Zim: A Baseball Life

Rating:
Summary: What baseball is all about!
Review: Who's the answer to more baseball trivia questions than anyone else in history? Don Zimmer, of course. "Zim: A Baseball Life" is 52 years' worth of anecdotes from the one guy who's been everywhere and seen it all.

Zim's the only man to have been in uniform at all three New York Yankees' perfect games (the first and last of which were 43 years apart); he played a pivotal role in the Brooklyn Dodgers' lone World Series victory (by coming out of the game early); he was the first to play third base for the New York Mets (hundreds have followed, and, like Zim, none lasted very long); and he managed the 1978 Boston Red Sox when Bucky Dent hit that pop fly over the Green Monster on October 2nd.

"Zim" is a fast read, spilling over with Zim stories on every page. It's written on a very simple level, but is meticulously researched and, as a result, is completely authoritative. A couple of factual errors pop up, yes, which co-writer Bill Madden probably could have caught (Zim is said to have received roses when the Yankees won the 1999 season opener; news that is surprising when you remember the Yanks lost that game), but overall the errors, like strands of Zim's hair, are few and far between.

The 2002 baseball season is about to begin and, no surprise, Zimmer will be there in uniform again. He's a funny guy (and a funny-looking guy) and it does the troubled sport of baseball a world of good that Zimmer is still around, the link between Pee Wee Reese and Derek Jeter, Clem Labine and Mariano Rivera, Sal Maglie and Roger Clemens, Walter O'Malley and George Steinbrenner. Here's hoping Zim has another half-century's worth of stories left in that massive belly of his.

Rating:
Summary: Fat, Bald, and Funny
Review: Who's the answer to more baseball trivia questions than anyone else in history? Don Zimmer, of course. "Zim: A Baseball Life" is 52 years' worth of anecdotes from the one guy who's been everywhere and seen it all.

Zim's the only man to have been in uniform at all three New York Yankees' perfect games (the first and last of which were 43 years apart); he played a pivotal role in the Brooklyn Dodgers' lone World Series victory (by coming out of the game early); he was the first to play third base for the New York Mets (hundreds have followed, and, like Zim, none lasted very long); and he managed the 1978 Boston Red Sox when Bucky Dent hit that pop fly over the Green Monster on October 2nd.

"Zim" is a fast read, spilling over with Zim stories on every page. It's written on a very simple level, but is meticulously researched and, as a result, is completely authoritative. A couple of factual errors pop up, yes, which co-writer Bill Madden probably could have caught (Zim is said to have received roses when the Yankees won the 1999 season opener; news that is surprising when you remember the Yanks lost that game), but overall the errors, like strands of Zim's hair, are few and far between.

The 2002 baseball season is about to begin and, no surprise, Zimmer will be there in uniform again. He's a funny guy (and a funny-looking guy) and it does the troubled sport of baseball a world of good that Zimmer is still around, the link between Pee Wee Reese and Derek Jeter, Clem Labine and Mariano Rivera, Sal Maglie and Roger Clemens, Walter O'Malley and George Steinbrenner. Here's hoping Zim has another half-century's worth of stories left in that massive belly of his.

Rating:
Summary: A must read for any sports fan
Review: You don't need to be a Yankee fan, just a fan of fascinating sports stories that span generations. Madden is an excellent author, and wildly suceeds weaving together the intricate stories of Don Zimmer's long experiences on and off the field. A heartfelt opening by Joe Torre completes a great package. If you are a sports fan, buy it and enjoy. If you are a Yankee fan, shame on you for not having this already!

Rating:
Summary: ENTERTAINING
Review: ZIM IS A GOOD READ. IT IS WELL TOLD, INTERESTING, HUMOROUS, AND NOSTALGIC. DON ZIMMER IS REALLY A UNIQUE MAN. SEEMS LIKE HE HAS BEEN AROUND BASEBALL SINCE THE GAME WAS INVENTED. I READ THIS BOOK IN 3 DAYS, BUT I WISHED I HAD TAKEN MY TIME AND SAVORED IT MORE. IT IS LIKE A FINE WINE IT GOT BETTER WITH EACH CHAPTER. THIS BOOK IS FOR ANY BASEBALL FAN WHO WANTS TO BE ENTERTAINED AND TO LEARN SOME GREAT "WAR" STORIES CONCERNING THE BASBEALL LIFE OF DON ZIMMER. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Rating:
Summary: What baseball is all about!
Review: Zim: A Baseball Life is a great read for any baseball fan. Don Zimmer is a true gem, his wisdom, knowledge, and humor are all found in this wonderful book. Sports fans of all ages would enjoy this book.