Baseball legend Don Zimmer died Wednesday at the age of 83.
Zimmer, nicknamed “The Gerbil,” spent more than 65 years in Major League Baseball, earning six World Series rings as a player and coach. He’ll be remembered most for his colorful personality and passion for the game.
Zimmer played for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1954–1959, 1963), Chicago Cubs (1960–1961), New York Mets (1962), Cincinnati Reds (1962) and Washington Senators (1963–1965). He coached several teams following his playing days, even serving as manager of the San Diego Padres (1972–1973), Boston Red Sox (1976–1980), Texas Rangers (1981–1982) and Cubs (1988–1991).
Zimmer most recently was a senior adviser for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Zimmer suffered a stroke in December 2008 and underwent heart surgery April 16 to repair a leaky valve. He had been in a rehabilitation center in Florida.
