43 Facts About Don Zimmer

Donald William Zimmer was an American infielder, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball.

Don Zimmer signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1949.

Don Zimmer played in the major leagues with the Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, and Washington Senators.

Don Zimmer woke up two weeks later, thinking that it was the day after the game where the incident took place.

Don Zimmer served as manager for the Padres, Red Sox, Texas Rangers, and Cubs.

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Don Zimmer began his career in 1949 with the Cambridge Dodgers of the Class-D Eastern Shore League.

Don Zimmer then played with the Hornell Dodgers of the Class-D PONY League in 1950, the Elmira Pioneers of the Single-A Eastern League in 1951, the Mobile Bears of the Double-A Southern League in 1952, and the St Paul Saints of the Triple-A American Association in 1953 and 1954.

Don Zimmer made his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954.

Don Zimmer was not fully conscious for 13 days, during which holes were drilled in his skull to relieve the pressure of swelling.

Don Zimmer's vision was blurred, he could neither walk nor talk and his weight plunged from 170 to 124.

Don Zimmer was told his career was finished at age 22; nonetheless, the following year Zimmer reached the Major Leagues.

Don Zimmer was beaned again in 1956 when a fastball thrown by Cincinnati Reds' pitcher Hal Jeffcoat broke his cheekbone and almost caused a detached retina but he persevered.

Don Zimmer returned briefly to the Dodgers in 1963, when the Reds traded him to the Dodgers for Scott Breeden.

Don Zimmer played in the World Series with the Dodgers in 1955 and 1959, and was selected to the National League All-Star team in 1961.

Don Zimmer caught 33 games in his final season with Washington in 1965.

Don Zimmer served as a player-manager for the Cincinnati Reds with the Double-A Knoxville Smokies and Triple-A Buffalo Bisons in 1967.

Don Zimmer ended his playing career after the 1967 season, and he managed the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in 1968.

Don Zimmer spent a year with Mauch, then returned to the Padres to take up a similar post for 1972.

Don Zimmer then was hired as the third-base coach for the Boston Red Sox, serving for 2½ seasons.

Don Zimmer led them to a winning record, but a disappointing third-place finish in the AL East.

Don Zimmer never got along with left-handed starting pitcher Bill "Spaceman" Lee.

Reportedly, Carl Yastrzemski pleaded with Don Zimmer to start Lee, who, along with Luis Tiant, had dominated the Yankees during their careers.

Don Zimmer started Fisk, the team's longtime starting catcher, 154 times, a heavy workload for a catcher.

Finally, Don Zimmer kept third baseman Butch Hobson in the lineup, even though Hobson's elbow miseries made it impossible for him to hit for power or average, or throw accurately.

Don Zimmer spent less than two years in the job and his firing by owner Eddie Chiles was different.

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Don Zimmer was fired on a Monday but asked to remain on through Wednesday's game before being replaced by Darrell Johnson.

Don Zimmer served as third base coach for the Chicago Cubs from 1984 to 1986.

Don Zimmer was fired as Cubs manager during the 1991 season after a slow start.

Don Zimmer was unhappy that Baylor had become close to Art Howe, who was added to the Rockies coaching staff in 1995.

In 1999, Don Zimmer filled in for manager Joe Torre while he was recuperating from treatment for prostate cancer.

In 1999, Don Zimmer was hit by a sharply struck foul ball batted by Yankee second baseman Chuck Knoblauch.

The next game, Don Zimmer wore an army helmet with the word "ZIM" painted on the side and the Yankees logo stenciled on the front, which was given to him by Michael Patti, a Madison Avenue advertising executive.

Don Zimmer was involved in a brawl with Pedro Martinez in the 2003 American League Championship Series, when he ran at Martinez and Martinez threw him to the ground.

Don Zimmer accepted responsibility for the altercation and was apologetic to his family and the Yankees organization but maintained that Martinez was "one of the most unprofessional players" he had ever known.

Don Zimmer was a senior advisor for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2004 to 2014.

Don Zimmer's role included assisting the team during spring training and during home games.

Don Zimmer wrote two books, Zim: A Baseball Life, and The Zen of Zim, that describe his life in baseball, as a player, manager, and coach.

Don Zimmer served as a member of the advisory board of the Baseball Assistance Team, a 501 non-profit organization dedicated to helping former Major League, Minor League, and Negro league players through financial and medical difficulties.

Don Zimmer's father owned a wholesale fruit and vegetable company.

At home plate before a night game in Elmira on August 16,1951, Don Zimmer married Soot, whom he had started dating in 10th grade.

Don Zimmer's son Thomas is a scout with the San Francisco Giants.

In December 2008, Don Zimmer suffered a stroke, causing loss of speech for a week.

On June 4,2014, Don Zimmer died at age 83 in Dunedin, Florida, from heart and kidney problems.