Ken Caminiti, 1996 NL MVP, Dies at 41

[Lord_of_the_Dense]

NEW YORK - 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.

I'm still in shock," San Diego Padres (news) general manager Kevin Towers said. "He was one of my favorite all-time players."

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.

Read entire story here (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=545&e=3&u=/ap/bbo_obit_caminiti).

[davec8]

Cocaine and opiates found in Caminiti's body

ESPN.com News services (http://www.espn.com)

NEW YORK -- A drug overdose killed former NL MVP Ken Caminiti, who admitted using steroids during his playing days and tested positive for cocaine in the days before he died.

Coronary artery disease and an enlarged heart were listed as contributing factors in the death of Caminiti, Grace Brugess, spokeswoman for the New York City Medical Examiner, said Monday. She said the death had been ruled an accident.

The 15-year major league veteran, who won the NL MVP award in 1996, admitted in a Houston court just days before he died that he had tested positive for cocaine. Caminiti, 41, died Oct. 10 in the Bronx.

Tissue and toxicology tests confirmed Caminiti's cause of death as "acute intoxication due to the combined effects of cocaine and opiates," Brugess said. She said those drugs had weakened his heart.

On Oct. 14, ESPN's Jeremy Schaap first reported through a police source that preliminary results of Caminiti's autopsy showed that the former National League MVP died of a drug overdose.


Full Story (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1913942)