Zim: A Baseball Life

by Don Zimmer, Bill Madden

Seven decades of remarkable stories and memorable moments as told by one of baseball's most colorful characters

" A Baseball Life . . . may be the best decision the Yankee coach ever made. On every page, he is there to be appreciated for his journey as a player, manager, and coach for more than half a century as well as for his wisdom, his humor, and for his just being himself."

­­Dave Anderson, New York Times

"Perfect . . . It's as if we were sitting down with Zim for a few beers and a long night of great stories."

­­Booklist

"A cut above the average baseball autobiography."

­­Publishers Weekly

Don Zimmer's autobiography takes the baseball fan everywhere he's been over his 53 years in the game. From Stengel to Torre, from Pee Wee Reese to Derek Jeter, this is the story of Zim's remarkable journey through baseball.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Biography, Autobiography, Nonfiction, Audiobook

286 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2011

Reviews

[Hapzydeco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Don Zimmer died at age 83 on June 4, 2014, in Dunedin, Florida, from heart and kidney problems, Zim remained helmet and all in the game he loved right up to the end. For a fan of baseball, this is one read not to be missed.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don Zimmer factors into some of my earliest Chicago Cubs memories, watching him manage the 1989 team to a division championship. Until I listened to his book though, I had no idea that his career stretched back to the 1950s with the old Brooklyn Dodgers.

In his book, Zimmer is self-deprecating, humble, and appreciative of nearly all of the talented players and people with whom he worked. Even most of the people he didn't like get fair treatment, and he always seems to make amends with people that he did not get along with at a certain time in his career. He's got great stories about people like Jackie Robinson, Jim Rice, Andre Dawson, and Joe Torre. Bill Lee and Carl Everett don't come out as well though.

Zimmer experienced nearly everything notable in baseball history during the second half of the twentieth century and early twenty-first. I recommend this book to any nostalgic baseball fan.

[Josh Skogman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Until reading this book I had no idea of the relationships and all the big moments of baseball history that Don Zimmer was a part of. He is truly a baseball guy through and through. He was in uniform for 3 perfect games. He was friends with Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson. He was part of great Dodger and Yankee dynasties and storied franchises like the Cubs and Red Sox. Baseball needs more people like Zim!

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tell it as it is biography from a man who had played, coached and managed in the big leagues for 50+ years. It starts with his playing days in the minors up to the majors starting with the Brooklyn Dodgers. His many travels thru the coaching and managing ranks and his friendship with many players, managers, owners and executives. A fun read.

[Melissa Loucks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for my 2021 Reading Challenge and the prompt was a book that starts with "Q," "X," or "Z." I did not realize how much of his career was not spent in NYC but I enjoyed learning about someone from the Yankee Organization that I did not know much about.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appreciated Zim's candor in admitting when players were being thrown at or he never liked x or y guy. Nothing groundbreaking but if you like baseball and want to feel the nostalgia for some good old days, even non-Yankee fans would like this.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read!

[Justin Matulonis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really entertaining

[Caleb C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book, and I am glad to have come across it. I love baseball, and enjoyed hearing a very respectable man in the sport tell his stories.

[Kristie Kelty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love a baseball book but this one did not work for me

[Greg Saluga · Rating 4 out of 5]

While watching the Yankees growing up, Don Zimmer was always one of my favorite people involved in the organization. You could easily see how much fun he had everyday and how much he loved the game of baseball. All of that clearly comes across here in this book. He had such a vast knowledge of the game. It's really interesting getting an inside perspective to all of the clubs in which Zim played, managed, or coached. He knew so many historic people through baseball - Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, Billy Martin, Carl Yastrzemski, Joe Torre, and Derek Jeter, just to name a few. The only thing that could've made this better is if it had been written a few years later, and we got to know about his final seasons in the game. Either way, it was great getting to read about the majority of his life and it's a shame that he passed away earlier this year. He will surely be remembered for years to come for his love and contributions to the game. RIP.

[Michael Brockley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don Zimmer's ZIM: A BASEBALL LIFE is the late baseball lifer's memoir of spending roughly 50 years working for ball clubs all across the U. S. The reader feels as if s/he were listening to the stories radio sportscasters used to tell during rain delays. Stories about feats and follies, flash-in-the -pans and the rise and fall of the game's greats. Zimmer, who acquired the nickname Popeye for his physical resemblance to the spinach-guzzling sailor, presents himself as an articulate and humorous but tough hombre who has an encyclopedic knowledge of the sport he served as player, coach and manager. From Casey Stengel to Joe Torre and from Carl Furillo to Paul O'Neil, ZIM: A BASEBALL LIFE follows a life devoted to the National Pastime in one of the better baseball memoirs.

[Tom Gase · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read from the former player and manager from numerous teams. Not written that well, but a lot of good stories. I liked reading about his time as a player for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, as well as his time coaching the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs to name a few. Really brought me back to that 89 Cubs team that won a division and was called "The Boys of Zimmer." Some real horror stories of his time in Texas. Almost forgot he managed there between his stints with Boston and Chicago. A fun, quick read.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had major respect for this man when he was the bench coach for the Yankees. Him being in that position, prompted me to purchase this book and read it. The man has lead a successful baseball career, and although he may not be as well known as some players, it's definitely a good read. My only gripe is that every now and then he goes off on a tangent, but otherwise, as a Yankee fan who grew up with him coaching the team, it was inspiring.

[John Kues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book some time ago but reminded of it by his recent passing. I really enjoyed the book and the amazing experiences of Zim in baseball. Knowledgeable and high integrity. Honest and faithful to his friends. A truly good man.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://michaelprager.com/node/128

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

audio. accept that no job is permanent & you have to move a lot. The need to be humble & flexible helps. Good book if you're a baseball junkie.

[Keith Gerlach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zim passed away here in the Tampa Bay area. Lived in Treasure Island and worked for the Rays. He will be missed!

[Dave Goldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story by a baseball lifer.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny stories and a lot of other stories about his life in baseball.

[Mark Widman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun stories