Zimmer’s legacy deserves better
Nearly to his dying day, Don Zimmer was immersed in the game he loved.
In announcing his death on Twitter late Wednesday afternoon, Zimmer’s grandson described him as having lived “an amazing baseball life.”
Whether it was as a player, coach or even a special advisor as he has been for the Tampa Bay Rays the past decade, Zimmer gave his heart and soul to the game.
He loved baseball and baseball loved him.
Yet for a certain segment of fans - probably those between about 25 and 40 - there was only one image in their mind when hearing of the news of his death.
Go ahead and admit it. You were thinking about the notorious scrap between Zimmer and Pedro Martinez.
That’s really unfortunate.
Zimmer’s career was so much more than that. Such is life in this era of seeing things over and over again.
Add a New York Post headline like “Fenway Punk,” and you’ve got an indelible memory.
It was probably Zimmer’s worst moment in baseball. It’s really not fair to his legacy to be remembered for that.
Try to think of the many pictures of his broad smile demonstrating just how much he loved to be on a baseball field.
But, this is the internet age. So if you must watch it, here it is.
