RIP Don Zimmer

[fan_since79]

Baseball legend Don Zimmer dies at 83. He recently had heart surgery to repair a valve.

 

What a life! He was in baseball for 66 years.

 

http://tbo.com/sports/rays/baseball-legend-don-zimmer-dies-at-83-20140604/

[Amazing Larry]

RIP. I was hoping he'd pull through but I guess it wasn't meant to be. Baseball wouldn't be the same without Don Zimmer.

 

Hopefully he'll be remembered for more than just being tossed by Pedro.

[fan_since79]

excerpt:

He was hit in the temple on July 7, 1953 by a pitch from Jim Kirk that left him unconscious for 13 days. When he finally awoke, he thought he was unconscious for only one day.

 

Doctors drilled four holes in Zimmer’s head to relieve the pressure from the swelling of his brain. He did not have a metal plate inserted in his head, as the legend goes. Instead, doctors inserted screws in the holes.

 

The injury left him with blurred vision. Doctors told him he was lucky to be alive and would never play again play baseball.

 

Two years later, Zimmer was the starting second baseman in Game 7 of the World Series.

[Spirit]

Absolutely amazing all of the teams this guy played for and coached for.  This is a loss for all of baseball.

 

 

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) (NPB)

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)

[Homebrewer]

NO!

 

Zim will always be one of my favorite baseball people.

I hope Pedro Martinez feels especially bad tonight (though I doubt he will... jerk)

[Homebrewer]

 

Absolutely amazing all of the teams this guy played for and coached for.  This is a loss for all of baseball.

 

 

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) (NPB)

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)

 

There are a lot of sad people around baseball tonight. He touched so many lives.

[Sherlock31]

Big loss

 

RIP! Zimmer

[disarcina]

A true baseball man -- not many left and we're losing them fast........although Jim Fregosi was about ten years younger than ZIM, Fregosi was another 'one of those baseball guys'  --  as in one of those guys who's been in baseball all his life, really never earned a paycheck from anything other than baseball........got drafted young, back in the day when there were fewer college players and went right into the game, had a successful run as a player, then turned to managing and coaching.

 

ZIM had quite the run as bench coach to Joe Torre with the Yankees.......

 

a real loss for MLB because we're not replacing these kind of guys.........

[Homebrewer]

A true baseball man -- not many left and we're losing them fast........although Jim Fregosi was about ten years younger than ZIM, Fregosi was another 'one of those baseball guys'  --  as in one of those guys who's been in baseball all his life, really never earned a paycheck from anything other than baseball........got drafted young, back in the day when there were fewer college players and went right into the game, had a successful run as a player, then turned to managing and coaching.

 

ZIM had quite the run as bench coach to Joe Torre with the Yankees.......

 

a real loss for MLB because we're not replacing these kind of guys.........

Amen

[Homebrewer]

As Zimmer got older, and players got bigger....I will always remember him sitting on the bench, looking like a kid because his feet didn't reach the ground.

[ten ocho recon scout]

RIP

[JAHV76]

RIP. He contributed to so many great players with his experience.

[CaliAngel]

I think the first time I was "introduced" to Zimmer was when this happened.

 

 

But seriously, RIP, I'm sure he was a great baseball guy and unfortunately I never got to see much of him.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

Zim was one of the good guys. He will be missed.

[Guest]

I tip my cap to Zimmy for exposing how vile and classless the Red Sox are. A humble man, being content as a bench coach for decades is a rarity, but he also put pride aside when Pedro Martinez embarssed him all for the sake of revealing the Red Sox filth to all.

 

He was the stalwart of MLB, and his dedication for the game, and relatable disgust in BOS warrants a Don Zimmer statue in Angel Stadium.

 

Don Zimmer not only continued the Yankees' tradition of Red Sox hating, but perservered through old age in handing down Red Sox hatred to the Rays organization. His legacy will live on, if David Price is any indication.

 

Angels should wear a patch honoring this great man.

 

(excuse the distasteful video title).

 

May he rest in peace.

 

In closing, F*** David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, et al. (Jason Varitek being the exception).

Edited June 5, 2014 by failos

[Docwaukee]

There aren't/weren't many bad baseball players to achieve the iconic status that zim did.  He was one of those guys you just knew.  To me, he was one of those guys that reminded you of generations past.  A little piece of baseball died today. 

[Bruce Nye]

Sad to be sure, but 83 is a great long life.  And he had a great one.

[fan_since79]

He was married at home plate before a minor league game in August of 1951. His wife of almost 63 years survives him.

 

[Blarg]

As for the Pedro Martinez incident, Zimmer went Mad Dog on Martinez that was just standing around in his warm up jacket. It was a stupid move by the old man and Pedro never threw a punch. He just pushed him aside. It was classless by Zimmer to attack a player as a coach, he should have been the guy interceding not inciting. Not one of his prouder moments.

[mp170.6]

I think I saw an interview once where Zimmer expressed remorse for his role in the Pedro incident.  Anybody else see that?

[Blarg]

He held a presser the next day saying it was a disgrace and all his own fault. The Yankees didn't want him to do it for fear he would say something to escalate the tension. In the end Zimmer took full responsibility.

[Chuck]

Always loved this guy. RIP.

[mp170.6]

Thanks for refreshing my memory. 

[Mark68]

As for the Pedro Martinez incident, Zimmer went Mad Dog on Martinez that was just standing around in his warm up jacket. It was a stupid move by the old man and Pedro never threw a punch. He just pushed him aside. It was classless by Zimmer to attack a player as a coach, he should have been the guy interceding not inciting. Not one of his prouder moments.

He did apologize after the incident. Not just an "I apologize to those I may have offended" apology, but one where he apologized for embarrassing himself, the Yankees, the Red Sox, and all of baseball.

 

Zim said he was proud to have never been paid for any job other than baseball.

 

Also, trivia side note, he was the last former Brooklyn Dodger who was still active in the game.

[ten ocho recon scout]

As for the Pedro Martinez incident, Zimmer went Mad Dog on Martinez that was just standing around in his warm up jacket. It was a stupid move by the old man and Pedro never threw a punch. He just pushed him aside. It was classless by Zimmer to attack a player as a coach, he should have been the guy interceding not inciting. Not one of his prouder moments.

Yeah, to be fair that one wasnt so much on pedro