Former Major League Baseball coach Wendell Kim died Sunday at age 64, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
No cause of death was given, but Kim was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease after retiring in 2005. He spent time with five big league organizations — San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs — during his coaching career.
Kim served as the Red Sox’s third base coach from 1997 through 2000. He earned the nickname “Wave ’em in Wendell” for his aggressive style. Kim’s energy also was apparent in his sprints out to the third base coaches box before innings.
Kim, a native of Hawaii, never reached the majors despite a playing career that featured a rise to Triple-A. He began his coaching career in 1980 and spent eight seasons at the Giants’ major league third base coach before joining the Red Sox organization. Kim, who spent one season as manager of the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis, also served as the Expos’ bench coach and the Cubs’ third base coach during his big league coaching career.
Kim reportedly had been living in Arizona at the time of his death.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@SFGate
