Don Zimmer
Born: 1/17/1931 in Cincinnati, OH, USA
Died: 6/4/2014 in Dunedin, FL, USA
MLB Debut: 1954-07-02 | Final Game: 1965-10-02
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: Donald William Zimmer
Biography
Don Zimmer was an accomplished professional baseball player who made significant contributions to the game during his career from 1954 to 1965. Born in 1931, Zimmer played primarily as a position player and appeared in a total of 1,095 games. Throughout his tenure in Major League Baseball, he amassed 773 hits, 91 home runs, and 352 RBIs, finishing his career with a batting average of .235. In addition to his offensive contributions, Zimmer showcased his speed on the bases, recording 45 stolen bases. His abilities on the field earned him two selections as an All-Star, highlighting his recognition among peers and fans alike.
Zimmer played during a transformative era in baseball, navigating through the challenges and changes of the mid-20th century, including the evolving role of players and the increasing competitiveness of the game. Known for his gritty playing style and strong defensive skills, he left a lasting impact not only as a player but also later as a coach and manager in various Major League organizations. His legacy continues to resonate in baseball history, representing the dedication and passion that characterizes the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1095 | 3283 | 353 | 773 | 130 | 22 | 91 | 352 | 45 | 246 | 678 | 0.235 | 0.290 | 0.372 | 0.662 | -4379.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | BRO | NL | 24 | 33 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 0.182 | 0.0 |
| 1955 | BRO | NL | 88 | 280 | 38 | 67 | 10 | 1 | 15 | 50 | 5 | 19 | 66 | 0.239 | -88.6 |
| 1956 | BRO | NL | 17 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.300 | 0.0 |
| 1957 | BRO | NL | 84 | 269 | 23 | 59 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 19 | 1 | 16 | 63 | 0.219 | -908.7 |
| 1958 | LAD | NL | 127 | 455 | 52 | 119 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 60 | 14 | 28 | 92 | 0.262 | -80.2 |
| 1959 | LAD | NL | 97 | 249 | 21 | 41 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 28 | 3 | 37 | 56 | 0.165 | -1196.9 |
| 1960 | CHC | NL | 132 | 368 | 37 | 95 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 35 | 8 | 27 | 56 | 0.258 | -257.2 |
| 1961 | CHC | NL | 128 | 477 | 57 | 120 | 25 | 4 | 13 | 40 | 5 | 25 | 70 | 0.252 | -581.9 |
| 1962 | CIN | NL | 63 | 192 | 16 | 48 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 14 | 30 | 0.250 | -279.8 |
| 1962 | NYN | NL | 14 | 52 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0.077 | -279.8 |
| 1963 | LAD | NL | 22 | 23 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0.217 | 0.0 |
| 1963 | WS2 | AL | 83 | 298 | 37 | 74 | 12 | 1 | 13 | 44 | 3 | 18 | 57 | 0.248 | 0.0 |
| 1964 | WS2 | AL | 121 | 341 | 38 | 84 | 16 | 2 | 12 | 38 | 1 | 27 | 94 | 0.246 | 150.5 |
| 1965 | WS2 | AL | 95 | 226 | 20 | 45 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 26 | 59 | 0.199 | -804.1 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0.200 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | WS | LAN | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1955 | WS | BRO | 4 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0.222 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 294 | 257 | 660 | 772 | 38 | 192 |
| 3B | 375 | 316 | 340 | 649 | 62 | 46 |
| C | 35 | 27 | 150 | 18 | 6 | 1 |
| OF | 8 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 288 | 237 | 488 | 783 | 50 | 179 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | BRO | SS | 13 | 8 | 14 | 32 | 3 | 6 |
| 1955 | BRO | 2B | 62 | 62 | 154 | 166 | 8 | 54 |
| 1955 | BRO | 3B | 8 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | BRO | SS | 21 | 12 | 28 | 33 | 4 | 9 |
| 1956 | BRO | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1956 | BRO | 3B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1956 | BRO | SS | 8 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 3 |
| 1957 | BRO | 2B | 5 | 5 | 15 | 16 | 2 | 4 |
| 1957 | BRO | 3B | 39 | 35 | 44 | 68 | 5 | 3 |
| 1957 | BRO | SS | 37 | 34 | 55 | 102 | 8 | 17 |
| 1958 | LAN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1958 | LAN | 3B | 12 | 11 | 12 | 20 | 3 | 1 |
| 1958 | LAN | SS | 114 | 110 | 265 | 372 | 23 | 100 |
| 1958 | LAN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | LAN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | LAN | 3B | 5 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | LAN | SS | 88 | 70 | 115 | 226 | 10 | 43 |
| 1960 | CHN | 2B | 75 | 66 | 170 | 215 | 8 | 25 |
| 1960 | CHN | 3B | 45 | 28 | 38 | 51 | 8 | 5 |
| 1960 | CHN | SS | 5 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 1960 | CHN | OF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961 | CHN | 2B | 116 | 108 | 282 | 323 | 17 | 99 |
| 1961 | CHN | 3B | 5 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
| 1961 | CHN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1962 | CIN | 2B | 17 | 8 | 20 | 26 | 3 | 5 |
| 1962 | CIN | 3B | 43 | 39 | 45 | 66 | 6 | 6 |
| 1962 | CIN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1962 | NYN | 3B | 14 | 14 | 12 | 37 | 2 | 3 |
| 1963 | LAN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963 | LAN | 3B | 10 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | LAN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | WS2 | 2B | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 1963 | WS2 | 3B | 78 | 76 | 88 | 173 | 18 | 17 |
| 1964 | WS2 | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | WS2 | 2B | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | WS2 | 3B | 87 | 77 | 68 | 143 | 10 | 6 |
| 1964 | WS2 | OF | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | WS2 | C | 33 | 27 | 150 | 18 | 6 | 1 |
| 1965 | WS2 | 2B | 12 | 5 | 12 | 14 | 0 | 3 |
| 1965 | WS2 | 3B | 26 | 24 | 19 | 49 | 6 | 3 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 35 |
| Second Base | 295 |
| Third Base | 375 |
| Shortstop | 288 |
| Left Field | 5 |
| Right Field | 4 |