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Don Zimmer's number 66 retired by the Tampa Bay Rays

By Daniel Russell
  • Soot Zimmer, wife of Don Zimmer, is given a jersey of Don Zimmer by Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria (3) as his number was retired before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
  • Soot Zimmer, wife of Don Zimmer, is given a jersey of Don Zimmer by Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria (3) as his number was retired before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
  • Don Zimmer of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on during batting practice against the Philadelphia Phillies during game four of the 2008 MLB World Series on October 26, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Credit: Elsa/Getty Images
  • Tampa Bay Devil Rays owner Stuart Sternberg and senior baseball advisor Don Zimmer talk before the home opener against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on April 10, 2006 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Orioles defeated the Devil Rays 6-3. Credit: Victor Baldizon/Getty Images

Prior to the Opening game of the 2015 season, the Tampa Bay Rays honored long time team adviser Don Zimmer by retiring his No. 66, worn the year he passed away.

Fittingly, the ceremony on the field was conducted by Evan Longoria, who was close to the Zimmer family, and could often be found playing cards with Zimmer in the clubhouse.

The widowed Soot Zimmer and family were on the field for the presentation of a No. 66 jersey, adorned with the "ZIM" patch worn by the team in 2014. The ceremony also featured a moving video, and the reveal of the No. 66 retired on the left field wall below Jackie Robinson's No. 42 and Wade Boggs's No. 12.

This was the final tribute in a long six months for the team, which previously included Matt Silverman's unveiling of "Don Zimmer Way" for the road leading between the Spring Training complex and fields, as well as the Rays all wearing the No. 66 or Brooklyn uniforms in honor of the team mentor during last season.

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