As a manager Charles Louis "Chief" Zimmer (November 23, 1860 – August 22, 1949) was an American professional baseball player whose playing career spanned from 1884 to 1906.

"[1] He set major-league catching records for assists (188 in 1890), double plays (16 in 1895), runners caught stealing (183 in 1893), games at catcher (125 in 1890), and career fielding percentage (.943 as of 1896).

As one of the game's first every-day catchers, The Sporting News in 1949 called Zimmer "baseball's original 'iron man'."

Offensively, Zimmer had a career batting average of .269, but hit above .300 four times, including a career-high .340 batting average in 1895. Zimmer was also the first president of the Players' Protective Association and a successful entrepreneur during his playing days, including operation of a wholesale and retail cigar business that he promoted while on the road.

[21] The following year, in 1892, Zimmer compiled a career-high 3.2 WAR rating and led the 1892 Cleveland Spiders to a franchise best record of 93–56 (.624), good for second place in the National League.

[22] The 1892 season was also a breakout year for Young who compiled a 36–12 record with a 1.93 earned run average (ERA).

[23] After the 1892 season, Sporting Life described Zimmer as "a temperate, faithful and conscientious player" who was "a great local favorite" and said this about his ability to deter stolen bases: "His throwing is a holy terror to would-be base stealers, and very few men steal second off him when anything but a slow pitcher is in the box.

"[11] In 1893, the distance between the pitcher and home plate was extended by nine feet, resulting in a dramatic increase in batting averages.

When you put a pitcher out of sight and make a toy of him you are working squarely against the interests of the game, in my opinion.

[4] In 1895, Zimmer had a career-high .340 batting average, as his batting and handling of Young (who compiled a 35–10 record) helped lead the 1895 Cleveland Spiders to the Temple Cup, a championship cup that was awarded to the winner of a best-of-seven, post-season championship series in the National League.

[27] Zimmer was the batting hero of the 1895 Temple Cup, hitting a two-run home run to win the decisive game.

His cup-winning home run was memorialized in a poem that included the following lines: The score was tied, one man was out,Tebeau was safe on third;As Zimmer grasped his mighty bat,Such cheering ne'er was heard.He swiftly swung his willow,The ball had met its fate;And a roar went up that reached the clouds,Tebeau had crossed the plate.

"[29] On September 24, 1896, two masked men armed with revolvers woke Zimmer and his wife at their home at 43 Steinway Street in Cleveland.

He compiled a .316 batting average and a 1.9 WAR rating while helping Young win 20 games for the seventh consecutive season.

[2] After the 1898 season, Young left the Spiders, and Zimmer, at age 38, was released by the team in early June 1899, despite having compiled a .342 batting average in 20 games.

[2] Without Young or Zimmer, the 1899 Cleveland Spiders compiled a 20-134 (.130) record—the worst record in Major League history.

[2] For the second time in his career, Zimmer was responsible for mentoring a future Hall of Fame pitcher in his rookie season.

In addition to Zimmer, the Colonels sent three future Hall of Famers (Waddell, Honus Wagner and Fred Clarke) to the Pirates in exchange for Jack Chesbro, three other players, and $25,000.

Moreover, under Zimmer's tutelage, Rube Waddell in his first season as a regular starter, led the National League with a 2.37 ERA.

[2][33] In 1902, at age 41, Zimmer caught 41 games, compiled a .268 batting average, and maintained a respectable 1.1 WAR rating.

[41]The game featured a painted ball field with children peeking over the one-and-a-half inch outfield wall as well as lithographed images of Zimmer and 18 other players, including 11 Hall of Famers.

The game was played with "a pool cue-type spring loaded device" and "metal clasps located at the nine positions to catch the ball.

[42] In October 1892, Zimmer stated that he expected to sell "a great many of his parlor baseball inventions" over the winter and noted that one New York firm had purchased 600 from him.

[6] Despite his personal aversion to tobacco, Zimmer in the 1890s was successful in operating a wholesale and retail cigar business in Cleveland.

[40] During Zimmer's tenure as president, the organization successfully negotiated for a new rule providing that a player could not be traded or sold without his consent.

[4] The Sporting Life later wrote that Zimmer was the "only man who ever showed marked ability" as president of the Association.

It would have been a good thing for the players if they had been true to its principles and the officials had been active in carrying out all its aims and laws.

During his playing career, he made furniture as a hobby during the off-season and filled his home in Cleveland with his handiwork.