October 11, 2004
Ken Caminiti Dies of Heart Attack at 41
Former National League Most Valuable Player Ken Caminiti, who in 2002 admitted he used steroids, died of a heart attack in New York on Sunday, Major League Baseball reported on its Web Site.
Caminiti, 41, won the award in 1996 while playing for the San Diego Padres.
I'm absolutely devastated," Padres majority owner John Moores, was quoted as saying on MLB.com. "I don't know what to make of it."
Caminiti was a three-time All Star third baseman, though his career was blighted with the admission that he had taken steroids during his MVP season when he batted .326 with 40 home runs and 130 RBIs.
He also had well-documented battles with alcoholism and drug abuse. MLB.com reported that Caminiti said in a Houston court last week he had breached his probation by testing positive for cocaine.
Caminiti played 10 of his 15-year career for the Houston Astros before leaving baseball in 2001 after splitting the season with the Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers.
