Great baseball man, remember his playing days with the Brooklyns, his managerial stints. Made great contributions as Torres major staffer to those 90's winners. Always remember wearing the helmet liner. Rest in Peach Zim!
Makes me want to go body slam Pedro! Zim put in some good words for this team, they need another angel in the outfield.
Don “Popeye” Zimmer-RIP in HHOF…(Heaven’s Hall of Fame). The World lost the EPITOME of a MLB-LIFER. DZ, one class act. 65 of his 83 years of life, spent in MLB....WOW....!!! Born in 1931, first game played in Minors in 1949, at 18 yrs of age, for the Cambridge Dodgers, 1st Major League game in Brooklyn-1954. Played 3rd, SS and 2nd base: for - Bums-Brooklyn and L.A., Cubs, Mets (inagural 62 season), Reds, back to L.A., Washington Senators. Became a coach in 71, Manager in 72, with: San Diego Montreal Bosox; (The Sox would win no less than 91 games in Popeyes’s next 3 seasons as Skipper). Texas, Cubs from 88-91. Yanks Coach from 96-03. Zimmer moved on to the Rays front office, until his end days. Heaven has a new Iconic Mgr. for its HHOF Team...!
The way that Bay News Nine is handling the Zimmer Story you'd have thought his other baseball experiences were a stop along the way enroute to that heavenly assignment of being around the Rays. Anyone notice where the Yankees went after Zimmer went, I always thought that those Yankee Teams of the late 90's were formulated by Stick Michael and headed up by Showalter. Torre was handed that team with Zimmer as prime staff guru. Upon departure of that staff headed by Zimmer, the dew fell off of the Bronx Rosebuds. I appreciated the hell out of Zimmer, a man of class and character.
Showalter got a raw deal in NY. Even worse a raw deal in Arizona. Only 2 Pitchers short of a World Series. It pissed me off, when AZ. let Buck go, then went out and got the Team the two keys to Series Victory. RJ and CS. Now why in the hell could they of not given Buck what he asked for...? He would of had his World Series a year prior. Buck got screwed in more ways than one. Zimmer yes, was a class act.... In process of reading Torre Years, King George's sedative Mgr. Joe like any had the utmost respect for Zimmer too. Don was the anchor of the boat for those great Bronx Teams. Tho' I have the utmost respect for Joe. Can't forget his 71 Cards MVP year, either.
He was quite a character & very well loved by those who played around him. My only regret is that someone didn't cold cock Pedro after throwing Zim to the ground.
I don't mean to sound insensitive, but, I first thought of Pedro's throwing Zim to the ground, would be appropriate to have Pedro have to carry Zim's casket on his back, crawling like a dog. But then, the Family would be upset Pedro was even there. No dogs allowed at such an event of a very honorable man....Zim's staring eyes could cut right through a person, player or Ump. Classic Don Zimmer...!
Appreciate Zim. He knew his baseball and always helped players. Baseball lost a gem of a man. Mortality just sucks. RIP Don Zimmer
Only one guy I can think of in History of the Sport....only the douche bag Lasorda....! Tom began his minor league career in 45, ..... still in the front office as a glorified consultant, been with the Bums org. for 69 years, and he's 87 years old. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=lasord001tho http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=zimmer001don
The only amazing thing here, is Lasorda's done it all with the same Organization....tho' I have and had more respect for Zimmer. 1 of my favorite movie scence's: from Fletch (with Chevy Chase), in the Sheriff's Office, during Lock Up, "Is this your picture of Tommy Lasorda"..."yes it is", SMASH goes the frame glass, and pic falls to the floor....."I hate Tommy Lasorda"... (I hate the word hate, so I only use it when quoting another source)-LOL..
It is amazing when one thinks so few WWII vets are still alive. Yet, Lasorda, at 18 began his career right around the end of WWII. In his own way, he too is a Veteran of MLB Wars...! Together Walt Alston and Lasorda, ran the Bums combined from 54 to 96. Alston- 54 to 76, 22 years at the helm. Lasorda- 77 to 96, 22 more years, 44 combined years, no duo of Mgrs. have Managed the same Team for as long; a period of time, and in back to back consecutive terms or years.
