Gino Cimoli – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Gino Cimoli built a solid ten-year career in Major League Baseball before he hung up his cleats in 1965. Born in San Francisco, he played for seven different teams over a decade, including the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Kansas City Athletics.

Cimoli had his most memorable season in 1962, leading the American League with 15 triples while playing for the Kansas City Athletics. He also made the All-Star team in 1957 and won a World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960.

He finished with a .265 career batting average, 44 home runs, and 321 RBIs. That stat line shows he was more of a steady contributor than a superstar, but hey, every team needs guys like that.

Let’s take a look at Cimoli’s journey—how he went from a California high school standout to a major league veteran. Along the way, he built relationships with teammates who became legends and eventually traded baseball for life as a UPS delivery driver.

Early Life and Background

Gino Nicholas Cimoli was born on December 18, 1929, in San Francisco, California. His Italian immigrant parents raised him with strong values and a love for sports.

Growing up in the city’s Italian-American community shaped his character. He went to Galileo High School, which set the stage for his athletic success.

Family and Heritage

Gino’s dad, Abramo Cimoli, immigrated from Italy and worked nights as a supervisor for Pacific Gas & Electric Company. His mom, an Italian-American, worked at the Chase & Sanborn Coffee Company on the West Coast.

The Cimolis kept Italian traditions alive at home. They made homemade wine pretty regularly, and sometimes Gino went to school with purple feet from stomping grapes.

This heritage later connected Gino to the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club in North Beach. He stayed active with the club for years, even after his baseball days ended.

Education and High School Achievements

Gino attended Galileo High School in San Francisco. He started to show off his athletic abilities there.

During his senior year, he played both basketball and baseball. Standing six foot one and batting right-handed, Gino took the outfield for the school’s baseball team.

The baseball program at Galileo gave him the experience he needed to get noticed by scouts. His senior year performance really set the table for his next steps.

Early Interest in Sports

Gino didn’t stick to just one sport in high school. He played basketball and baseball, showing he could do a little bit of everything.

His height, athleticism, and right-handed swing made him stand out as an outfielder. Scouts started to pay attention.

In 1949, while still at Galileo, Gino’s baseball skills caught the eye of the Brooklyn Dodgers organization. They signed him right out of high school, and just like that, his pro baseball journey began.

Path to Professional Baseball

Gino Cimoli’s path to professional baseball started in San Francisco’s Italian-American community. His athletic ability caught the attention of major league scouts.

After a strong senior year at Galileo, he weighed offers from top organizations and signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948.

Scouting and Signing

Cimoli’s baseball career almost took a completely different direction. He didn’t even play baseball for his high school until senior year—he focused on basketball and track instead.

In that one season of high school baseball, he hit an eye-popping .607 average. That’s wild.

His performance earned him a spot in the Hearst Sandlot Classic at New York’s Polo Grounds in August 1947. He played left field for the US All-Stars, alongside future major leaguers like Moose Skowron and Dick Groat.

Two scouts went head-to-head for Cimoli’s signature in late 1948. Joe Devine scouted for the Yankees, while Howie Haak represented the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Haak got creative—he spent four days drinking bourbon with Abramo Cimoli, Gino’s dad, from 8 AM to 4 PM. Persistence paid off. At 3 AM, Haak asked who called the shots in the family. Abramo woke his wife and son, and Gino signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers for $15,000.

Minor League Development

Cimoli started his pro career in 1948 with Nashua in the Class B New England League. He hit .370 with six triples by July.

But the league’s money problems cut the teams from eight to four. The Brooklyn Dodgers moved him up to Triple-A Montreal mid-season.

He ran into trouble early. In his sixth game, he crashed into a wall and hurt his knee, which slowed him down. He managed just a .231 average in 15 games, mostly pinch-hitting.

He bounced back in 1950 at Montreal, hitting .275 in 85 games. In 1951, he mostly played for Double-A Fort Worth, batting .262 and tying for the league lead with 12 triples.

Speed became his calling card—he kept hitting more triples than home runs in the minors. A short stop with St. Paul in 1952 saw him hit a strong .319 in 142 games.

Pacific Coast League Experience

Cimoli’s minor league adventure meant a lot of moves between Triple-A affiliates as the Brooklyn Dodgers tried to figure out if he was ready. In 1953, he went back to St. Paul, but his average dipped to .262.

The 1954 season got weird. Montreal manager Max Macon let Cimoli pitch in two games. The first time, he threw three perfect innings. The second time? Not so much—he faced five batters, walked three, hit one, and gave up a triple.

In 1955, things got tough off the field. His wife and two daughters got hurt in a car accident in Wyoming. Cimoli left Montreal on May 12 to be with them and came back on May 20, changed by the experience.

He returned with a bang, hitting a home run and double in a 6-2 win over Toronto. Brooklyn Dodgers GM Buzzie Bavasi noticed the difference, saying Cimoli could “cover the whole outfield by himself.” Cimoli finished 1955 hitting .306 for Montreal.

Major League Career Overview

Gino Cimoli played pro baseball for ten seasons from 1956 to 1965. He took the field in 969 games for seven different MLB teams.

He finished with a .265 batting average, 44 home runs, and 321 RBIs. That’s the kind of steady production teams want from a reliable outfielder.

Teams Played For

Cimoli debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956, stepping onto the field for the first time on April 19 at age 26. He stayed with the team as they moved to Los Angeles, and actually became the Los Angeles Dodgers’ first batter on the West Coast when they played the Giants in San Francisco on April 15, 1958.

After three seasons with the Dodgers, Cimoli got traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates before the 1960 season. That trade changed things for him, since he played a key part in the Pirates’ World Series win that year.

He bounced around after Pittsburgh, playing for the Milwaukee Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Athletics, and Baltimore Orioles. Cimoli wrapped up his career with the Los Angeles Angels in 1965.

All those team changes show Cimoli was a journeyman. Teams wanted his defense and veteran presence, even when his bat cooled off in the later years.

Career Timeline and Highlights

Cimoli broke through in 1957 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He set career-highs with 155 hits and a .293 batting average, which earned him his only All-Star nod.

He hit his first big league home run on Opening Day 1957 in Philadelphia. That shot off future Hall of Famer Robin Roberts in the 12th inning gave the Dodgers a 7-6 win.

The 1960 World Series with Pittsburgh stands out as another major highlight. Cimoli helped the Pirates pull off a wild seven-game win over the Yankees, capped by Bill Mazeroski’s famous walk-off home run.

He played his last game on May 7, 1965, against the Kansas City Athletics. At age 35, Cimoli had one at-bat and didn’t get a hit, closing the book on his MLB career.

Positions and Playing Style

Cimoli mainly played outfield, covering all three spots during his career. He spent most of his time in left and center, but filled in at right field when needed.

Speed was his game, not power. He hit more triples than home runs, both in the majors and minors. That tells you he could really run and stretch a double into a triple.

Defensively, Cimoli had good range and a strong arm. Back in the minors on May 10, 1951, he even threw out two baserunners in one inning.

Managers often used him as a defensive sub late in games. His ability to play anywhere in the outfield made him a handy guy to have on the roster.

Career Statistics

Baseball-Reference lists 1957 as Cimoli’s best season by the numbers. He hit .293, with 10 homers and 57 RBIs in 143 games.

He never reached .280 again after leaving the Dodgers, according to The Baseball Cube, but he still found ways to help teams in smaller roles.

Baseball Almanac notes that Cimoli struck out in his final at-bat on May 7, 1965. He passed rookie limits during the 1957 season, which officially ended his prospect status.

Notable Achievements and Moments

Gino Cimoli had a few big milestones over his ten years in the majors. His 1957 All-Star appearance marked his breakout, and his role in the Pirates’ 1960 World Series win was easily his top team achievement.

All-Star Selection and Recognition

Cimoli made the All-Star team in 1957 during his first full year as a regular. Manager Walter Alston picked him for the National League squad after Cimoli hit .314 through the July 4 doubleheader.

That All-Star nod came during his breakout with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Roy Campanella had advised him to change his attitude, and it clearly paid off.

Cimoli got into the All-Star Game as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning. He struck out against Billy Pierce of the White Sox, so not exactly a storybook at-bat.

Even with the strikeout, the selection proved he’d arrived as a legit big leaguer. He finished 1957 with a .293 average, 10 home runs, and 57 RBIs, playing all three outfield spots for the Dodgers.

1960 World Series Contribution

Cimoli played a key part in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ shocking World Series win over the powerhouse Yankees. The Pirates traded for him before the 1960 season, hoping he could help end their 33-year title drought.

Game Seven became legendary when Bill Mazeroski hit a walk-off homer in the ninth. After the wild finish, Cimoli famously said, “They set all the records and we won the game.”

He wasn’t wrong. The Yankees outscored the Pirates 55-27 and set a bunch of offensive records, but Pittsburgh got the championship in seven games.

Cimoli’s steady outfield play and veteran leadership helped the Pirates get back to the World Series for the first time since 1927. That championship was the high point of his career and Pittsburgh’s first title since 1925.

Historic West Coast Game

Cimoli made history as the first batter to represent the Dodgers in a California game. On April 15, 1958, he stepped up to lead off for Los Angeles in their season opener against the San Francisco Giants.

That day marked the Dodgers’ first regular season game after moving from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. Cimoli, playing in his hometown of San Francisco, faced Giants pitcher Ruben Gomez with 23,448 fans watching.

He struck out in his first plate appearance after fouling off the first pitch. Folks from San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, where Cimoli had grown up, cheered for their local hero.

The Dodgers were just beginning their transition from Ebbets Field to the Los Angeles Coliseum. The Giants won 8-0, but Cimoli’s name landed in baseball history as the first Dodger batter on the West Coast.

Key Teammates and Opponents

Gino Cimoli played for seven different teams and shared the field with Hall of Famers. He faced some of the best pitchers in baseball, too. His most important connections formed during his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates when he helped them win the 1960 World Series.

Famous Teammates

Cimoli’s most memorable teammates came during his years with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1959 to 1961. He teamed up with Bill Virdon in the outfield, and both earned reputations for their defense and steady hitting.

Bob Skinner played a big part in Cimoli’s World Series chance. When Skinner hurt his thumb in the first game of the 1960 World Series, Cimoli took his place and played every inning from Game 2 through Game 6.

The Pirates’ championship roster included some real standouts. Dick Groat held down shortstop and picked up the National League MVP award that year. Relief pitcher Roy Face became one of baseball’s first elite closers, saving a bunch of games for the team.

Earlier, when Cimoli played with the Brooklyn Dodgers, he spent time with Wally Moon. Moon, another outfielder, helped Cimoli get a feel for the big leagues.

Memorable Opponents

Cimoli went up against some of the toughest pitchers of his era during his ten-year career. The New York Yankees proved especially challenging, particularly in the 1960 World Series when he faced Bobby Shantz and other seasoned pitchers.

Tony Kubek often stood across from Cimoli when his teams played the Yankees. Kubek, a young shortstop, brought fresh energy to the Yankees and made those games even tougher.

Pitchers like Tom Cheney and Phil Paine kept Cimoli on his toes at the plate. Facing them helped shape his approach and contributed to his .265 career batting average.

Johnny Logan became a familiar opponent during Cimoli’s National League years. Logan’s experience and sharp defense earned Cimoli’s respect season after season.

Life After Retirement

Gino Cimoli left professional baseball and started a new chapter with United Parcel Service in San Francisco. He spent 25 years there while staying involved with the Italian-American community through the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club.

Career at United Parcel Service

After he retired from baseball in 1965, Cimoli joined United Parcel Service in San Francisco as a delivery driver. This move took him from the bright lights of Major League Baseball to the everyday world of package delivery.

He brought his strong work ethic with him. Cimoli approached his UPS job with the same dedication he’d shown on the field. His commitment to safety became almost legendary at the company.

In 1990, UPS recognized Cimoli for 21 years of service without a single traffic accident. That says a lot about his careful nature and professional attitude.

The former ballplayer worked at UPS for a total of 25 years. His coworkers saw him as a reliable driver who took real pride in his job. Cimoli’s story showed that athletes could build meaningful second careers after sports.

Community Involvement

Cimoli stayed active in San Francisco’s Italian-American community after he retired. He kept up his connection to the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club in North Beach, probably a place he’d known since his playing days.

The club brought Italian-Americans together in the city. Cimoli’s presence there helped him stay close to his roots. He showed he cared about his community, not just baseball.

Later on, Cimoli joined speaking events organized by friends like Bob Tobener. These gave him a chance to share baseball stories with fans and neighbors.

Tobener remembered him as “just an all-around nice guy” who stayed approachable even after all his success. That reputation made Cimoli a truly valued member of the community.

Lasting Legacy

After retiring, Cimoli showed the same grit and focus that made him stand out in baseball. At UPS, he kept a perfect driving record, paying attention to every detail just like he did on the field.

The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) took the time to document Cimoli’s career. They highlighted how he kept team spirits up—his jokes and pranks made teammates genuinely appreciate having him around.

Cimoli passed away on February 12, 2011, at 81, after struggling with kidney and heart complications. His passing closed the chapter on a life that really connected baseball’s golden age with everyday working life.

His journey reminds us of so many former players who found real dignity in regular jobs after the cheers faded. Cimoli showed that you can find success in steady work and community involvement, not just on the stat sheet.