Too Bad Zim Forgot to Take His Spinach

Don Zimmer’s nickname is Popeye, not so much because of his strength but more because he resembles the cartoon character. So it’s understandable that, after charging Pedro Martinez on Saturday, the roly-poly Zimmer has become fodder for comics.

“Don Zimmer -- you know Don Zimmer, lovable, likable Yankee bench coach Don Zimmer,” David Letterman said on his CBS show Monday. “If he looks familiar, remember the old ‘I Love Lucy’ show? He was Fred Mertz. Did you realize that?”

From Channel 9’s Alan Massengale: “I felt sorry for Zimmer this weekend. Next time, if he wants to rumble, maybe he should pick on someone a little closer to his age. Evander Holyfield might be available.”

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Trivia time: Who was the Dodgers’ starting shortstop in 1958 before Maury Wills became a fixture in that spot the following season?

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Abridged version: “This UCLA squad does everything the hard way,” radio commentator Matt Stevens said. “If Karl Dorrell told his team to cross the river over a bridge, his players would blow up the bridge and create a human chain to get to the other side.”

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Nose dives: Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times points out that Oregon, since its Sports Illustrated cover appearance, has gone 0-3 and been outscored, 114-30, in two Pacific 10 Conference games. He also notes that Washington was outscored, 39-0, in one half by UCLA and lost at home to Nevada. Perry says there may be no “bragging rights” left when these two meet Nov. 1 at Seattle.

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Another Royalism: Quotes from former Texas coach Darrell Royal in Tuesday’s Morning Briefing prompted KFWB’s Bret Lewis, who was a walk-on wide receiver at Texas under Royal, to tell this story Wednesday:

“He was ready to bench a talented but inconsistent quarterback when an assistant coach said, ‘Darrell, you can’t give up on this boy. He’s got too much potential.’ Darrell shot back, ‘Potential means you ain’t done it yet.’ ”

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Gentlemen, start your ... : What sport are these competitors involved in: Turfinator,Sodzilla, Mr. Mowjangles, Weedy Gonzales and Sir Lawns-A Lot?

The sport is lawn mower racing, which will be televised on ESPN2 today at noon and Nov. 1 at 1 p.m.

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Looking back: On this date in 1917, the Chicago White Sox won the World Series when the New York Giants left home plate uncovered and Eddie Collins dashed home with third baseman Heinie Zimmerman chasing him across the plate.

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Trivia answer: Don Zimmer.*

And finally: The Boston Red Sox hold the record for most runs in a postseason game and share the record for most runs in a regular-season game since 1900. Their postseason record was set in a 23-7 victory over Cleveland in the first round in 1999. They set the post-1900 regular-season record in a 29-4 victory over the St. Louis Browns in 1950. The White Sox tied that record with a 29-6 victory over Kansas City in 1955.

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Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com.