wish he could have gotten it together...no coroners report yet, but I'd imagine we all know the cause....
Former Astro Ken Caminiti dead at 41 of apparent heart attack
By ROSANNA RUIZ
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
Ken Caminiti, a former Houston Astros third baseman and National League Most Valuable Player whose career came crashing down under the burden of drug and legal problems, died of a massive heart attack in New York late Sunday, his agent confirmed. He was 41.
Rick Licht, Caminiti's agent and close friend, said Caminiti died at New York's Lincoln Memorial Hospital in the Bronx. Licht, who last spoke to Caminiti last week, declined to comment about the former All-Star's sudden death.
"The whole situation is devastating certainly for myself and his family — he has three children," he said. "I spoke to him so many times recently, and he sounded fantastic. He was very clear and focused and looking forward to spending time with his little girls and getting back into baseball."
In recent years, Caminiti, had been beset by legal and drug problems.
He stood before state District Judge William Harmon on Tuesday and conceded he failed a drug test.
Harmon revoked his probation for a 2002 drug conviction, sentenced him to 180 days in jail and gave him credit for time served since his original arrest.
He was released from custody late Tuesday.
Caminiti had failed four drug tests while on probation for cocaine possession.
Caminiti, who broke into the major leagues with Houston in 1987 and was traded to San Diego in 1995, coached and counseled Padres minor-league players this season at spring training.
He helped the team get to the World Series in 1998 as a player.
Caminiti played with the Astros again in 1999 and 2000, and he finished his career in 2001 with the Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves. He was known for playing with pain during his 15-year career.
Caminiti's best season was in 1996, when he was named the National League's MVP after hitting .326 with 40 home runs and 130 RBIs for the Padres. He had a .272 average and 239 homers in his career, and he collected three Gold Gloves for fielding excellence.
Last year, after getting out of a state jail substance-abuse treatment facility, he told a crowd at a health fair for National Alcohol and Drug Abuse Recovery Month that he had kicked his drug addiction. But he was arrested Sept. 10 and jailed after he failed a urine test.
It was the fourth test he had failed while on probation.
Caminiti had no previous criminal record.
