Don Zimmer spent 66 years and parts of eight decades working in baseball, and his 11 years with the Tampa Bay Rays were the most he worked with any franchise. Prior to joining the Rays, Zimmer spent parts of 12 years in the majors as a player, winning multiple World Series titles and later becoming a coach. He spent the final 11 years of his life as a senior advisor for the Rays after joining the franchise in 2004 when they were the Devil Rays.
Zimmer was instrumental in helping some of the young players in the organization grow, including Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay’s first homegrown superstar, and one of the franchise’s top players, Evan Longoria. While Zimmer worked in the front office, he continued to wear a uniform each year, with the number on his jersey representing his total years in the game. Zimmer's number 66 is one of only three jersey numbers retired by the franchise.
Zimmer passed away in 2014, yet his value to the organization continues to endure. Not only was his number retired, but the annual team MVP Award carries his name.
Zimmer’s last on-field appearance at the ballpark was on Opening Day of 2014. He was formally inducted into the Rays Hall of Fame in its inaugural class on April 2, 2023.
