Don Zimmer

Don Zimmer was a baseball lifer whose six-decade career as a player, coach, manager, and advisor made him one of the game’s most beloved figures. As a player, Zimmer was a dependable infielder with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, part of the 1955 championship team, and later played for the Cubs, Mets, and Reds. He was never a star on the field, but his toughness and team first mentality earned him respect across the league.

Zimmer’s playing days overlapped with the integration era, and he was a teammate of Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, and Don Newcombe on the Dodgers. He often spoke with reverence about Robinson’s strength and the legacy of that 1955 Dodgers team. As a coach and manager in the decades that followed, Zimmer helped mentor players from all backgrounds, and his dugouts were known for camaraderie and fairness.

Zimmer’s influence extended into the modern era as he served as bench coach for the Yankees during their late,90s dynasty. He was a living link between the game’s segregated past and its inclusive present. Don Zimmer’s loyalty, humor, and unshakable love for baseball made him an ambassador of the sport’s best values.