on X (@dweber3440).
Zerhusen's career echoes that of his idol, Paul Sommerkamp, who also hailed from Northern Kentucky and worked as the Reds' announcer for 34 seasons at Crosley Field and Riverfront Stadium. As Zerhusen enters his 70th year, he has retired from overseeing local stations carrying the Reds' games, but his legacy as the friendly and familiar voice of the Cincinnati Reds lives on.
In his hometown of Cincinnati, Joe Zerhusen, known as the friendly and familiar voice of the Reds, worked in Covington, Kentucky at WLQA-FM, converting vinyl records to carts during his early years in broadcasting. Over the years, Zerhusen has called games for a big-time UC basketball program and even extended his broadcasting to Busch/NASCAR races in Kentucky Speedway. Despite a cancer diagnosis in 2017, Joe Zerhusen returned to the booth, a moment he considers his greatest in his career. Exhibiting a unique approachable style, Zerhusen, like his idol Paul Sommerkamp, has retired from overseeing local stations carrying the Reds' games, but his legacy as the friendly and familiar voice of the Cincinnati Reds continues in events around arts and sports in the city.
