Late American Infielder, Manager And coach, Don Zimmer Leaves Behind Wife Carol Jean Bauerle And Two Kids

Carol Jean Zimmer holds one of more than 70 scrapbooks and photo books she created to archive Don Zimmer’s life.

Don Zimmer was an American infielder, manager, and Major League Baseball (MLB) coach.

He played professional baseball from 1949 until his death, 65 years spanning eight decades.

During a minor league game on July 7, 1953, he was struck in the head by a pitch from Jim Kirk, lost consciousness, and developed blood clots on his brain that required two operations.

He woke up two weeks later, thinking the day after the game caused the incident. MLB adopted mandatory batting helmets as a safety measure for players when at bat.

Follwing his retirement as a player, he started his coaching career and worked in Minor League Baseball before coaching the Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres, and many more teams.

Sadly, on June 4, 2014, Zimmer passed away at the age of 83 in Dunedin, Florida, from heart and kidney problems.

Don Zimmer Started Dating Carol Jean Bauerle In 10th Grade

Late American infielder Don Zimmer and Carol Jean Bauerle had been sweethearts since the 10th Grade at Cincinnati’s Western Hills High School.

On August 16, 1951, the couple married at home plate at Dunn Field in Elmira. Sadly, their marriage ended after six decades following Don’s tragic passing.

Carol has scrapbooks of every clipping that Don Zimmer ever managed or coached during his 66 years in baseball.

After Don’s passing, Tampa Bay Times reporter Lane DeGregory visited Carol at her Seminole, where she shared the contents of more than 70 scrapbooks and photo albums she had lovingly compiled.

Her cabinets were filled with “Zim” bobbleheads and baseballs signed by Ronald Reagan, Robert Redford, Pete Rose, and Reggie Jackson.

Carol said that in her senior year, she went to the local dollar store and bought a scrapbook and cardboard corners, which she had used to secure pictures.

The first scrapbook was conceived as a gift to Don Zimmer and compiled in the evenings after she completed her homework assignments.

Earlier in 2015, Carol said the Bombers had given her a ceremonial jersey, which was swiped out of her Florida-bound checked luggage.

She attended Old Timer’s Day at Yankee Stadium when the team gave her a replica of Zim’s jersey.

But when she returned home to Florida, the jerse was gone. She told,

Mrs. Zimmer said her mistake was not packing the sentimental garment in her carry-on bag. She added,

Don Zimmer And His Wife Carol Jean Bauerle Had Two Children

Don and Carol were blessed with their first son, Thomas Zimmer, 72, on June 30, 1952, who has held multiple roles in professional baseball.

He played in the minor leagues non-consecutively from 1971 to 1979 and coached for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1986, managed in the minor leagues from 1977 through 1980, and coached the St. Petersburg Pelicans in 1989.

They welcomed their second child, Donna Zimmer, who managed to keep herself out of the media spotlight.

In addition, Don and Carol have four grandchildren: Beau, Whitney, Ron, and Lane.

Beau is a reporter at WTSP 10 in St. Petersburg, Florida, while the other three grandchildren have kept their identities private.

Additional Information

• Don Zimmer had an estimated net worth of around $10 million at the time of his passing.
• He was born to his father, Harold Zimmer, who owned a wholesale fruit and vegetable company, and his mother, Lorraine.
• Zimmer was senior advisor for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2004 to 2014.