Definition
Heinie Zimmerman (December 26, 1887 – November 3, 1969) was an American professional baseball player who occupied the position of third baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1907 through 1918.
Overview
Zimmerman debuted with the Chicago Cubs on September 14, 1907. He spent the bulk of his career (1907–1915) with the Cubs, contributing to the team’s 1908 World Series championship, though he played sparingly that season. Known for his power hitting, Zimmerman led the National League (NL) in home runs in consecutive seasons, 1912 (13 homers) and 1913 (9 homers), becoming one of the league’s early power threats. After a mid‑season trade in 1915, he joined the New York Giants, appearing in 48 games. He returned to the majors briefly with the Boston Braves in 1918 before retiring from professional baseball.
Over his MLB tenure, Zimmerman compiled a .264 batting average, 38 home runs, and 496 runs batted in (RBIs) across 1,235 games. Defensively, he was regarded as a solid third baseman, posting a career fielding percentage of .945, which was typical for the era.
Zimmerman’s career ended after a 1917 incident in which he was arrested for assaulting a spectator following a game. The episode resulted in a suspension for the remainder of the season; he never returned to the major leagues after a short stint with the Braves in 1918.
Etymology/Origin
The nickname “Heinie” is a diminutive derived from the given name “Heinrich” (German for “Henry”). “Zimmerman” (also rendered “Zimmermann”) is a German occupational surname meaning “carpenter.” The nickname was commonly applied to American baseball players of German heritage in the early 20th century.
Characteristics
- Batting: Right‑handed; notable for early 20th‑century power, leading the NL in home runs twice.
- Fielding: Right‑handed third baseman; considered reliable but not elite by contemporary defensive metrics.
- Playing style: Emphasized slugging over contact; his 1912 season featured a .340 on‑base plus slugging (OPS) rate, well above the league average.
- Controversy: The 1917 assault incident is the most frequently cited off‑field issue, leading to his suspension and effective end of his MLB career. Accurate details of the legal outcome are limited; however, contemporary newspaper reports confirm the arrest and subsequent league discipline.
- Post‑baseball life: After retirement, Zimmerman worked in various industrial occupations in his native Illinois; he remained largely out of the public eye until his death in Chicago in 1969.
Related Topics
- Chicago Cubs (1900s–1910s)
- National League home run leaders (early 20th century)
- Baseball player suspensions and disciplinary actions
- Early modern baseball statistics and evaluation
- German‑American athletes in early U.S. sports history