Gino Cimoli
Encyclopedia
Gino Nicholas Cimoli was an outfielder
in Major League Baseball
.
A high school all-star at Galileo High School
, Cimoli signed as an amateur free agent with the Brooklyn Dodgers
in 1949. He would make his Major League Baseball
debut with the Dodgers on April 19, 1956; appearing in his final game on May 7, 1965.
On April 15, 1958, Cimoli became the first Major League batter to step into the batter's box on the West Coast when the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants played their first game of the season at Seals Stadium in San Francisco.
Cimoli played on the Pirates' 1960 World Series
championship team, which defeated the New York Yankees
in seven games. He was primarily the Pirates' fourth outfielder in 1960 and often platooned with center fielder Bill Virdon
. After left fielder Bob Skinner
injured his thumb in the first game of the World Series, Cimoli started games two through six in left field. Cimoli returned to the bench in game seven when Skinner returned. In the eighth inning of game seven, with the Pirates trailing 7-4, Cimoli, pinch-hitting for pitcher Roy Face
, led off with a single off Bobby Shantz
, advanced to second on Bill Virdon
's bad-hop ground ball, which struck Yankee shortstop Tony Kubek
in the throat, then scored on Dick Groat
's single, the first run in a five-run inning to give the Pirates a 9-7 lead. The Pirates gave the lead away in the ninth before finally winning the game in the bottom half on Bill Mazeroski
's leadoff home run.
The book Carl Erskine's Tales from the Dodgers Dugout: Extra Innings
(2004) includes short stories from former Dodger pitcher Carl Erskine
. Cimoli is prominent in many of these stories.
Cimoli's baseball card in 1958 (No. 286, Topps) in which the background was painted out, shows him swinging a bat, without the bat-which was also painted out! (Source: Baseball Hall of Shame 4, Nash & Zullo)
After retiring from baseball, Cimoli worked as a delivery driver for United Parcel Service
where, in 1990, the company honored Cimoli for completing 21 years of service without a traffic accident. Cimoli, then 60 years old and still working for the company, was now referred to as "The Lou Gehrig
of UPS." http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080527&content_id=7429&vkey=hof_news
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
A high school all-star at Galileo High School
Galileo Academy of Science and Technology
Galileo Academy of Science and Technology is a public secondary school located in San Francisco's Russian Hill and Marina District neighborhoods...
, Cimoli signed as an amateur free agent with the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in 1949. He would make his Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
debut with the Dodgers on April 19, 1956; appearing in his final game on May 7, 1965.
On April 15, 1958, Cimoli became the first Major League batter to step into the batter's box on the West Coast when the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants played their first game of the season at Seals Stadium in San Francisco.
Cimoli played on the Pirates' 1960 World Series
1960 World Series
The 1960 World Series was played between the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League and the New York Yankees of the American League from October 5 to October 13, 1960...
championship team, which defeated the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in seven games. He was primarily the Pirates' fourth outfielder in 1960 and often platooned with center fielder Bill Virdon
Bill Virdon
William Charles Virdon is a former outfielder, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. A premier defensive outfielder during his playing days as a center fielder for the St...
. After left fielder Bob Skinner
Bob Skinner
Robert Ralph Skinner is a scout for the Houston Astros and a former outfielder-first baseman, manager and coach in American Major League Baseball...
injured his thumb in the first game of the World Series, Cimoli started games two through six in left field. Cimoli returned to the bench in game seven when Skinner returned. In the eighth inning of game seven, with the Pirates trailing 7-4, Cimoli, pinch-hitting for pitcher Roy Face
Roy Face
Elroy Leon Face is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953–1969, pitching primarily for the Pittsburgh Pirates...
, led off with a single off Bobby Shantz
Bobby Shantz
Robert Clayton Shantz was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics , Kansas City Athletics , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates , Houston Colt .45's , St...
, advanced to second on Bill Virdon
Bill Virdon
William Charles Virdon is a former outfielder, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. A premier defensive outfielder during his playing days as a center fielder for the St...
's bad-hop ground ball, which struck Yankee shortstop Tony Kubek
Tony Kubek
Anthony Christopher "Tony" Kubek is a retired American professional baseball player and television broadcaster....
in the throat, then scored on Dick Groat
Dick Groat
Richard Morrow Groat is a former two-sport athlete best known as a shortstop in Major League Baseball. He played for four National League teams, mainly the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player in after winning the batting title with a .325...
's single, the first run in a five-run inning to give the Pirates a 9-7 lead. The Pirates gave the lead away in the ninth before finally winning the game in the bottom half on Bill Mazeroski
Bill Mazeroski
William Stanley Mazeroski , nicknamed "Maz", is a former Major League Baseball player who spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
's leadoff home run.
The book Carl Erskine's Tales from the Dodgers Dugout: Extra Innings
Carl Erskine's Tales from the Dodgers Dugout: Extra Innings
Carl Erskine's Tales from the Dodgers Dugout: Extra Innings is a book by former Major League Baseball All-Star pitcher Carl Erskine. It is a compilation of short stories about life in the glory days of Major League Baseball. The forward was penned by Hall of Fame announcer Vin...
(2004) includes short stories from former Dodger pitcher Carl Erskine
Carl Erskine
Carl Daniel Erskine is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Brooklyn & Los Angeles Dodgers from 1948 through 1959...
. Cimoli is prominent in many of these stories.
Cimoli's baseball card in 1958 (No. 286, Topps) in which the background was painted out, shows him swinging a bat, without the bat-which was also painted out! (Source: Baseball Hall of Shame 4, Nash & Zullo)
After retiring from baseball, Cimoli worked as a delivery driver for United Parcel Service
United Parcel Service
United Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...
where, in 1990, the company honored Cimoli for completing 21 years of service without a traffic accident. Cimoli, then 60 years old and still working for the company, was now referred to as "The Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
of UPS." http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080527&content_id=7429&vkey=hof_news