Don't know how he's going to like hearing this, but Reds announcer Joe Nuxhall has been named an Ohio Oddity.

That from Cleveland TV personality and author Neil Zurcher, who's in town today taping a TV show and signing Ohio Oddities (Gray & Co.; $13.95), his new book about strange and wonderful sites around Ohio.

Why Joe? Because, Zurcher says, at 15 he was the youngest pitcher in major league history - even had to get his high school principal's permission to miss a day so he could pitch.

Jim Bonaminio, owner of Jungle Jim's, is another oddity, Zucher says, citing his habit of cruising store aisles on roller skates. Or dressed as a cowboy - still on skates - and packing a foot-long leek in a holster.

Zurcher gathered his info over several years of doing "One Tank Trips" stories for Fox8 TV in Cleveland. He spent plenty of time - and found plenty of oddities - down here. Entries include Sunlite Pool at Coney Island (world's largest recirculating pool), and Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park in Hamilton, the Chateau LaRoche castle in Loveland, Ralph Stricker's roller coaster in Ross, which is frequently open for private parties and to the public.

Zurcher will tape Write Now, Ohio today at WCET for a Dec. 3 air date, then sign books 7:30 p.m. at Borders Eastgate.

Potty news: And this for people looking to torture friends: Have a psychedelic toilet installed on their lawn. It's easier than you think, says Adam Hildebrand, philanthropy chair of UC's Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

Turns out he and 27 fraternity brothers are doing it as a fund-raiser for Literacy Center West, a Price Hill agency where they volunteer tutoring children and adults preparing for GEDs.

The lads have 11 toilets - bowl only, no tanks and all disinfected, he promises - that have been painted in psychedelic patterns and decorated with flowers. For $10, they'll drop one on the lawn of your choice. For $10 more, they'll remove it from the victim's lawn. And for another $10, they'll sell potty insurance to victims so they never get one again.

As we speak, there are 10 of them out there gracing local lawns, most of which belonging to family and friends of the fraternity. Call him at 305-9448 if you feel the need to torture someone.

The fund-raiser is scheduled to end Tuesday, but Hildebrand says they'll go right on pottying people as long as there's a demand.

Cindy news: That Cincinnati cow is still making news. Cindy Woo, we mean, the runaway who escaped the slaughterhouse earlier this year. Local animal rights activist Jayn Meinhardt and her Cincinnati Vegetarian Resource Group pals have an all-you-can-eat Chinese vegan buffet at Fort Mitchell's Oriental Wok Friday, during which they'll honor Cincinnati SPCA general manager Hal Dates for his work saving Cindy Woo.

Guess who they got to sign his certificate? Doris Day (she grew up here as Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff). She'll be there in spirit only; the former actress/singer rarely travels.

Call 542-3808 if you wanna veg out with the group.

E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com.