OT: RIP Don Zimmer... The Gerbil

[pap49cba]

One of baseball's originals.... LINK

 

[VAUConnFan]

An original New York Met in 1962.

Took great pride in never earning a paycheck outside of baseball.

While coaching third base for the Yankees, got plunked by a line drive. When he came to, he was asked who the President of the United States was. Zimmer's reply: "I didn't know who the hell it was, before that ball knocked me out."

Was, unfortunately, the manager of the Red Sox in 1978 when the Yankees came storming back from way back to win the American league East on the Bucky Dent homerun. Many want to blame him for overusing his pitching staff. It was not Don Zimmer's fault that the Red Sox blew that seemingly insurmountable cushion.

Loved to play the ponies.

 

[Sonny44]

Sad, we don't raise them like him much anymore.

 

[Aluminny69]

Still love my 57 Topps Baseball cards.....

 

[Icebear]

Don Zimmer was the Forest Gump of baseball being connected to so many moments of baseball lore.

 

[pap49cba]

Don Zimmer was the Forest Gump of baseball being connected to so many moments of baseball lore.

Sweeny Murti @YankeesWFAN · 12h
Don Zimmer lived a full baseball life. Met Babe Ruth, played with Jackie Robinson, coached Derek Jeter. An American original. Rest in peace.

 

[RoyDodger]

I saw Zim play for the Brooklyn Dodgers way back in the 1950s. Once a Dodger, always a Dodger. As Vin Scully said last night on the Dodger broadcast, Zim was one of those ballplayers who was genuinely beloved by his teammates.

 

[Icebear]

He was present for all three perfect games pitched in Yankee Stadium. He was present for Fisk's home run in 75 and Dent's in 78. He played for the team with the worst loss record ever and coached on the team with the best win record ever.

 

[Husky25]

He was present for all three perfect games pitched in Yankee Stadium. He was present for Fisk's home run in 75 and Dent's in 78. He played for the team with the worst record ever and coached on the team with the best record ever.

Zimmer coached the 1936 Cubs? He was 5 years old.

 

[Blakeon18]

His granddaughter was on the UMass softball team...maybe third base...she was good and during her stay there
the team was good. I recall reading that during one of their NCAA tournament games Don Zimmer was in the Tampa Bay clubhouse prior to their own game
and was getting urgent help from a techie in how to access the UMass results.

 

[RoyDodger]

Zimmer coached the 1936 Cubs? He was 5 years old.

Not quite sure what point you were making, but the 1936 Cubs finished second with a record of 87-67.

 

[Aluminny69]

Not quite sure what point you were making, but the 1936 Cubs finished second with a record of 87-67.

According to Wikipedia, the best all time winning percentage was the 1906 Cubs at 116-36 .763 winning percentage. The best percentage in the "modern" era was the 1954 Cleveland Indians at 111-43 .721 PCT. The best record since 2000 was the 2001 Seattle Mariners at 116-46 .716 PCT.

 

[Husky25]

Not quite sure what point you were making, but the 1936 Cubs finished second with a record of 87-67.

Sorry. 1906 Cubs. The '98 Yankees had 125 wins during the regular season and three rounds of playoffs (the most ever), but they did not have the best record in history, which includes losses.

 

[Icebear]

According to Wikipedia, the best all time winning percentage was the 1906 Cubs at 116-36 .763 winning percentage. The best percentage in the "modern" era was the 1954 Cleveland Indians at 111-43 .721 PCT. The best record since 2000 was the 2001 Seattle Mariners at 116-46 .716 PCT.

I was addressing the loss record and win record for the modern era.

'62 Mets 120 losses.

'98 Yanks 125 wins (w/ playoffs)

 

[Wonkster]

Gerbil?

Must have had a DNA transplant done. The whole time I saw him while playing for the Dodgers he was called 'The Penguin.'

 

[j66kicker]

Memorable Zimmer moment...

 

[jcoton56]

Gerbil?

Must have had a DNA transplant done. The whole time I saw him while playing for the Dodgers he was called 'The Penguin.'

In either case they most definitely broke the mold. Godspeed zim

 

[Icebear]

Gerbil?

Must have had a DNA transplant done. The whole time I saw him while playing for the Dodgers he was called 'The Penguin.'

Yea, he was called the Gerbil, don't remember the Penguin. I guess I am too young.
'

 

[VAUConnFan]

Gerbil?

Must have had a DNA transplant done. The whole time I saw him while playing for the Dodgers he was called 'The Penguin.'

The Penguin was Ron Cey. Cey, incidentally, was a childhood friend of Ahmad Rashad. (Then again, I can only go back as far as the 1962 Dodgers. Zimmer, may very well have been called The Penguin)

 

[Husky25]

"Gerbil" was not a term of endearment. Bill "Spaceman" Lee coined the term when saying that Zimmer was fat, old, bald, and had no idea how to run a pitching staff. There was no love lost between the two baseball lifers.