RIP Gino Cimoli

[sox83cubs84]

Cimoli, a MLB player for 10 years and a member of one All-Star team and one World Championship ballclub died today.

Cimoli was a member of the 1957 N.L. All-Star team, pinch-hitting and striking out in the game. He played for the 1960 World Champion Pirates, as well as the 1956 N.L. Champion Brooklyn Dodgers.

Over 10 seasons, he played for the Dodgers in both cities, the Cardinals, the Pirates, the Braves, the Kansas City A's, the Orioles and the Angels from 1956-65.

He was the first man to bat in a West Coast situated game, leading off for the Dodgers in the San Francisco Giants 1958 home opener, won by the Giants 8-0.

Personal memory: a customer of mine in San Francisco during the 1980s and 1990's, a guy named Ralph Barney, often bought bats from me that I shipped to him via UPS, where a very intrigued UPS driver would not only bring Ralph the bats I sent him, but would stick around to see whose bat Ralph was getting, and even take a few swings with those in better condition.

The UPS driver? Gino Cimoli.

Dave Miedema

[Chris78]

Dave,

You can also add Cliff Dapper to the list. He was a member of the 1942 Brooklyn Dodgers and died on February 8, 2011. He had the distinction of being traded for an announcer (Ernie Harwell).

For those interested in old baseball players, there are 62 living players that are at least 90 years, 38 days old, as of February 8th, 2011. Here is the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_living_Major_League_Baseball_player s

Chris

[momen55]

very nice guy and funny too. i will miss him. :(

[Marichal27]

I know someone with UPS in San Francisco. Cimoli worked for UPS here for years. Got a nice teamsters pension out of it too.

[sox83cubs84]

Chris:

Thanks for the note on Dapper. I'll see if Baseball Almanac and Baseball Reference have added that yet.

Dave Miedema