Table of Biography
Ken Caminiti was a well-known American third baseman who played baseball in 15 seasons of Major League Baseball (MLB). Ken Caminiti became popular after becoming the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1996.
Early Life and Childhood
Ken Caminiti was born Kenneth Gene Caminiti on 21st April 1963. His birth took place in Hanford, California, United States, and therefore is American by nationality.
Likewise, he follows Christianity and his actual zodiac sign is Taurus. Moving on to his family members, he was born to his father Lee Caminiti, and his mother Yvonne.
Similarly, he also had a brother named Glenn and a sister named Carrie. In terms of his educational status, he did his schooling at Leigh High School in San Jose and completed it in 1981.
He used to play football and baseball while there. After school, he joined the San Jose State University. here, he played baseball for the team, Spartans in 1983 and 1984.
Drug Abuse and Death
Ken Caminiti suffered from drug addiction throughout his career. Due to this, he was admitted to a treatment center in 1994. Likewise. he was admitted to a rehabilitation clinic again in 2000.
He had been arrested several times while in possession of narcotics. He died the same day, at the age of 41, at Lincoln Hospital.
On October 10, 2004, he took a speedball of cocaine and heroin at a friend’s apartment in New York City and instantly dropped to the floor, suffering from a major cardiac attack.
Professional Life and Career
Ken Caminiti was signed as a third-round choice in the amateur draft by the Houston Astros in 1984. He began playing professional baseball in 1985,
with the Osceola Astros of the Single-A Florida State League. He would go on to play for 15 seasons after that. In the Puerto Rico Winter League, he also played third base for Puerto Rico’s Indios de Mayagüez.
He made his major league debut with the Houston Astros in July 1987. Likewise, he returned to the minor levels in 1988, joining the Triple-A Tucson Toros of the Pacific Coast League.
Despite being injured multiple times during his stint with Houston, he blasted 18 home runs in 1994, earning him his first All-Star Game selection.
He was also chosen for the All-Star Game in 1996 and 1997. Similarly, after six seasons with Houston, he was transferred to the San Diego Padres in a 12-player deal that included Steve Finley,
Andujar Cedeno, Roberto Petagine, Brian Williams, and another player in exchange for Derek Bell, Doug Brocail, Ricki Gutiérrez, Pedro Martnez, Phil Plantier, and Craig Shipley.
Caption: Ken playing baseball (source: Friars on Base)
More Details
With the San Diego squad, he accomplished multiple milestones and set career highs in 1995. Despite missing much of the 1996 season due to a terrible injury
, he had a stellar performance and won the title of National League Most Valuable Player.
Moreover, he signed a $9.5 million contract with Houston in 1999 and returned as a free agent for two more seasons. Due to several ailments, he was unable to give his all during his second stint with Houston. After a 15-year career that includes two stints with the Houston Astros,
four years with the Padres, and brief spells with the Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves, he retired in 2001.
He was a switch-hitter with a career batting average.272, 239 home runs, and 983 runs batted in.
He returned to baseball in 2004 as a spring training coach with the San Diego Padres. Furthermore, he informed his counsel that he wanted to train young players,
educate them on the dangers of alcohol and drug usage, and assist them in avoiding the mistakes he had made.
Ken Caminiti – Net Worth 2024
Ken had a successful baseball career and therefore had made a pretty handful amount of wealth. At the time of his death, he had an estimated net worth of $12 million US dollars.
Relationship Status
Regarding his personal life, Ken Caminiti married Nancy Smith on 14th November 1987. The couple had three daughters named Kendall, Lindsey, and Nicole.
However, they divorced each other on 10th December 2002. Moving on, in 2000, he met Maria Romero.
Both of them were drug patients and they met at a drug rehabilitation center. They were about to marry each other but he died, unfortunately.
Caption: Ken Caminiti with his wife and baby (source: Jane Mitchell)
Ken Caminiti – Body Measurements
Enhancing his body measurements, Ken Caminiti was 6 feet tall and weighed 90 kg. Likewise, he wasn’t present on any of the social media sites as there were no such things before his death.