ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Don Zimmer, a opular fixture in skilled baseball for 66 years as a supervisor, participant, coach and govt, has turn into the primary individual within the Tampa Bay Rays Corridor of Fame.
Zimmer was honored in a ceremony earlier than Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Detroit Tigers. He spent his final 11 years within the recreation, his longest stint with one staff, as a Rays’ senior adviser from 2004 till his loss of life ain June 2014 at age 83.
Zimmer’s spouse “Soot,” whom he married at house plate throughout a minor league recreation in 1951, and his son Tom, a retired San Francisco Giants scout, had been amongst members of the family in attendance.
“It was a fantastic honor … the Rays have been tremendous,” Soot Zimmer stated. “I marvel after I consider the 66 years he was within the recreation, and he would come down each recreation and put the uniform on even when he a senior adviser. I am unable to think about placing that uniform on on a regular basis for all these years. To me, that was one thing,”
A ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Don Zimmer’s nice grandson, 7-year outdated Carter Zimmer, to Tom Zimmer.
“This in all probability prolonged his life at the least 4 or 5 years,” an emotional Tim Zimmer stated of his father’s time with the Rays. “It was a life-extender for him to be right here. “
The formation of the Corridor of Fame is a part of the Rays’ twenty fifth anniversary season. Wade Boggs and Carl Crawford will probably be inducted in ceremonies later this yr.
Zimmer’s No. 66 jersey was retired by the Rays in 2015.
Zimmer began out as a minor league infielder in 1949. Simply recognizable for the massive chaw that at all times appeared to be in his cheek, he went to get pleasure from one of many longest-lasting careers in baseball historical past.
“Don Zimmer, you knew the face, you knew the presence, the data, the intelligence,” Rays supervisor Kevin Money stated. “Been across the recreation for thus a few years, and I feel the Rays had been extremely lucky to have him.”
Zimmer performed alongside Jackie Robinson for the one Brooklyn Dodgers staff to win the World Collection in 1955, was on the sphere with the unique New York Mets, practically managed the Boston Pink Sox to a championship within the Nineteen Seventies and was Joe Torre’s right-hand man because the bench coach with the New York Yankees’ most up-to-date dynasty.
Story continues
“Don was true legend within the recreation,” Tampa Bay principal proprietor Stu Sternberg stated. “His contributions to the group had been invaluable. They helped gasoline our success and proceed to be felt even to at the present time.”
Zimmer batted .235 in his massive league profession, however numbers might by no means outline all that he meant to the sport. He had great success — incomes six World Collection rings as participant, coach and supervisor and going to the postseason 19 occasions.
Zimmer would usually sum his time in baseball this fashion: “A reasonably good profession for a . 235 hitter.”
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