ST. PETERSBURG - After 55 years in baseball, Don Zimmer will get to go to work for his home team.
Zimmer, the longtime Treasure Island resident, is expected to be hired today by the Devil Rays in something of an on- and off-field advisory capacity.
Though his specific duties are being determined, Zimmer is likely to be in uniform as a coach during spring training and for pregame drills during the regular season but will not be in the dugout during games because the Rays coaching staff is full. He also is likely to make some community relations appearances for the team.
Zimmer, who turns 73 this month, is a baseball institution, playing 12 seasons in the majors and spending the past 32 as a big-league manager or coach.
He managed the Padres, Red Sox, Rangers and Cubs and has been a coach for the Expos, Red Sox, Cubs, Giants, Rockies and Yankees, where he spent the past eight seasons as Joe Torre's highly respected bench coach.
Zimmer gained unwanted notoriety during the playoffs for his comical altercation with Boston pitcher Pedro Martinez during a brawl, then left the Yankees after the season, claiming he was treated unkindly by owner George Steinbrenner.
Zimmer moved to Treasure Island nearly 50 years ago and often has talked about how excited he would be to work for the Rays.
[Last modified January 9, 2004, 01:46:07]
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