- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (Jan 29 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0071390030
- ISBN-13: 978-0071390033
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.5 x 2.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 485 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#799,142 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #61 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Sports & Outdoors > Baseball
- #62 in Books > Sports > Biographies > Baseball
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
For more than half a century, Don Zimmer, baseball's beloved gerbil, has been the Zelig of the national pastime, the character in the corner of so many interesting pictures. He may have been only--as he likes to remind us throughout Zim: A Baseball Life--a .235 hitter, but he was a .235 hitter who played with Jackie Robinson on the only Brooklyn team to win a World Series. A year later, he was there, on the bench, when Don Larsen threw his perfect game. More than just an original Met, Zim was the first player ever photographed in a Mets uniform. As the Red Sox third-base coach in 1975, it was Zim who waved Carlton Fisk home in the bottom of the 12th to end the greatest World Series game ever played. Three years later, it was Zim, now the Sox manager, who watched in despair as Yankee shortstop Bucky Dent sealed one of the greatest late-season collapses in the annals of the game when Dent's pennant-winning homer settled into the net atop the Green Monster. Of course, it was Zim who led the Cubs, of all teams, to a rare postseason appearance, and, approaching 70 at the turn of the millennium, it was Zim who added four championship rings to his collection as Joe Torre's bench coach in the Bronx.
Bridging the gap between the game's early years of integration and the advent of the $200-million-plus contract, Zim hasn't just witnessed the history of the second half of 20th-century baseball, he's embodied it, and he remembers it with a genial charm and disarming honesty that turns Zim into one of the more spirited and beguiling baseball memoirs to step up in some time. "I've had a hell of a life," he admits with an amazed cheerfulness that's evident on every page. --Jeff Silverman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
Zimmer is a "lifer," having been involved with professional baseball for half a century. A native of Cincinnati, he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949; a powerful shortstop, he was the logical successor to Pee Wee Reese. Zimmer suffered several beanings that nearly cost him his life and never became the ballplayer he was projected to be. Still, "Popeye" so-called because of his bulging forearms did enjoy a successful major league career. A member of Brooklyn's only World Champion team in 1955, he then played on the Los Angeles Dodgers' first world championship team four years later. He tells riveting stories about the "Boys of Summer," like Billy Loes, Johnny Podres, Clem Labine and Duke Snider. Zimmer became a much-traveled utility infielder and spent his last year playing in Japan, where, he observed, the horses "ran backwards" at the racetrack. He recounts his stints as a manager in San Diego, Boston, Texas and Chicago, and as Joe Torres's bench coach during the 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000 Yankee World Championships. Zimmer pulls no punches in his evaluations of baseball celebrities like Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins, managers Don Baylor, Billy Martin and Joe Torre, and owners Eddie Chiles and George Steinbrenner. Zimmer's book is bluntly honest and filled with amusing anecdotes, a cut above the average baseball autobiography.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
I thought of calling this book "Confessions of a .235 Lifetime Hitter," if only because my own grandchildren have told me that the thing I'll be most remembered for after 52 years in baseball is wearing an army helmet in the dugout. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
I thought of calling this book "Confessions of a .235 Lifetime Hitter," if only because my own grandchildren have told me that the thing I'll be most remembered for after 52 years in baseball is wearing an army helmet in the dugout. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
ZIM,
By A Customer
This review is from: Zim: A Baseball Life (Paperback)
A summary of my book is about Don Zimmer's life. Don zimmer was a professional baseball player. Don Zimmer is now the bench coach for the new York Yankees. People consider Don Zimmer a Baseball mastermind, but he disagrees he quoted in his book that if he was a baseball mastermind he wouldn't have hit a 257 batting average. But I think he is because you can tell that he knows what he is talking about from reading the book. Bill madden (author) Wrote about all the important things that happened in his life from he was born to now. He considers himself as an average baseball player only because he had a 257 career batting average, but he is an a lot better player then average. He played with Jackie Robinson (the first African American player to enter the Major leagues. He played in the pros for a long time and he had excellent experience so when he tells a big leaguer something they better listen because he knows what hes talking about.I enjoyed reading "ZIM" He gave the readers good tips and I know he gives the Yankees great tips. This book was probably my favorite book that I ever have read because it was really interesting when he told stories about times in his life. I also like the book because he loves baseball and so do I. By, K.C
5.0 out of 5 stars
Last Of The Breed,
By A Customer
This review is from: Zim: A Baseball Life (Paperback)
Geez, what a great, great book. What a great story and what a great life. Don Zimmer is the last of the best generation of ball players, the ones who played because they loved the game and focused on it all the time. It is a major loss that he's still not on a bench somewhere imparting his wisdom. This is by far my favorite baseball book and made me feel young again. I mean, who doesn't love the Zim? One thing though, while reading it. Major League Baseball should give the wives a pension too for all the support they give their husbands over the years. Just buy the book, I promise you, you won't be sorry.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Entertaining Book....,
By
This review is from: Zim: A Baseball Life (Paperback)
Don Zimmer is a true gentleman in the sport. He is old school and brings the experience of playing when players barley got paid.
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