Ken Caminiti

Ken Caminiti: 1996 NL MVP, three-time All-Star, and member of the Astros and Padres Halls of Fame.

Kenneth Gene Caminiti (April 21, 1963 – October 10, 2004) was an American professional baseball third baseman who spent 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Houston Astros (1987–1994, 1999–2000), San Diego Padres (1995–1998), Texas Rangers (2001) and Atlanta Braves (2001). He was named the National League Most Valuable Player (NL MVP) with San Diego in 1996, and he was a three-time MLB All-Star. Caminiti is a member of the Astros Hall of Fame and Padres Hall of Fame. He died of a cocaine and heroin (a speedball) drug overdose on October 10, 2004.

Quick Facts

Position: Third baseman
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Born: 21 April 1963
Birthplace: Hanford, California, U.S.
Died: 10 October 2004
Place of death: The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Debut league: MLB

Lore & Background

Caminiti was born in Hanford, California, on April 21, 1963, to Yvonne and Lee Caminiti. He starred in football and baseball at Leigh High School in San Jose, California, graduating in 1981. He attended San Jose State University, playing baseball for the Spartans in 1983 and 1984. The Houston Astros selected him in the third round of the 1984 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Astros on July 16, 1987, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a triple, and the game-winning run. He was traded to the Padres after the 1994 season in a 12-player trade. In 1996, he set career highs batting .326 with 40 home runs and 130 RBIs, earning unanimous NL MVP honors. He played most of 1996 with a torn left rotator cuff. He returned to the Astros in 1999 on a $9.5 million contract. He died of a drug overdose on October 10, 2004.

Reader's Guide

Caminiti was a three-time All-Star (1994, 1996, 1997) and won three Gold Glove Awards (1995, 1996, 1997). He is the Padres all-time leader in slugging percentage (.540) and OPS (.924). He was inducted into the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Houston Astros Hall of Fame in August 2024. He admitted in a Sports Illustrated cover story a year after his retirement to using steroids during his 1996 MVP season and for several seasons afterwards.

Did You Know?

He was part of a 12-player trade between the Astros and Padres, the biggest trade in terms of number of players moved since 1957.
Caminiti's cousin, Cam Caminiti, was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 2024 MLB draft.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did he play for the Astros?

His tenure with the Astros spanned from 1987 to 1994, followed by a return near the end of his life from 1999 to 2000. This makes him one of the few players to wear the team jersey for two distinct eras.

What were his major achievements?

Although he won the National League MVP award while playing for San Diego, he also earned three Gold Glove Awards during his peak years. Caminiti was selected as an All-Star multiple times throughout his fifteen-season major league career.

How did his life end?

Tragically, Caminiti passed away on October 10, 2004, at the age of 41 due to a heart attack. His death marked the end of a brilliant but short life that left a lasting mark on baseball history.