Don Zimmer ... three sport star! (Sr. Year High School Yearbook Photos)

My mailday yesterday was Don Zimmer's 1949 Western Hills High School yearbook (his senior year). Thought I'd share some photos from it. While we all can picture Don in his later years as the frumpy old codger, not many have seen photos of a young Zim in his athletic prime. Don was a three sport letterman in high school and one of Ohio's best prep athletes. The "Rats" is a reference to his nickname "River Rat" since he lived on the shores of the Ohio River.



Zim (#11) was offered a scholorship by Bear Bryant to play quarterback at Kentucky, but chose to sign a minor-league contract with Brooklyn instead. His squad finished 8-2, winning the their league. He was named first-team all state (Ohio).



On the hardcourt, Zim (#5 in bottom corner) was noted as a good drive to the basket dribbler and set shot artist. He was the teams second leading scorer and named first team all-city (Cincinnati).



But of course, Zim (kneeling, second from right) excelled on the diamond. His team went unbeaten in league play and won the State A Championship, losing only one game in the tournament.



Zim's not in the photo above, but his classmate and best friend is the player sliding. This young man, like Zim, would go on to both play and manage in the Major Leagues. That's Jim Frey, lifelong friend of Zim. Years later, when Frey was manager of the Cubs, he hired Zim to coach for him. Zim eventually replaced Frey as manager, winning the 1989 Manager of the Year award.

Good stuff.

gracecollector said:

My mailday yesterday was Don Zimmer's 1949 Western Hills High School yearbook (his senior year). Thought I'd share some photos from it. While we all can picture Don in his later years as the frumpy old codger, not many have seen photos of a young Zim in his athletic prime. Don was a three sport letterman in high school and one of Ohio's best prep athletes. The "Rats" is a reference to his nickname "River Rat" since he lived on the shores of the Ohio River.

Zim (#11) was offered a scholorship by Bear Bryant to play quarterback at Kentucky, but chose to sign a minor-league contract with Brooklyn instead. His squad finished 8-2, winning the their league. He was named first-team all state (Ohio).

On the hardcourt, Zim (#5 in bottom corner) was noted as a good drive to the basket dribbler and set shot artist. He was the teams second leading scorer and named first team all-city (Cincinnati).

But of course, Zim (kneeling, second from right) excelled on the diamond. His team went unbeaten in league play and won the State A Championship, losing only one game in the tournament.

Zim's not in the photo above, but his classmate and best friend is the player sliding. This young man, like Zim, would go on to both play and manage in the Major Leagues. That's Jim Frey, lifelong friend of Zim. Years later, when Frey was manager of the Cubs, he hired Zim to coach for him. Zim eventually replaced Frey as manager, winning the 1989 Manager of the Year award.

Click to expand...

West High looks very different today.