2006 Team Topps Don Zimmer Brooklyn Dodgers auto

Here's another autograph from the Dodger collection. This is a 2006 Team Topps Don Zimmer Brooklyn Dodgers auto, TT-DZ.

Zim played in the Dodgers organization from 1954-1959 and again in 1963. In those seven seasons he hit .228 with 43 homeruns and 161 rbi.  He is currently a senior baseball advisor for the Tampa Bay Rays and wears uniforms number 63 for his 63 years in baseball.

Dodgers Going Old School For Six Games In 2011

The Dodgers announced today that they would be wearing Brooklyn throwback uniforms for six games this season. The Dodgers are giving fans the opportunity to choose which throwback unis the team will wear. Fans are invited to vote online for which uniform the players will wear beginning Monday, February 7 through Thursday, Feb. 17, at dodgers.com/throwback.

The uniforms will be worn for six mid-week day games.Those games will feature half-price food and drink for the first time ever at Dodger Stadium. Here are the dates of those games:

Thursday, April 21 vs. Atlanta
Wednesday, May 4 vs. Chicago Cubs
Wednesday, June 15 vs. Cincinnati
Wednesday, June 22 vs. Detroit
Wednesday, August 10 vs. Philadelphia
Wednesday, August 31 vs. San Diego

These are the three uniforms to choose from:

The first of the three uniform options was worn by the Dodgers exactly 100 years ago. The 1911 road uniform features fine narrow pinstripes and the BROOKLYN name displayed vertically in small capital letters down the button panel. Known as the "Superbas," the Brooklyn team wearing this uniform played its second-to-last season in 1911 at Washington Park.

The second option is the 1931 road uniform, which was the only variety of the 1930s uniform designs to sport a block capital "B" on the front of the jersey.

The third option is the 1940s "Satin" road uniform, which is blue and features the trim and DODGERS script in white. With the advent of night baseball at Ebbets Field in the 1940s, the original uniform used a highly reflective satin fabric to be more visible under the lights.
 
The winning uniform will be announced on Feb. 25, the day before individual tickets go on sale to the public.
 
The last time the Dodgers wore a throwback uniform was June 23, 2007 in Tampa Bay as part of a "Turn Back the Clock Night" honoring former Dodger player and Rays coach Don Zimmer. That night, the Dodgers wore replica 1955 Brooklyn road uniforms. The Rays also gave away Don Zimmer "Now and Then" Bobbleheads that night. It was a dual Zim nodder, with him wearing both a Rays uni and a Brooklyn Dodgers uni.

I love this idea. I think it's something the team should have done a long time ago. It also gives Frank McCourt a chance to sell more merchandise. Hell, I might even pick up one of these jerseys.

Bobblehead Of The Day: Don Zimmer

On Saturday, June 23, 2007, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (this was before they droppd the Devil from their name) gave away Don Zimmer "Now and Then" bobbleheads to the first 15,000 fans in attendance. Presented by Regions Bank, this dual bobblehead features Zimmer both in a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform and in Rays gear. I did not attend this game. This was an eBay find.

The Devil Rays hosted the Dodgers that night, Turn Back the Clock Night. Vintage uniforms were worn by both teams. The Rays wore the uniforms of the 1950-era Florida State League St. Petersburg Saints and the Dodgers wore the 1955 World Champion uniforms.

Three of Don Zimmer's teammates from the 1955 World Champion Brooklyn Dodgers were on hand signing autographs, Duke Snider, Johnny Podres and Carl Erskine.

Zimmer also won a World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959.

The Dodgers lost that night 4-3. Casey Fossum won the game, Randy Wolf took the loss.

Here are some other views of the bobblehead:







This a bobblehead that I wanted ever since I heard they were being given out at Tropicana Field. I remember listening to the game on the radio and hearing Vin Scully talking about the special giveaway.

Don Zimmer has been in professional baseball for 62 years. He won 906 games as a manager. He has six World Series rings, two as a player and four as a coach. He was an All-Star in 1961. But this is my favorite Zimmer moment: