Baseball legend Don Zimmer died on Wednesday. The former player and longtime coach has passed away at the age of 83.
Zimmer spent six decades in the game, most recently he was working as a senior advisor for the Tampa Bay Rays, but had been hospitalized since April after heart surgery.
According to The Associated Press, Zimmer had one of the longest careers in all of baseball. He began his career as a minor league infielder in 1949, he played for Hall of Fame manager Casey Stengel and coached future hall of famer Derek Jeter.
The USA Today reports Zimmer’s Major League playing career lasted 12-years, but he spent more than 30 years as a coach, manager and advisor in the big leagues.
Zimmer managed several teams including the Chicago Cubs, Texas, San Diego and Boston. He also was an assistant coach for a few clubs including Joe Torre’s New York Yankees.
“I hired him as a coach, and he became like a family member to me,” Torre said in a statement. “He has certainly been a terrific credit to the game. The game was his life. And his passing is going to create a void in my life and my wife Ali’s. We loved him.”
As a player, Zimmer also dawned quite a few uniforms. He played for the Dodgers, Mets, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati and Washington.
He also had a few connections to Minnesota as a player, including a minor league stint with the St. Paul Saints in 1953-54.
The great Don Zimmer, who has died at 83, played 154 combined games at shortstop for the St. Paul Saints in 1953-54. #Dodgers AAA then.
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) June 5, 2014
While with the Saints, Zimmer put up some pretty big numbers.
In 588 AB for @StPaulSaints in '53-54, Don Zimmer hit 40 HR, 10 3B w/.927 OPS. Beaned in '53 at age 22. Metal plate came in '56. #RIP
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) June 5, 2014
Zimmer also has another spot in Minnesota baseball history. Former Twins pitcher Jim Kaat struck out Zimmer to clinch the pennant for the Twins and send the team to the 1965 World Series.
It was Zimmer’s last at bat, his playing career ended after the 1965 season.
