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ST. PETERSBURG - The Devil Rays are excited to have Don Zimmer on their side. And they're going to make sure the Yankees come face-to-face with their former bench coach.
When the Rays host the Yankees on April 7, it's going to be Don Zimmer Fan Mask day. That means - as, um, interesting a sight as it may be - every face in Tropicana Field will look like the rumpled 73-year-old Zimmer's.
Having come home to join the Rays as a senior adviser after leaving the Yankees, Zimmer isn't sure what to make of all the sudden attention.
"This is really something. I'm never going to hear the end of this one," Zimmer said. "Like I've always said, "Not bad for a .235 hitter."'
The Rays have more plans. On Aug. 2, Zimmer will get his own bobblehead doll, one of a series of nine mini-bobbleheads the Rays will give away.
For Zimmer, that, too, will be a special. He said he was supposed to have a bobblehead day last season in New York, but George Steinbrenner canceled it without explanation, the first obvious hint that their relationship had soured and Zimmer's time in New York was coming to an end.
"They were planning on it; then they called me up and told me, "Something happened,"' Zimmer said. "Well, I thought, okay, things happen. About 10 days later it hit me and I asked if George was involved. They told me no, but I found out later that George canceled it."
The Rays have promotions planned for 42 of their 79 home dates, including NASCAR (June 26), Parrothead (July 31), bike (Aug. 7), '60s (Aug. 21) and retro (Sept. 20) nights.
Mini-bobbleheads are planned for Aubrey Huff (April 10), Rocco Baldelli (May 18), Carl Crawford (May 23), Jose Cruz (June 9), Toby Hall (June 30), Lou Piniella (July 19), Tino Martinez (Aug. 6) and a player to be named Sept. 27.
Other giveaways include a thermal mug April 6, a cap May 2 and CheerStix May 19 and Aug. 18. There are also Greek (Aug. 31), Italian (Sept. 1), Polish (Sept. 2), Irish (Sept. 3) and Hispanic (Sept. 4) Heritage nights and a Negro Leagues celebration (Sept. 5).