Don Zimmer, who has been a fixture in professional baseball for 66 years, died Wednesday in Dunedin, Fla. He was 83.

Don Zimmer Dies

Zimmer’s death was announced Wednesday by the Tampa Bay Rays, the MLB franchise for which he was currently serving as a senior advisor. Since May 2012, when he fell into a diabetic coma, Zimmer had been on kidney dialysis, reported The New York Times. This past April, Zimmer had undergone heart surgery and had remained hospitalized.

Zimmer first came to the major leagues in 1954, rising up from the Dodgers’ farm team to play for the major league squad. He was on the Dodgers when they won the World Series in 1959. He went on to play for the Cubs, the Mets and the Washington Sentaors. He retired in 1965.

After his playing career was over, Zimmer jumped into management, working with the San Diego Padres, Red Sox, Rangers and the Cubs. He later served as Joe Torre’s bench coach with the Yankees from 1996 to 2003 before leaving for Tampa Bay.

Zimmer Remembered On Twitter

Zimmer is survived by his wife Carol Jean; son, Tom; a daughter, Donna; and four grandchildren.

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