St. Petersburg, FL – The Tampa Bay Rays have re-signed Don Zimmer as senior baseball advisor.
Zimmer will enter his 10th season with the Rays and 65th in professional baseball.
"I couldn't be happier," said Zimmer. "The organization has always been great to me. I can't thank them enough."
The 81-year-old Zimmer serves as a coach and advisor during spring training and for pregame practices at all home games. He has been a major league coach or manager every year since 1971 after a 12-year playing career.
"Zim has been a valuable resource not only for our players and coaching staff, but for our front office as well," said Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. "We are excited that he will be returning for another season in our uniform, and look forward to many more."
Zimmer joined the Rays in 2004 after 10 years with the New York Yankees, including eight as bench coach under manager Joe Torre. In all, Zimmer has worn a uniform for 13 different major league teams.
The Ohio native spent 13 years as a major league manager, and accumulated a record of 885-858 during stints with San Diego, Boston, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He was named the National League Manager of the Year in 1989 after he led the Cubs to an Eastern Division title.
Zimmer's playing career lasted 12 years (1954-65) as an infielder with the Dodgers (Brooklyn and Los Angeles), Cubs, Mets, Reds and Washington Senators. He has collected six World Series rings -- four as a coach with the Yankees and two as a player -- with Brooklyn in 1955 and Los Angeles in 1959.
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