RIP Ken Caminiti

[wookalar]

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.

[MacDaddy]

I loved that guy

IT BROKE MY HEART TO HEAR ABOUT IT THIS MORNING! Actually shocking he was so young and larger than life

I DONT CARE HOW THAT ARTICLE READ, KC will always be a PADRE to me.

RIP KEN

http://msn.foxsports.com/id/3073944

http://msn.foxsports.com/id/3073880_7_3.jpg

[basom]

drugs are bad. especially the white ones.

[mr_gyptian]

drugs are bad. especially the white ones.

the decade of abusing his body with all types of steroids and HGH were hopefully worth it.

WTF?? this guy was lucky to get to 41.

a good example, though. hopefully this will make MLB get serious about it's rampant steroid abuse problem.

[basom]

any one read the SI article where Chef fully calls out Bonds and his entourage???? fully fucking called out, one mvp to another.

[mr_gyptian]

any one read the SI article where Chef fully calls out Bonds and his entourage???? fully fucking called out, one mvp to another.

All I wanted out of that article was an answer to the question:

"Gary, when are you going to bring back the gold GS on your front teeth you sported for your rookie card?"

[TJ.Brk]

Steroids has put a serious black mark on the game. If anybody believes Bonds doesn't use steroids, well then I hear there is this new ski resort to open in Nebraska with 5000 vertical.

Frankly Maris still holds the season HR record. And giant asterisks need to be put next to Bonds, McGuire, and Sosa.

[basom]

Roger Maris's percentage increase in 1961 over his career average is higher than McGwire's when he hit 70. Was Maris on steroids?

[13]

What's really sad is that he couldn't get it together for his 3 girls.

[mr_gyptian]

any one read the SI article where Chef fully calls out Bonds and his entourage???? fully fucking called out, one mvp to another.

seriously, though. Speaking of SI articles, the one about Caminiti a couple of years ago was disgusting. He was taking something like 40 meds a day just to keep his body functioning normally.

[house]

pills are not all good, despite what Harry Dunn has to say (obscure Dumb and Dumber reference). records are all apples and oranges these days... smashing a ball with chemically augmented muscles is different than actually hitting well [/end of non-expert's opinion].

watching griffey hit home runs when i was a kid in the King Dome just had a different feel than watching juiced up body builders hack away. i need to shut up though, cause they have lots of talent (whether they juice or not).

and oh yea, RIP Ken.