Don Zimmer

Don Zimmer
Zimmer with the Rays in 2009
Infielder / Manager / Coach
Born: (1931-01-17)January 17, 1931 Cincinnati, Ohio
Died: June 4, 2014(2014-06-04) (aged 83) Dunedin, Florida
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 2, 1954, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1965, for the Washington Senators
MLB statistics
Batting average	.235
Home runs	91
Runs batted in	352
Managerial record	885–858
Winning %	.508
Teams
As Player Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers (1954–1959) Chicago Cubs (1960–1961) New York Mets (1962) Cincinnati Reds (1962) Los Angeles Dodgers (1963) Washington Senators (1963–1965) Toei Flyers (1966) As Manager San Diego Padres (1972–1973) Boston Red Sox (1976–1980) Texas Rangers (1981–1982) Chicago Cubs (1988–1991) As Coach Montreal Expos (1971) San Diego Padres (1972) Boston Red Sox (1974–1976) New York Yankees (1983) Chicago Cubs (1984–1986) New York Yankees (1986) San Francisco Giants (1987) Boston Red Sox (1992) Colorado Rockies (1993–1995) New York Yankees (1996–2003) Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays (2004–2014)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star (1961, 1961²) 6× World Series champion (1955, 1959, 1996, 1998–2000) NL Manager of the Year (1989) Tampa Bay Rays #66 retired

As Player

As Manager

As Coach

Donald William Zimmer (January 17, 1931 – June 4, 2014) was an American infielder, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB). Zimmer was involved in professional baseball from 1949 until his death, a span of 65 years.

Zimmer signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1949. He played in MLB with the Dodgers (1954–59, 1963), Chicago Cubs (1960–61), New York Mets (1962), Cincinnati Reds (1962), and Washington Senators (1963–65). Shortly thereafter came a stint with the Toei Flyers of Nippon Professional Baseball in 1966.

In between, Zimmer saw action in all or parts of 18 minor league seasons spanning 1949–67. He also played winter baseball with the Elefantes de Cienfuegos and the Tigres de Marianao of the Cuban League during the 1952–53 season, as well as for the 1954–55 Puerto Rican League champion Cangrejeros de Santurce en route to the 1955 Caribbean Series. Zimmer led his team to the Series title, topping all hitters with a .400 batting average (8-for-20), three home runs and a .950 slugging percentage, while claiming Most Valuable Player honors.

During a minor league game on July 7, 1953, Zimmer was struck by a pitch thrown by pitcher Jim Kirk, causing Zimmer to lose consciousness. He suffered a brain injury that required surgery. He woke up two weeks later, thinking that it was the day after the game where the incident took place. This led to Major League Baseball adopting batting helmets as a safety measure to be used by players when at-bat. Phil Rizzuto was the first player to use the batting helmets.