Ex-NL star Caminiti dead at 41

[quaoar]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2004-10-11-caminiti-obit_x.htm?POE=SPOISVA

NEW YORK (AP) — Ken Caminiti, the 1996 National League MVP who later admitted using steroids during his major league career, died Sunday. He was 41.

Caminiti died of a heart attack in the Bronx, said his agent-lawyer Rick Licht. The city medical examiner's office said an autopsy would be performed Monday, spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said.

< snip >

The three-time All-Star third baseman often was in trouble the last few years. His 15-year big league career ended in 2001, five seasons after he led the Padres to a division title and was a unanimous pick for MVP.

Just last Tuesday, he admitted in a Houston court that he violated his probation by testing positive for cocaine last month, and was sentenced to 180 days in jail.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

1. The guy had everything and lost it all.

[LosinIt]

2. Cocaine is a hell of a drug

[Nebraska_Liberal]

4. especailly,

when you mix it with roids... This is the same guy that had both of his testicles retract... ewwww

[oldhat]

3. Sad. Rest in peace.

[frylock]

5. rest in peace, ken..

it was truly amazing watching this guy play. Nobody played the corner like he did. He carried the Pads on his back in that 96 season. It seemed that any time they got themselves into a hole, Ken was there to pull the team out with a big defensive play, or a huge game winning drive. It's tragic that someone who seemingly had so much going for him would choose the route he did.

[LTR]

6. He was the centerpiece of that SI steroids story a while back

Sports Illustrated rand a controversial story on steroids in sports, and Caminiti was a major facet of it. Very moving story.

Wow! Two shocking deaths today - Christopher Reeve and now Ken Caminiti. Rest in peace.

[burrowowl]

7. Sad the price he paid

for fame.
Could he have been a real hero like Christopher Reeve?
May he rest in peace.

[Dem2theMax]

8. So sad to have it all and lose it like he did. I'm in San Diego

and local news is, of course, covering this. They interviewed some of the Padres players. One mentioned that Ken had three children, all girls. That's the worst part. They now have to grow up without their father. And he was so young. So very sad.